Enraged Sun!

Burying all signs of

Delicacies

Culture of hypocrite’s flourishes in

Impotent pomp

Yet rotten blood rushes through their veins

In hollow achievements!

The earth has transmuted to a hell!

Sun rises, ashamed,

To hide his face behind scarce cloud- specks

Or sky churning

Smoke emitting chimneys

Can not withhold rays

What to do?

Throng of languid shadows

Keeps on surging forth

Breathing in stink of

Pent-up ambitions

Neither they can weep nor the Sun

Over their fall

What a destiny!

Sun must has to course

His way through

Caressing entire world

With his infinite fingers of rays

No matter how much filth

Stains his soul

Making him furious…frustrated…

Heart exploding in anguish…

Still he must course…

Just can not hide his face or cease to be

Infinity is a curse!

In fact he seeks a heart

Little alike of human

That can make his heart stronger

To neglect his own heart

Or like the philosophers he wants to be

Those can justify all heinous acts

Or of those poets

Those can trade emotions so easily!

But it is not destined to happen.

He must rise perpetually

Must struggle with his own-self

Must course through the space

No matter how enraged he is

Or sorry he is

Below his divinity

Exchange of cursed insanity

Is at crescendo

He must hide his face

Behind the horizons…!

On the Brink of Death!

 

(My Novel “On the Brink of Death”, set on the backdrop of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination was published at the hands of late Balasaheb Thackeray in 2002 at Mumbai. Following is the speech that I had delivered at that memorable moment.)

Hon’ble Hindu Hriday samrat, Thackeray Saheb, my dear brother Vinod Sonawani, and friends,

This is a proud moment for me to have released my first English Novel at the hands of a personality that always have fought all his life against injustice, for the national interests and have been an inspiring force for numerous youth of this country. I have not enough words to express my gratitude towards Mr. Thackeray.

I have been writing for last 20 years in Marathi, have handled variety of genres, Marathi soil gave me lot of love for my literary endeavors, the critics always have encouraged my probe in to the various aspects that concern not only the life but fundamentals of life. Very recently I began writing in English to address larger masses, to share my views and perspectives with them. The present novel is outcome of this effort.

Why I chose this subject to write my first novel in English has certain background. I am not a politically motivated person. The assassination of Mr. Rajiv Gandhi shocked entire nation when the news was broke. The way assassins chose to kill a person was brutal, inhuman and obnoxious. Using the human souls to kill the human souls was something unheard of in our country. It was an example to what extremity ethnic and political hatred could reach. It was a cowardly attack demanding vengeance, from the country and for the country. But we always have been too a tolerant. Tolerance becomes questionable at some times and this was a perfect case when the human life is abused in the form of political assassinations. Ten years ago I was too a young man but it provoked me when I was frantically going through the various news reports and stories. Special Investigation Team was desperate to unearth the culprits. Many people committed suicides before the SIT would get hold of them or when they were in custody. This was a macabre scene to come across. As if human life had lost its importance, its value. Good or bad, every person has right to live, no one is above this law that rules the entire universe. The young chaps could end up with their lives with a cyanide pill. Fanaticism saw its vicious dance before and aftermath of the gruesome assassination. As if it was only Rajiv Gandhi who was against their movement…a movement that had the history of brutal bloodbath. 

Assassinations of leaders always do tend to change the course of the time, established national policies and they are in order to give a way to the newcomers that can sympathize with the assassins or the people those have supported the assassins, this or that way. It appeared that LTTE had to avenge Rajiv Gandhi for his attempt to send peacekeeping forces in Sri Lanka. His attempts to end up ethnic violence in neighboring country were taken as a threat to the people of Indian origin and their covert supporters, not only from Sri Lanka but from Indian soil as well. Indian Peace Keeping forces were defeated on the soils of Sri Lanka, a mighty force…from the bunch of fanatics. It was unbelievable. Actually it was not a fight at all, as if everything was pre-planned, some one else was meddling in this issue.

