Young at 64

How would you picture India as the country celebrates its 64th year of Independence?

As a pristine Mother India epitomised by the immortal Nargis, toiling, suffering for her children?

Or as a young, vibrant, designer khadi shirt and jeans clad youth, toting a laptop bag talking on an iPhone, while walking towards a waiting Mercedes Benz?

It’s hard to tell, isn’t it? In 64 years, India seems to have revised the ageing process and is now being wooed for its youth and vitality by many other nations who seem to be well past their prime.

So here is a snapshot of contemporary India in 64 avatars in no particular order, that make India unique…Jai Hey!

1. Hooray for Hazare!

Anna Hazare has opened a veritable can of worms with the Lokpal Bill. But after a long and hard road of denial, dithering and drama, it’s finally making slow and strong progress. Much thanks to the youth of India who are looking for serious change. Well done!

2. Telengana trauma

To divide or not to divide, that still remains the question with the forming of an independent Telengana state, much to Andhra Pradesh’s annoyance. So much has been said about the subject, and much, much, more remains to be said…so, enough said!

3. New faces of the nation

They’re a breed of young politicians spawned in an era when Facebook and Twitter rule people’s lives and opinions.

Rahul Gandhi, Omar Abdulla, Varun Gandhi, Milind Deora, Sachin Pilot, C R Keshavan, Rajeev Gowda, R P Singh, Mavendra Singh, Sandeep Dikshit and Jyotiraditya Scindia are just a few names to watch as the nation unfolds its future glory. These street-smart political scions have grown up in the midst of wealth and power. Armed with business degrees and a fair bit of practical knowledge, they have the potential to reshape the nation. Whether they succeed in vesting the reins of power from our stolid 70-something leaders remains to be seen.

4. The beaus of Bollywood

Oooh, they’re not just eye candy, this young breed of actors, which includes the likes of Imran Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Prateek Babbar to name a few, are proving their worth as actors and steadily nudging the Khans off the big screen. So watch out, Aamir, Salman, Saif, Shahrukh… and get your kids into the industry as soon as you can!

5. Bolly belles

And let’s not forget the girls as Sonam and Sonakshi get ready to drive the industry. Diva power is still going strong though, with Kareena, Katrina, Bipasha, sizzling on the screen.

6. Well, hello Hollywood!

Aishwarya Rai carried the promise of making it big in Hollywood, but Abhishek and Bollywood seemed much more enticing. The very talented Om Puri has also made his mark on international cinema, but now with Anil Kapoor hitting the scene, it seems that Hollywood’s slowly dropping its condescending attitude towards glitzy lil sis Bollywood. And about time too!

7. Lasting legends

Naturally, AB! Whether we like the fact that Mr. Bachchan is all over the internet posting most of the details of his life to friends and fans, he’s still the living legend of Indian cinema, like his mate Rajinikanth down south. So if you see them in their everlasting youthful avatars, refrain from sniggering and bow your hands in obeisance to these masters of moviedom.

8. New breed of

Films

Wow, how the industry has grown since those days of running around trees! Now we have hugely successful psychotic thrillers such as 404 that can scare the pants off you, black comedies such as Delhi Belly, airy love stories such as Zindagi na mile dobara and drama/thrillers like Murder. And that’s just Bollywood! If we include the whole nation, we’d need more than a couple of issues to do them justice.

9. Holy moolah!

Rs 1 lakh crore or USD 22 billion – that’s the estimated value of treasure found in the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. Six secret subterranean vaults were piled high with jewels, jewellery, gold coins and gold statues which have lain untouched for hundreds of years. The temple is currently under round-the-clock security and an inventory is being undertaken on court order. What a fantastic find!

10. Gandhi khadi

62 years after the Mahatma’s death, it’s heartening to see that his legacy still lives on. Apart from his quotable quotes which are still in use, khadi has now become a major fashion statement. Designers globally have begun to recognise and promote homespun cotton, and our younger netas have taken it a notch further. What a win for the Mahatma!

11.

