India A Super Power: Close To Reality Or Fantasy?

Sooner than later, there are few things that would inevitably change for India. For starters, it will no longer be known as third world country. The multicultural nation will embark on a journey to claim its ‘developed’ nation status from that of the ‘developing’ country. The economic growth, as per the experts, will reach a balanced state despite the aggression we see in the markets.

The political scenario in the country has changed since the last seven months. There has been a change in the mood of the nation, in those political parties which claimed leadership till now, and even in ideologies that led them.

Today, in the changed situation, when the nation gazes at its tomorrow, things look brighter than they were before for various reasons. Now, will India be a ‘super power’ is a question that seeks an appropriate answer. But, we need to define the borders for this term—‘super power’.
What makes a country a superpower per se?

Is it the economic prowess? Is it the presence of human resources in abundance? Is it the modern outlook that a country possesses as a nation? Or is it the self-sufficiency? Food security or nuclear power and defense forces? What is the main thing that comes around to frame the answer?

Or, is it a combination of all these aspects that makes a country a superpower?

The world contemplates many answers. While experts in each of these areas would pin it down to one thing, will India’s march towards ‘superpower-dom’ be a smooth sail?

Recently, former member of Indian planning commission Saumitra Chauduri delivered a lecture on this topic in Mumbai and demolished the myths surrounding the term.

“India will never be a superpower and is unlikely to become one in near future,” he said while elaborating on the lecture which focused on realising India’s potential in the current scenario.


Superpower: Aspiration or reality?
When India is poised to be on the throes of being identified as a nation that’s going to play a prominent role in the near future, is the status of being a super power an aspiration or reality? While young Indians who constitute the majority of its population want it to emerge as a superpower in the coming years, being a super power is an aspect that seems more like romance with the tag than the real image.

Economy: The chief maker?
In a survey done recently by London’s independent think tank Legatum Institute some respondents reacted positively to this focused question. They felt India would be an ‘important’ economic superpower by the end of the decade. Now, this makes it a hazier picture than bringing in clarity on the issue.

Growth across sectors
With the new and aggressive government at the helm of affairs, India is certainly looking at concrete steps that can be taken to ensure the growth across sectors both government and private be managed well. Right now, the government isn’t as aggressive as it should have been, in the last six decades as far as policies to promote businesses were concerned. Globalisation and liberalisation apart, India has, within its own structure, seen paced out growth. But, now emphasis looks high on private participation which could accelerate the progress trajectory. But then again, this is an anticipated result than a surefire outcome.

Emerging market
If a country is defined by its market potential, India is second only to China in the world for the simple reason that it is the second most populated country in the world. No prizes for guessing the first one. Educated middle class, technology penetration and integration into services, hospitality industry and businesses are thriving right now in India. It holds great potential to the new tomorrow where the country turns into a huge market for new players and trends.

Nuclear superpower
If diplomatic relations are anything to go by, India is the place to understand the importance of a nation being a nuclear superpower. Soon, the country will increase its spending on defense and take strong steps to ensure its security – on both land and food for its population.
In that sense, India is truly a superpower that’s going to be a model for the other nations to emulate, given the fact that most of its middle class population will integrate itself into this march to claim the title.

Technology superpower
The country carried out a successful Mars mission within frugal budget. This aspect stands as an important indicator of India’s unabated march in claiming the space in space technology. India is also being a prominent player in the trend of e-Commerce which is currently surging world over.

However, its poverty levels, and the hungry stomachs that will still make into the charts of various headers of United Nations statistics may actually cost India its image in some sense.

Image: Indiatimes, http://www.slideshare.net