Is India a truly powerful country?

Amidst all the embarrassment of the Commonwealth Games preparations in Delhi, a report by the National Intelligence Council and EU’s Institute for Security Studies placing India as the third most powerful country has brought in a much need boost to the spirits. The report, Global Governance 2025, puts India in the third position with eight percent of global power. US continues to be the first with 22%, followed by China with 12%.

India’s story of economic growth, its almost official entry into the nuclear club with the NSG waiver and a overall growing global clout make it look like a plausible idea that India stands third in the list. However, one look at the mess that the Commonwealth Games have become, the Naxalite insurgency, unrest and militancy in Kashmir etc and it seems like a cruel joke by the research agencies. I agree that eight percent is not exactly a lot of power, but it is still more than most other developed countries, and it should be something that Indian can be proud about.

But, is it really a powerful country? In terms of defense, yes. It has a very competent military and an adequate nuclear arsenal. But, when it comes to internal security the country’s capacities fall very short of people’s expectations. Kashmir and the Naxalite problem are just two prominent issues where the government has been almost helpless in finding a sustainable solution. The more it fights these militants, the more they seem to grow. Add to it the constant fear of terrorists attacks as in Mumbai (26/11) or Pune (German Bakery) or more recently outside the Jama Masjid in Delhi two days ago. One would expect a powerful country to solve such problems, deal with the terrorism issue and internal rebels, but India has unfortunately been unsuccessful so far.

Another issues looming large over this piece of good news is the impending verdict in the Ayodhya issue on Sept 24 that would help determine the legal title to the site where the Babri Masjid stands. Ever since a group of Hindu nationalists/extremists tried to demolish the mosque in 1992 on the grounds that a temple stood there before, there have been quite a few bloody communal riots in the country. And the verdict this week has the whole establishment worried about potential communal fighting in various parts of the country. Security has been tightened in the disputed region, as well as other sensitive areas of the country. People everywhere are anticipating some form of a communal fallout, and there is little faith in the abilities of the government to do anything about it.

On the economic front, though the country is growing at 8.8%, the inflation is also at 8.5%. More than 25% of the population lives below the poverty line, and the economic gap is also not closing up. People below the poverty line starve even as thousands of tonnes of foodgrains rot at government godowns in various states. The economic prosperity that has India shinning, has unfortunately been unable to penetrate into the truly backward and economically deprived regions of the country and population.

I do not wish to be one of the naysayers and spoil the joy of being declared the third most powerful country. I would love to believe that and see all Indians enjoy such status. But unfortunately, the signs of weakness are spread all around and deep within the society. And there is enough skepticism about the ability of the government to change things. A comprehensive long-term development strategy that ensures that the profits of economic prosperity reach the poorest of the poor is what India needs to truly be a powerful country. Statistics might tell an inspiring story, but unless the people feel inspired and powerful such figures make little sense.