Movin’ groovin’ music

The amazing thing about India is that, despite the pressure to westernise and modernise, there’s still a strong and healthy respect for the traditional. So while the country’s moving steadily into the realms of contemporary, rap, fusion, hip-hop, jazz and any other genre of music, the industry still retains the charm of its ghazals, ragas and the purity of its classical music. And it has a long way to go…

12. From kathak to tap

Yes, the art form of dance is currently skyrocketing from young kids learning the basics of ballet and jazz, to others who put their heart and soles into bharatnatyam, kathak and odissi. Everything works these days, but most exciting of all are the fusions of classical and contemporary which make dance purists from both genre tear their hair out in reluctant admiration for these talented artistes.

13. Reality drama

Elaborate costumes and sets, or simple settings, theatre is making a big impact in the India of today. From street plays performed by budding actors and relating to pressing issues of social justice, to performances in the sacrosanct, but perhaps slightly seedy atmosphere of Mumbai’s Prithvi Theatre, the stage is now bold enough to highlight issues that were hitherto considered taboo. Homosexuality, abuse in all its myriad ugly forms are now making powerful statements above the conventional drama and comedy routines on stage. More power to the actors!

14. Fashion fiesta

Wow, is this the fashion era for India! Nowadays, apart from the glam and gorgeous models strutting their stuff on the ramp, you have celebrities taking over. Sportspeople, movie stars, TV stars, industrialists, entrepreneurs are all taking the plunge at being in the spotlight. And why not? With everything from designer wear to jewellery to flaunt, it’s a great platform to feel good and look great. And now that the international arena of fashion’s taking a good close look at India, it’s the time say: If you’ve got it, flaunt it!

15. Cuisine

When it comes to cuisine, India is no longer just national. Its not just about finding authentic idli sambar in Assam, nor about the range of Italian and Mexican available in abundance. Now specialty restaurants offer organic, contemporary and fusion cuisine, all tastefully prepared to suit the ever-experimenting Indian palate, and with the finest of spirits to make the meal memorable. Depending on your propensity to spend, you can dine in style at the Taj or have a wada pau and masala chai just around the corner. Either or, you can bet it will be a genuine experience.

16. Lifestyle

How do you kill time on an overnight trip by third class AC sleeper, travelling from one city to another? You browse the net on your laptop, your wife will converse with her family on her iPhone, your son will keep busy with his iPad and your daughter will be busy with Barbie on her DS. Yep, a bus ride over one of Mumbai’s many flyovers offers a glimpse into tiny rooms housing families in near-decrepit buildings, but most have 48” plasma screen TVs. Aaah, India for sure is a consumer’s paradise!

17. Artistic expression

Painting and sculpture have come a long way from the visual expression of the past, as artists now seek to make a statement through their art. And sometimes those statements can be pretty bohemian in attitude, outlook and finished product. But artists are finding increased respect and acceptance not just nationally, but on the international arena as they carry forward India’s age-old tradition of art.

18. Culture

Stand on any main street in India, and look around you. There are vestiges of the country’s culture in every nook, from the tiny temple basking in the shade of a tree, to the stunning array of colours adorning a sari shop. From the panwala dispensing his wares to a largely male clientele at the corner, to the spanking new mall down the road selling Gucci and Choo. In some cities, stray dogs wander around with impunity, and occasionally a cow will halt in mid-stride to contemplate the chaos of traffic weaving its way around her, to the backdrop of highrise buildings.

19.

Shaadi, simplified

India’s youth have revolutionarised the concept of arranged marriages. No longer will parents decide on who their children will marry; they’ll simply give them their expectations. And there’s always a match to be found out there, thanks to the innumerable matchmaking portals on the net. We have yet to see statistics on the success of these marriages, but they’re certainly the ‘in’ thing now.

20. True to tradition

How lucky are we that people in India still insist on the 9-day weddings and a million guests, although admittedly, the breed is a dying one as more and more people opt to marry in Bali these days! But if you have the moolah and are willing to make a splash, there’s nothing like tradition to make an occasion memorable. From the mehndi ceremony to the 15-hour long religious ceremony presided over by 12 priests, it’s tradition all the way. Of course, this extends to the celebration of our myriad festivals as well.

