I often find myself navigating a duality of narratives. On one hand, we have inspiring proclamations like the one from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the 21st century belongs to India and ASEAN. It’s a powerful vision, one that speaks to our collective aspirations for growth, influence, and a brighter future.
On the other hand, my daily news feed presents a stark contrast—a mosaic of immediate and pressing challenges. We hear about the army being on high alert for a cyclone, tragic accidents on our roads, and systemic failures in our urban infrastructure. This brings me to a recurring thought: a grand vision for the century can only be realized if we meticulously address the ground realities of today.
This isn't a new reflection for me. Reading about these issues takes me back to my previous writings where I’ve persistently highlighted these very concerns. The core idea I want to convey is this — I had brought up these thoughts years ago. Seeing how things have unfolded, it's striking how relevant those earlier insights still are. Reflecting on it today, I feel a sense of validation and also a renewed urgency to revisit those ideas.
For instance, while we talk about becoming a global powerhouse, the tragic reality of road safety remains a significant hurdle. I remember addressing this in my letter to Shri Nitin Gadkariji, pointing out that nearly 1.5 lakh young lives are lost on our roads annually. In my blog, "Young and Dying on the roads", I argued that sensitizing drivers is not enough; we must institutionalize safety through technology like vehicle sensors and FSD features. Our ambition for the future must include ensuring our people can travel safely on our roads today.
Similarly, our urban centers, the engines of our future growth, are often plagued by basic civic issues. I wrote about this in "A 'Open and Shut Case' ?", where the simple but lethal problem of open drains highlights a fundamental gap in governance. How can we build smart cities for the 21st century if we cannot even ensure the basic safety and sanitation of our current ones?
The foundation of any great century is its people. While there is great optimism about our education system, as I noted in "70% of Indians optimistic of education system", we must concurrently address the challenge of unemployability. A vision for the future requires a skilled workforce, not just a certified one.
Prime Minister Modi’s vision is one I share and believe in. However, achieving it requires an unwavering commitment to fixing the foundational cracks. The path to owning the 21st century is paved not just with grand ambitions, but with well-maintained roads, secure public infrastructure, and a genuinely empowered, skilled citizenry.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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