I often ask myself a very simple question as to why India, inspite of all her natural and human resources, is still unable to ensure a better quality of life to a substantial chunk of her population who live below poverty line deprived of basic necessities of life like food, nutrition, healthcare and education. While saying so, I am not oblivious of the fact that the quality of life in the metroes and urban centers has certainly improved. But, then the urban population in India constitute a miniscule of our total population.

One does not need the statistics of the government department or that of the Planning Commission for the rigmarole of data regarding the indices of our social and economic development or extent to which we have failed to achieve them. The truth is not far to seek. If you go to a village in any part of the country, you will find majority of our countryman remain unchanged. While the country boasts of an average nine per cent growth rate and we claim self reliance in food, still people suffer from malnutrition, under nutrition and lack of medical care.

It is a sad commentary that while millions of rupees are squandered away frivolously, people in India still die of hunger and for lack of medicine worth a paltry sum of Rs 100. Is it not a blot on our national pride and esteem? Whom do you blame for such a sorry pass?  Is it the government or the people? While the government cannot abdicate its responsibility, can the government on its own change the lot of the people?

This prompts me to ask yet another pertinent question. Why is that some people are more successful than others given similar circumstances and similar opportunities? Perhaps, Darwin in his theory of “survival of the fittest” could provide an answer. I ask further, in the growth and development of the individual how much is contributed by the society and the state and how much is by individual efforts, initiative and dynamism. While it is the responsibility of the state to provide equal opportunity to its citizens, the cutting edge is our own initiative, drive and degramism, the sin-quo-non of the gospel of Adam Smith.

To drive home the truth look at the history of world civilisation which is replete with the innumerable examples of achievements of individuals of kings, emperors, chieftains, sculptors, traders, businessmen, industrialists, entrepreneurs, saints, scientists, innovators, and so on and so forth, cataloging stories of individual achievement which in turn have contributed towards the growth and prosperity of the nation state.

Nearer home, the erstwhile British colony of Hong Kong, now under Chinese rule, was merely a “barren island” when the British took possession of the territory. By sheer hard work and human ingenuity of the locals the Britishers could turn the territory into a veritable “golden goose”.  Similar is perhaps the case of Singapore which under the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew changed its profile, to emerge as model prosperous city state with discipline, being its hallmark.

While comparisons are not always apt, fact remains that success stories of individuals and nation states offer cue to learn. Even an egalitarian like Marx himself had recognised the values of capitalism in no uncertain terms at the height of industrial revolution when the spirit of democracy, constitution, rule of law and human rights were under developed.  While the under privileged and vulnerable strata of the society still need the support of the state, the question is – isn’t it that over protection breeds indolence, incompetency and inefficiency?

The dismal performance of our state owned Public Sector Undertakings and our gigantic bureaucracy testifies this. How do you explain a state owned hotel, airlines or a transport corporation incurring recurring losses perennially throughout the year while their counterparts owned by the private sector run profitably and efficiently. This should not belittle the role and relevance of the state and government. Far from that, it certainly has a definite role as a social arbiter; but it should not regulate the economy, it should facilitate.

Too much of protection kills initiative and stifles competition. You can take the horse to water, but you cannot force it to drink. There is no substitute to hard work, you have to create wealth before you consume it. The position which you have attained, the fame and fortune you have gained, the wealth you have created, scholarship and wisdom you have accomplished. You had to take a lot of pain and perseverance to achieve them.

You cannot live under borrowed glory; you have to produce and create wealth and that demands initiative and sustained hard work, discipline and commitment.  At a time when the country is at the threshold of a great power offering infinite opportunities, it is time for sustained hard work and create a regime for excellence to take the country in the trajectory of growth and development.