THE GREAT INDIAN RENAISSANCE

In just sixteen years, India is now a nation watched by hundreds of corporates around the world for real action -- access to growing markets, one of the largest and strongest pools of educated English speaking manpower, a very fast growing middle-class, presence of a "can-do" spirit, and what have you.

How has all this been possible in a nation that has traditionally been associated with snake charmers and superstitions of a tall order? Of pessimistic attitudes and a near fatalistic approach towards life?

The answers to the aforesaid questions are quite complex, but for one straight-forward answer: a great society renaissance, in every sector -- be it manufacturing, or in service. This has been aided by increase in quality of higher education, the emergence of a a very viable Information Technology industry, and a very big boom in the service sector, thanks to one of the world's largest middle-class emerging as high spenders.

All these changes have been indeed made possible by the end of the license-raj, permit-raj that has effectively bid goodbye to the era of shortages. You name it, you have it. That is the message of the New India.

For, in today's India, one can get to buy high quality clothing, shoes, computers,pens, cellphones,food, and whatever one can ever imagine -- all manufactured by Indian organizations.

The software capabilities of IT giants like Infosys technologies and Wipro have made them globally-competitive companies. Wipro is now aggressively buying up companies abroad, and is now following the example of the Tata group, that is now the among the Top five steel-making companies in the world.

A sence of optimism now prevails all over. For instance, at least four companies of the TVS group of Southern India,are Deming Award companies, known for excellent quality worldwide. In fact, this group is now marching to emerge as the best and most reliable supplier of auto-components in the whole world,and literally every global player -- Ford, Toyota, Crysler, BMW, Honda and any number of similar companies source from them.

There is a huge organized retail market emerging in India, and Walmart is due to enter the market very soon, thanks to its joint venture with Bharti Enterprises,which is now one of the fastest growing conglomerates in the country.

The Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institutes of Management now produce technologists and engineers who match the best in the world. In fact, they are now the largest since source of high quality manpower for a huge variety of multinationals, for posting abraod.

The middle-class is now optimistic and like spending money. The age-old thinking related to saving money on very tight budgets is all but gone, as the educated manpower get to earn salaries that are comparable to what is paid in the West, but also have a lavish lifestyle, thanks to the lower prices of everything -- housing, education, health, and whatever else.

The end of the license-raj, permit raj has meant that every Indian State is vying with every other to attract Foreign Direct Investment(FDI). Maharashtra, Gujarat,Tamil Nadu and Orissa share the top honours here.

Hihger-education is now becoming more job oriented than ever before. Newer and more challenging opportunities in medical tourism, bio-technology, microbiology,fashion design, interior design, civil engineer -- to name a few -- have attracted millions of young graduates, and it is expected that such a rich source of educated manpower, will rise to aid India's growing competitiveness.

The growing value of the Indian rupee is onw indication of the new optimism. As is the stupendous growth of India's stockmarkets.

When the real story unfolds, India is bound to become the real superpower, it is now predicted to become, say, in the next twenty years. The irreversible economic reforms will ensure that this happen and, consequently, there will be less of poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition than now.

There is only one way India can go -- Up!.
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