Breakaway or Uplifting Milestone Moment for U.S. and India

“No one can stop an idea whose time has come.” this quote can ring in loudly in U.S. and India as these two countries stand on the cusp of a breakaway moment of progress and prosperity. The wave is coming to take people along for a ride. The people will be climbing through the steps of a ladder to reach the top. This truly is an uplifting milestone moment—a time when these nations are breaking away from past challenges and stepping into a more innovative and inclusive future.  If managed effectively, this period could redefine these nation’s trajectory, ensuring prosperity, equity, and leadership on the global stage. The two nations stand at a pivotal moment, propelled by a convergence of transformative changes across all the dimensions. The time has come for these nations to break away from ills of the past and herald a greater future from the melting pot of present times. 

Since I am residing in U.S., I would make a case in simple terms in a paragraph as to how U.S. is already experiencing great times which is only going to build on this concrete foundation in days ahead. For the first time in almost quarter century, there will be no American troops at war overseas. Murders are way down, illegal immigration at the southern border has fallen even below where it was 4 years back and roaring stock markets finished their best two years in a quarter-century. Jobs are up, wages are rising and the economy is growing as fast as it can. Unemployment is as low as it was just before the Covid-19 pandemic and near its historic best. Domestic energy production is higher than it has ever been. The manufacturing sector has more jobs than under any president since Mr. Bush. Drug overdose deaths have fallen for the first time in years. Even inflation has returned closer to normal, though the prices are bit higher. If we understand the true picture behind each one of these words on the ground, we can know that things are getting better and better and the nation is experiencing great times away from the past – a true breakaway moment for a far better future. When U.S. can have an envious record in the past few years - no direct wars, great economy, great innovation, wonderful job market and a better manufacturing sector, you can be rest assured that the world is in a great standing as well. 

Among all these indicators, I would just point out and elaborate on two great positives that have emerged – great immigration and stock market boom, unseen in many decades prior. Coming to immigration, the United States is experiencing its largest-ever surge in immigration, with an unprecedented annual net migration of 2.4 million people between 2021 and 2023. This marks the most rapid influx of immigrants in U.S. history, exceeding even the peak years of Ellis Island traffic during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The pace of immigration under President Biden’s administration is set to surpass eight million people in total net migration, a rate unmatched since at least 1850. When adjusted for today’s larger U.S. population, this remains a record-breaking period of immigration growth. During the 1850s, immigration accounted for 0.6% of the total population annually, with around 190,000 net immigrants per year. From 2020 to 2023, this proportion has been replicated, but with over two million net immigrants annually, demonstrating the immense scale of today’s migration relative to past periods. America is being attracted and blessed by people from all over the world who are all eager to contribute to its story. 

The record-breaking immigration surge in the United States represents a potential breakaway moment for this nation for several reasons, as it marks a profound transformation in the nation's demographic, economic, and cultural trajectory. The influx of immigrants is replenishing the labor force, addressing critical shortages in sectors such as healthcare, technology, agriculture, and construction. This is especially significant as the U.S. grapples with an aging population and declining birth rates. Historically, immigrants have been a driving force behind American innovation, founding many of the country’s most successful companies. The current surge has the potential to inject new ideas, talent, and energy into the economy, fostering entrepreneurship and technological advancement for years to come. With many countries facing population stagnation, the U.S.’s ability to attract millions of immigrants positions it uniquely to sustain long-term economic growth and remain a global leader. The migrants, including me, are filling up a huge vacuum in the nation and contributing immensely to its accelerated progress. You just need to take care of them which is a minor cost you pay for building a huge position of advantage through them. 

Cultural enrichment is another cornerstone of this wave. The U.S. has always been a nation of immigrants, but the current wave introduces unprecedented diversity, blending cultures, languages, and traditions. This enriches American society, fostering greater cultural awareness, creativity, and global connections, apart from significantly enhancing the cultural standpoint. For instance, I brought the culture of Indian way of living along with me and I stayed working on it in U.S. Similarly, every migrant has a story to bring along with them from their native countries to enrich this land. A large proportion of immigrants are young, bringing vitality and optimism to communities. This demographic shift could rejuvenate towns and cities, particularly in regions facing population decline. This moment challenges the U.S. to live up to its ideals of inclusivity and opportunity, redefining what it means to be American. Successfully integrating millions of newcomers could strengthen national unity and serve as a model for other countries. 