21. Booming

Economy

With the GDP pegged at 8.6%, India is currently the tenth largest economy in the world. A critical problem facing India’s booming economy however is the sharp regional variations in terms of poverty, infrastructure and socio-economic development. UP, Bihar, Chattisgarh, MP, Jharkhand and Orissa, which are home to a third of the population, are also the poorest states.

22. Growth of industry

Post economic liberalisation, Indian industry grew manifold, accounting for nearly 28% of the GDP and employing no less than 15% of population. The boom areas of course are telecom, IT, textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and food processing.

23. Expanding exports

India’s exports were worth $246 billion, accounting for 22% of GDP. Gems and jewellery constitute the single largest export item, accounting for 16 percent of exports. India is also leading exporter of textile goods, engineering goods, chemicals, leather manufactures and services. India’s main export partners are European Union, United States, United Arab Emirates and China.

24. The weakest link

Despite the partial opening up of the infrastructure sector (barring railways) to private investment, infrastructure continues to be the weakest link in an otherwise booming economy. Even today, nearly 600 million people have no electricity, while power outages are a rampant problem. While drinking water availability has increased, quality and availability are still issues.

25.

Runaway roadways

India has the world’s third largest road network, covering about 3.3 million kilometers and carrying 65% of freight and 80% of passenger traffic.

26.

The truth about real estate

Dubbed as India’s urban awakening, housing and real estate have been the primary growth engine fuelling the job market and the economy. Foreign direct investment already stands at US$15 billion. India however needs to invest $1.2 trillion over the next decade to keep pace with modernisation and surge in demand.

27. Going for gold

Gold and real estate continue to be the hottest and safest investment options as demand exceeds supply.

28. Terrific telecommunications

India’s national teledensity rate stands at 67% with 806.1 million telephone subscribers. Internet too is a growth area,

Continued on page 14 following the expansion of 3G services.

29. Media mayhem

Anything said about India’s vociferous media will be too little said! With a humungous increase of TV channels across the nation, every issue no matter how insignificant is blown out of proportion to appease the hunger of the newsroom for national viewership ratings. But the media does a good job in promoting pressing issues, and many a corrupt neta has reluctantly admitted to wrongdoing in the glare of the cameras.

30. Happening healthcare

Estimated at $70 billion, healthcare has been growing at a rapid pace and is expected to quadruple by the end of the decade. Rising income levels, a growing elderly population, changing disease profiles (from chronic to lifestyle) and demographics has led to increased spending on healthcare delivery.

31. And its other face!

Despite having many centres of excellence, the majority of the country’s population is faced with poor standards of healthcare infrastructure. It is estimated that a million die annually due to inadequate facilities and 700 million people have no access to specialist care. An urgent investment of $20 billion over next five years is required to up standards. India produces over 25,000 doctors a year in the modern system of medicine and a similar number of allied care and support areas.

32. Environment watch

The third largest emitter of carbon dioxide, rapid and unsustainable urbanisation in India has led to resource depletion and environmental degradation, particularly agricultural land. Pollution, water shortages, soil depletion and deforestations are areas that need urgent attention. The climate has already become volatile due to global warming. Intergovernmental panel on climate change predicts a steep decline in GDP as a result of shifting seasons and a drop in crop output, directly putting at risk 56% of Indian workforce, who are currently associated with agriculture.

33. CWG – win or loss?

What a drama, what a fiasco. The CWG made a tremendous impact on …well, the Commonwealth countries, at least. Despite all the negative publicity, India managed to deliver. But the saga continued, as after its highly successful closing ceremony, the skeletons of corruption came creeping out from under the carpet with allegations of unpaid bills and major contractor kickbacks being revealed in all their gory glory. Investigations are still on and Kalmadi is disgraced. Some reward, eh?

34. Acting for the environment

Rampant urbanisation notwithstanding, the green revolution has gathered steam in the last decade, inspired by the work of Baba Amte, Medha Patkar, Anna Hazare and Vandana Shiva. Greenpeace India has focused on four broad campaigns namely, stop climate change, sustainable agriculture, preserving the oceans and preventing another nuclear catastrophe.

regional languages has continued to thrive and flourish in India and the literary scene is packed with luminaries who continue not only to delight local audiences but have stormed the world with their pen power. As well India’s lucrative publishing industry has become a force to reckon with, surviving the onslaught of the electronic age.