True and I agree that Tamil’s in Sri Lanka have been oppressed beyond limits. True from the independence they have been treated like lapers. True that the ethnicity from the Sinhali’s was seeded to have a monstrous future. True that many a organizations chose to the violent path to secure lost rights of the Tamil. Rise of LTTE or Prabhakaran was phenomenal, it was not only based on the hatred for Sinhali’s but on the dead bodies of his own opponent tamil militant organizations. He organized support from Indian base as well. He opened numerous training camps on Indian soil. Tamilnadu Government this or that way always have sympathized with this man. Till this date the fact continues because the dream of Mahanadu was sowed in the some crook fractions on the basis of ethnicity.  Dravid v/s Aryan’s controversy flared up during the rise of LTTE.

The question is whether LTTE has really to do something with Dravid ego? Or is it only a polito-militant organisation that can use every tool, a tool of emotions, sentiment to feed its unsatiable hunger of power? A power that can rule the lives of the innocents, turn them in to the death machines, in the beasts no matter how many are going to die.

LTTE has nothing to do with Tamil problem. LTTE is an ordinary militant organization breathing over the fuel of Tamil sentiment. The leaders so easily fool common people. The promises of tomorrow they give many a times are false.

  

But people chose to live on hopes…that is the human fallacy that has been exploited by their own fellow men.

Assassination of Mr. Gandhi, at least for me didn’t look the way it was being put forth. Was it avenge of enraged militant group or whether it possessed other dimensions that are noticed but neglected only because there was nothing they could do about it? Repercussions of assassination of national leader to know not would be immaturity that I hated to trust. Prabhakaran is or never was a fool. He couldn’t afford to be a fool, India could have avenged the assassination. But still he dared.

These all aspects intrigued me. I was set on my own mission.  Was in south and in Sri lanka for over six months meeting people, ex or imprisoned militants at Vellakkam Jail. The facts that appear in morning papers not always are the facts that I began to believe. Truth sometimes shocks you. I slowly formed the opinion that CIA used LTTE as a pawn in brutal assassination of Mr. Gandhi.

I have no proofs that could be presented before any court of law. It might have happened with the Special Investigation Team as well. But the results of Indian polity that have changed its course drastically from the day of Mr. Gandhi’s assassination stand as a support to this allegation. The Indo-American romance, India’s signing treaties to take India to globalization and beginning to re-consider its stand over nuclear strategies, Is a proof if at all we call it a proof are all aftermath of Mr. Gandhi’s assassination. Killing Mr. Gandhi LTTE earned nothing visible, but US gained lot many a things as a result. What I would like to say is many times the things appear, as a truth is not the truth. This novel is my attempt to put forth the truth the way I feel.

I am an author, not a secret agent that is empowered by authorities to find something that could make them to look in to the angle the way I see or find. I used my liberty to write a novel, a novel where the author creates characters that undergo the evils of destiny. They fall in particular frame of time that designs their destiny. The hopes, aspirations and to be someone in the society they live in with their good and bad intents always is a challenge to an author. Imagination, reality and would be realities is always a challenging raw material before an author that makes him write. 

                                                   (Cover of second edition of the novel...)

 

I would reiterate the fact that India is a so-called sovereign country. We are so easily sold. We buy everything that is foreign. We humble so easily before the International pressures. Our national pride is nothing but a farce, many a times. The common scams, frauds, blatant trampling of values is what the modern India is. It is a shame one must realize. The common man not only now becoming victim of these rascality’s but the worrying fact is he too now wants to be a part of these scamming class.

The present novel is not mere a thriller on the backdrop of an assassination of Indian leader, this actually is saga of the torments innocents when they has to go through a political turmoil and risk of life.

I would quote a great man this earth ever had produced, Maharshi Vyasa who said,

“Urdhw bahu virommesh…na kaschit shrunoti mam…” he said, with both my hands spread in unbearable agonies, I urge upon you why not listen to me…why not tread the path of righteousness that takes you to the realms of truth, earnings, desires and liberation in its all togetherness. I know everybody has forgotten the eternal truth. I know our soul is on sale to the demons.