Talking on the stock market growth, the U.S. has experienced a significant boom over the past two years, with indices like the S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite, and Dow Jones Industrial Average registering remarkable growth. The S&P 500 rose 23.3 percent this year, roughly matching its gain in 2023. It’s the first time the benchmark index has risen more than 20 percent in consecutive years since 1998. The Nasdaq Composite, driven by technology stocks, outpaced other indices, growing by approximately 30% over the two years. Major tech companies, often referred to as the "Magnificent Seven" collectively grew by 65%, contributing significantly to the market's overall growth. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, representing blue-chip companies, also experienced robust growth, reflecting broad-based economic strength. Mid-cap and small-cap stocks also saw gains, contributing to overall market wealth. Adding all contributions, approximately $15-18 trillion in wealth was created through stock market growth in the U.S. during 2023-2024. This sustained growth reflects continued economic expansion and investor optimism. When every index of stock market grows it simply tells that all the sectors are experiencing great growth rates which are coming from individual companies. This explains that corporate America is at a breakaway moment after a period of sustained two-year growth period. 

The stock market boom significantly increased household wealth, particularly for those invested in equities through 401(k)s, IRAs, and brokerage accounts. The "wealth effect" boosted consumer spending, which, in turn, supported economic growth. High stock valuations enabled companies to raise capital more easily, supporting mergers, acquisitions, and innovation-driven expansion. Tech companies, in particular, reinvested their gains in R&D, leading to breakthroughs in AI, clean energy, and digital healthcare. The boom reflects strong confidence in the U.S. economy's ability to adapt and thrive amid changing global dynamics. The diversity of sectors contributing to the boom highlights the broad investment potential and growth within the U.S. Fueled by innovation, investor confidence, and favorable economic policies, this growth has redefined the landscape of global finance. While risks remain, the market's performance signals a future shaped by technology, sustainability, and inclusive economic progress. 

While gains are not always reflective of real economic conditions, significant stock market gains over a lengthy period of two years can provide insights into the broader economic situation of a nation. Sustained market gains reflect strong investor confidence in the nation's economic policies, business environment, and corporate performance. Rising stock prices often correlate with strong corporate earnings, which depend on consumer demand, spending, productivity, and efficient management. High earnings suggest healthy business operations and a favorable economic climate. In the U.S., market gains have underscored its leadership in technology and clean energy, indicating long-term economic competitiveness. For the U.S., the 2023-2024 market boom suggests a thriving, innovative, and resilient economy, but policymakers must address challenges such as inequality and market dependence on a few sectors. Overall, we can say, U.S. has reacted tremendously to the stimulus applied and this breakaway moment should herald a great future by scaling greater heights.  

This tells the story of two areas and I haven’t uncovered many others which I mentioned as positive factors earlier. These two areas talk about facts which haven’t taken place for decades in U.S. This is simply not plain talk but amazing realities being transpired in front of our eyes. Little bit of the lateral negatives can emerge but this is how good and surreal as it can get. While I had spoken about U.S., the same can also be said in case of my home nation India where tremendous progress is being made through better overall work ethic and enhanced participation. While the home nation is making rapid strides overall, I would talk about one area – poverty in the rest of post. 

According to a report released by SBI Research on January 3,2025 India’s rural poverty has seen a remarkable decline, dropping to 4.86 per cent in the financial year 2023-24 from 25.7 per cent in 2011-12. The report stated, “At an aggregate level, we estimate that poverty rates in India are now likely to be between 4 per cent and 4.5 per cent, with extreme poverty nearly eliminated.” The steep decline in rural poverty can be attributed to increased consumption growth in the lowest 0-5 percent income group, along with substantial government support. This support has been crucial, as we also observe that fluctuations in food prices significantly affect not only food expenditure but overall spending as well.” In FY23, the poverty line fell within the 5-10 per cent decile, but by FY24, it had shifted to the 0-5 per cent decile, indicating better economic conditions for the poorest segments of the population. When rural and urban poverty is just 4% and extreme poverty nearly eliminated, it tells a great picture of India in breakaway mode for it has not been achieved for decades since independence. 

As said by these few indicators, the two countries are progressing very well and are in a breakaway period or in a cruise mode travelling further away from the negativity or ills towards better lands. The time has come for this idea to take shape and no one can stop it. Many great leaders have thought about it, perished and it has come to fruition in our times. Hope this sustained momentum continues into 2025 and far ahead. When we look back in the distant future, we can say the days of today are real uplifting times for a generation. We are in the days of transforming the nation’s trajectory to realize the true potential of these countries. The presidencies of Lincoln or Kennedy are breakaway moments in the history of a nation and we are experiencing the same in the days of today.