36. Magic of medicine

Cost effective, highly skilled and reliable, Indian doctors both mainstream and alternative, are sought after the world over. With rising insurance and infrastructure costs as well as skill shortages elsewhere, our medical tourism has well and truly taken off.

37. Visit of a medical kind

Medical tourism in India is now offering a range of services from IVF treatments to triple bypass and hip replacement. An estimated 150,000 people travel to India to avail of these superior services, earning the nation a whopping $2 billion.

38. Wildlife woes

India’s rich and diverse wildlife has been repeatedly at risk from population explosion. Time and time again, we hear of leopards, tigers and elephants straying into urban spaces. Indiscriminate poaching and loss of habitat through encroachment have continued to threaten their very existence; this despite many measures by the government to preserve them. Along with over 500 wildlife sanctuaries, India now hosts 15 biosphere reserves, four of which are part of the World Network of Biosphere

39. Preserving our heritage

India has 28 World Heritage listed sites across the country, the latest being the Jantar Mantar in Jaipur. India has also submitted a list of 26 additional sites for recognition, to be evaluated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Committee. Monuments like the Taj Mahal, the Khajuraho group of monuments, the Ajanta Caves and some natural sites are all under the protective banner of UNESCO. With a great heritage to preserve, the country is fortunately, increasing its awareness of its historical and natural wealth.

40. Tone down the traffic

Can someone do something about the traffic in India? Indians overseas boast that their respective cities have the worst possible traffic conditions, but it’s not an issue that anyone takes seriously. Certainly not the two-wheeler with its family of four standing besides the white, miraculously non-dented Volkswagen Passat, the autorickshaw, three cyclists and a bursting bus all waiting patiently for the lights to change.

41. Increased social awareness

Emerging India may be making a headway in different streams, but its involvement in social issues has never been as vibrant as now. Hundreds of non-government organisations (NGOs) have been set up to assist the less fortunate in a variety of social issues, from domestic violence to care for the terminally ill, elderly or destitute, from assistance to the physically and mentally challenged to fighting for environmental issues. Fundraising is rampant for these causes, very often with large corporations or multinationals offering significant support and funding.

42. Pubs n Nightclubs

Party on! seems to be the watchword of the rich and not-famous-at-all. Yes, India’s getting on its bling and celebrating to the latest Bollywood chartbusters. And now that house parties are pretty much passé, its easy to hire a themed pub or nightclub and boogie the night away. You don’t have to drive home after all, that’s what you have a chauffeur for, silly!

43.

Peril from Pakistan

Talks are ongoing, and so is terrorism. While India’s Foreign Affairs department and its Pakistani counterpart work hard at building bridges, a lot of issues with the country still remain unresolved and remote. After the Bin Laden fiasco, Pakistan has been portraying an air of injury, although no-one quite knows why. In the meantime, our border tussles continue, perhaps with less fervour than the ones across the negotiating table.

44. Networking’s the scene

And not just through the rampant use of Facebook and Twitter. The good oldfashioned ‘going on a date’ has now been elevated to the status of ‘networking’. So if you have a coffee with that cute girl in the adjoining office, you’re networking for the benefit of your parents, wife, whoever! Yes, dating, networking, same thing!

53. 15 minutes of fame

Wow, if there’s one area in which India’s moving up by leaps and bounds, its through the medium of reality TV. These programmes now cover a plethora of topics, from singing and dancing contests to the Big Brother variety where a group of young somethings live together under the same roof for a few months, and put their lives and personalities on show for the edification of a drama-hungry public. Disturbingly, rural India has been quite affected, with reasonably talented young children and their mostly ambitious parents from small towns trying hard to get a break via these shows. It’s a disappointing reality for many….

54. The age of discovery

Despite a lack of research funding, India is still making rapid strides in the fields of biology, medicine, information and communication technology, defense, to name just a few. From research on stem cells to ground-breaking weaponry manufacture, its all happening in India.

55. Cricket, cricket, cricket!

The refrain continues loud and clear, but somewhere out there, we can now hear a strain of different sports. Like soccer, tennis, hockey, swimming, archery, athetics and sometimes even kabbadi!

