Ideas From India for the New Century
by Roy J. Thomas
The inaugural Nehru lecture which took place in Cardiff provided the parallel between the mature nation which is India, and the young democracy of Wales finding its path. Wales has provided great political leaders. But Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the architect of modern India and India's first Prime Minister, is in a different league and some say was a global visionary.
In a week that sees the chairman of IT out sourcing global giant Infosys Technologies , Nandan Nilekani, publish “Imagining India- Ideas for the New Century ” it is timely that many of the ideas come from the foundations of India and should be looked at by Wales. But some say this is not the only thing we need to do.
Nehru once said “ ... we have to judge how the mind and heart of India functions. Are the people strong and stable or get easily carried away?” His way was, in a phrase which pre-dated Tony Blair by many decades, ”... a third way which takes the best from all existing systems...”.
It is widely accepted by business that the ”post colonial” civil service in Wales struggles with this concept as do we all at times. It is a big task. Only the immature or defensive amongst us would see the struggle as a criticism. It is a journey. It was bound to happen. History informs us. To learn we need to develop a culture of change and ideas. Wales like India is a land of contradictions but of great potential. We do not do “nothing is impossible”, yet, is it feasible? –well of course.
Post colonial India can be seen as similar to Wales post devolution. Like India then and now, Wales now needs to think for itself and keep the energy levels high. The old Welsh Office in the corridors of Cathays Park adopted polices from the Whitehall desks –down to every comma. The dragonisation of English policy was the norm, not the development of a genuinely Welsh solution. Thankfully this is no longer the case but the look of concern is evident as the young democracy fails in many ways to converse and benchmark with others and with the people. This is the strength that is missing.
In a recent book “What would Google Do?” by the enlightened Jeff Jarvis, he argues we need to create new communities and an environment of change and celebrate pioneers like Google and learn from the success of their ways.
Like the founders of Google and Facebook Nehru built his success on his conversation with the people. Answers are there in the community to take a country forward. Nehru understood the heart beat and as the educationalist K. G. Saiyidain said “ ... performed scores of miracles, achieving so much that seemed impossible , smoothing out the strings of many a situation that seemed hopelessly entangled”.
India has developed a democratic journey based on wealth creation and forward thinking .Nehru stood out with having an open ended dialogue and conversation with people. Then the hard work began. His critics predicated famine for today in the 60’s. Nehru’s ability to give vision was part of his success. The young shapers and warriors who wish to build Wales now see conversations with the country as key to success. Nehru was the architect of modern India. Contact with real people “transcended fatigue and discouragement kindled a lambent optimism”.
Nehru was surrounded by poverty. Nehru knew the importance of the civil service. He knew only part of his dreams had come true. The bureaucracy was embedded in the old routines and Nehru admitted that his greatest failure was his inability to change the colonial administration.
Individuals and parties challenged Nehru on according to his critics his emphasis on developmental strategies and industrialization. His government’s record on reducing poverty disappointed him. The left wing said he made friends with big business and landlords. It was left to Indira Gandhi to get the job done based on her Father’s thinking and foundations. Look at India now.
Nehru promoted literature, art, music science and technology. He privileged science over dreams. Education over everything else. Taking the lead in setting up laborities and institutes of technologies. Living in the present. Not the past.
If Wales is to succeed it must gather its forces of people and work together. To do this, we need to read a little of Nehru did and achieved. Nanda Nilekani benefited and still does with Infosys as did others who create wealth and employment prospects in India and now invest that in Wales. India has industry and companies in Wales. Nehru would have smiled - imagine that.
THE INAUGURAL NEHRU LECTURE took place on 8th May 2009
“Changing Fortunes of Indian Democracy” By Lord Bhikhu Parek At Cardiff County Hall Atlantic Wharf Cardiff Inaugural Nehru Lecture organised by the Wales India Centre Cardiff
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Pictured from Dinner in honour of the Indian High Commissioner and Lord Parekh.Present The Rt Hon First Minister of Wales.