This is what I had to say through this novel and I hope I could do it at the best of me.

Thanks.

PS: I was happy the day Prabhakaran was killed! 

 In brief about the Novel...

 Rajeev Gandhi, the former prime minister of India, is brutally assassinated by a LTTE human bomb. 

The culprits are on the run, trying to escape the cluthces of SIT whose noose is tightening with ever passing day, and the main suspect, Sivrasan, is about to be caught. 

Krishan is on his way to Jaffna when he gets the blow of his life. The LTTE has declared him a traitor. 

And then...unfolds a chilling saga of human persistence, macabre political games and heinous internatioinal conspiracies.

The Novel is available with Amazon. Pls click here to read reviews) 

Ancient Indian coins and symbolism

Prior to the Buddhist era, unfortunately, no written records are available to throw light on the socio-political history of ancient India. Puranic texts are loaded with myths and heavy corruption, making them mostly unreliable. The Vedic religious texts though boast of their religious supremacy, the physical proofs speak otherwise. Let’s have a look at the ancient coinage that were found in various excavations to try to know what could be the religious beliefs of those times.

India was divided into about 16 Mahajanapada’s in ancient times. Every Mahajanpada would be a group of Janpada’s (small kingdoms or Republics) spread within the Mahajanpada’s. Till rise of the Nanda dynasty (5^th Century BC) and later on the Mauryan dynasty, the system prevailed to some extent.  The coins found from almost every Mahajanpada prior to approx. 350 BC, bear no letters hence it is impossible to know the names of the issuers of the coins. But from banker-marks punched on the coins indicate that coins of different denominations (weights) used to be issued by individual bankers (Shreni or Nigam) of those times, and not the rulers.

A most significant factor that can be observed from those coins is that every Mahajanpada coin bear a unique symbol, no matter who the banker is. The symbols used by Maha Janpadas are diverse in nature, have been retained over time, at the least from the seventh century BC till the third century BC.  The symbolism doesn't seem changed over the period of almost four hundred years despite political upheavals.

This continuance of the coin symbolism in every Mahajanapada for such a long time suggests that the commercial system was comfortably stable. The religious ideas show continuity. Also, it suggests that every Maha Janpada was represented by a specific symbol punched over the coin.

Symbolism is an ancient trait of mankind. Symbolism reflects the faiths, beliefs of the people who invented them. The pagan symbolism had mystic values. Certain shapes, figures, geometrical signs played a vital role in religious practices of those times all over the world. In India, especially in pre-Vedic Tantric (Occult) Religion, which is flowing uninterrupted till today, symbolism had greater importance over texts or idols.  Shivlingam too is an ancient symbol worshiped from 3500 BC at the least, which became the foundation of the Agamic (Tantra) religion of India. Most of the religious ritualistic practices were associated with male-female sexual organs that were considered to be divine for their ability of reproduction.

Let us have a look at the ancient coins and the significance of the symbols embedded into them.

Gandhara Janpada:

Gandhara was a part of India in ancient times, stretching from modern northwest Pakistan to Kabul, till it was conquered by Darius in the sixth century BCE. We have no clue as to who issued the coins, still, the carbon dating confirms that the various coins were issued from 7^th century BC till 350 BCE.

The coins of the earlier time are peculiar in shape, not round, but silver bent bars having punch-marks of two six-petalled flowers at both ends of the coin with bankers mark in the middle. There also are square and oblong coins as well having a single six-petalled flower of the same design. The flower signs are peculiar, having the dotted round with trident-shaped petals. The reverse side of the coins is blank.

Gandhara was close to or part of the Indus valley civilization. We can trace back the similar six-petalled flowers at Kot Dijji excavations (2600 BC) those are found on the seals and pottery. It does only suggest that every neighboring civilization shares some or other way the concepts of mutual likes. Finding the provenance of any becomes unscientific and contrary to the development history of the human civilizations. 

Finding six-petalled flowers, petals having trident shape on all the coins found in Gandhara Janpada, suggests that the symbol represented geographical identity as well represented religious beliefs of the region.