56. Spirit of sportsmanship

And the award goes to our gentleman cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar! Surely you weren’t expecting Sourav Ganguly? Yes, Sachin wins hands down for still having the fight and spirit to take the team forward, albeit by staying in the background. Winning the CWG proved just that.

57. Amazing grace!

Its amazing that religious harmony is a way of life in India, when one considers the sheer number of faiths that gently jostle for space in this vast country. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, Jains, Protestants, Jews and all their subcultures and subsects come together under a panoply of over a billion people. It boggles the mind as much as fills one with pride!

58. Money, money, money!

The Forbes list of Indian billionaires was compiled in March 2011 and indicated that there are currently 55 “dollar-billionaires” (individuals with a total net worth of one billion dollars and above). This lot accounts for roughly 4.5% of the global total of 1210 billionaires across the six continents. Impressive, eh? And of course, current news reports have been complaining about the volume of Swiss bank accounts held by Indians,of revenue amassed which could go several steps in reducing the country’s poverty issues. But who will bell the cat?

59. A festive feeling

Well, this extends to almost all the year round, in India. But isn’t it wonderful to be able to enjoy a raucous new year celebration, and know there’s not long to wait before Dussera, Diwali, Eid, Ganesh Chaturthi, Onam, Sankranti, Gudi Padwa, Christmas and a whole host of other festivals that dot the Indian calendar? And that you’ll get the expected plate of sweets from your multicultural neighbours, a gesture that you’ll reciprocate when the time’s right? Yes, festival camaraderie is here to stay!

60. Long live the ladies!

Yes, the girls are here to stay, especially in the top echelons of power. Sonia Gandhi, Mayawati, Mamta Bannerjee, J. Jayalalithaa, Pratibha Patil, Sheila Dikshit are all names to reckon with in Indian politics. And let’s not forget Indra Nooyi, CEO Pepsico, Lalita Gupte and Kalpana Morparia, Joint MDs of ICICI Bank, Simone Tata of Lakme Co fame and Vidya Manohar Chhabria of the Dubai-based Jumbo Group. All these ladies have brought their expertise in their respective fields, and continue to build on their strengths.

61. Education evolution

Education in India remains a timeless

A proud patriot

concept, and has undoubtedly added to the country’s wealth of economy, talent and resources. Child education is compulsory today, and India has made significant progress in expanding its levels of literacy to at least two thirds of its population. However, despite growing investment in education, 25% of its population is still illiterate; only 15% of Indian students reach high school, and just 7% graduate. As of 2008, India’s post-secondary high schools offer only enough seats for 7% of India’s college-age population, 25% of teaching positions nationwide are vacant, and 57% of college professors lack either a master’s or PhD degree. As of 2011, there are 1522 degree-granting engineering colleges in India with an annual student intake of 582,000, plus 1,244 polytechnics with an annual intake of 265,000. But because these institutions face a shortage of faculty, concerns still remain over the over the quality of education.

62. Indo-Oz relations

So much has been said about the fractious relationship between India and Australia, and the media from both countries seem happy to don the gloves and have another go at one another, from issues as diverse as the alleged student assaults to the uranium sale fiasco. But in the background, steady progress seems on the cards as both countries move forward together, one step at a time. It’s a relationship that needs time to grow and mature, but it certainly seems to be getting there.

63. A venerable government

Yes, venerable in the true sense of the word, as most of India’s most prolific leaders are well above the age of 60, and that includes the Opposition. Although Manmohan Singh has proved that he is a sound and experienced leader, he still comes across as cautious, non-controversial and his decision making skills sometimes leave a lot to be desired. His presence is reassuring, but not inspiring. But as India moves forward to take its place as a leading global economy of the future, it needs the presence and promise of youth.

64. Power to the people

With over a billion people now, and in the midst of an increasing economic revolution, India stands proud because of her people. And its not just the residents of the country, but the far and widespread diaspora who do their bit in maintaining the country’s vibrant heritage even overseas. So hats off to all us Indians this Independence Day, as we celebrate the advent of ancient India’s newfound youth.