Six-petalled flowers in Shaivait tradition since ancient times have been a symbol of the female sexual organ. The presence of trident-shaped petals also suggests the presence of the Tantrik Shaivait tradition of those times. This symbol cannot be confused with Sun motif. Dotted circle and sprouting six petal like tridents indicate the fertility symbol.

  

Kuntala Janpada

Kuntala region was located between present South Maharashtra and the north part of the Karnataka. The coins found in this region are dated from sixth century to 450 Century BCE. The coins have a dotted circle at the center having attached a triskelion design above between the two angular shapes having solid dots on the head.  

A circle having a solid dot at the center represents a sun motif that is in use even today as a logo by corporate houses, but two angular shapes having a solid dot on the head connected to the circle suggests otherwise. Scholars call it “Pulley” design. However, if looked carefully it doesn’t represent pulley. The presence of triskele between the dotted angular shapes doesn’t suggest other being pulley design.

The triskele above represents constant motion or revolution. Not exactly the same, but triskelic symbols are found in Celtic paganism and in Indus valley civilization also. However, no symbol similar to this has been found elsewhere, hence makes it unique. However there must be close connection between both the symbols and maybe representing some occult religious practice of those times, which is unknown to us so far.

  

Kuru Janpada

  

Kuru Janpada is famous from ancient times. This region is located around modern Delhi. Many historical episodes have been unfolded on this land. However, Janpada coins found here belong to the period from 450 to 350 BC.

On the coins found in this region bear dotted Triskelion sign. Triskelion sign is an ancient sign used by almost all the ancient cultures like Celtic, Gaulish etc. However, finding the sign on the coin with a unique design makes the symbol an indigenous development. 

On few coins we find the Three Arrow sign as well on the reverse side of the coin. As you can see the arrows are attached to the dotted circle in a symmetric arrangement. Also, you can notice Y signs between the arrows.

Although Triskelion signs mostly represent constant motion or spirit, the present sign is not similar to the sign present on Kuntal coins. We do not know for sure what these signs meant to the people of those times. But the sign seems to have been in use since the Indus culture era. But looking at the unique set of human mind the way it works, the sign may mean the same thing…perpetuity …constant motion and continuation of human life through reproduction.

Three arrow sign having three Y signs placed between the arrows make another unique symbol not to find elsewhere. The dotted circle is a common feature as we have seen on Kuntal and Gandhara coins, the petals or angular objects or arrows or triskeles make them unique symbols. Three arrow sign too is unique because of Y shapes present within the corpus of the sign.

Dotted circles normally are considered to be sun signs but with the geometry, that symbol makes with attached objects like arrows it doesn't seem to be a sun sign.

  

Magadha Janpada

Magadha Janpada, present Bihar, is rich with its history and culture, has given birth to two religions like Jainism and Buddhism. The coins found here dates back from the 7^th century BC till the 5^th century BC.

The coins bear various signs. The central sign on the Coin is a dotted circle surrounded by three arrows and three circles. Other punches are sun sign, Pipal sign, Moon sign, dotted triangle or circle with handle sign. A dotted circle with an arrow sign is common on all signs suggesting it's being the symbol of the region.

The distinct feature is the three arrow signs found on some Kuru coins and the three arrow signs on the Magadha coins are quite different in arrangement. Sun sign is clear enough on every coin suggesting sun worship cult was dominant in Magadha region in those times. Maga people have been ancient inhabitants of the Magadh region and like others were alien to Vedic culture.

Though it has been tried to prove that Maga people migrated to India from central Asia, there has been no physical proof so far to prove this claim. Anyway, sun worship had been Magadha’s oldest tradition. Vedic literature finds mention of Kikata (Magadhi) people as foreigners to their culture and religious practices. 

Shakya Janpada

Shakya (or Vajji/Licchavi) Janpada was located at the northern region of Indo-Nepal. In the Shakya dynasty Lord Buddha was born hence it would be interesting to see what symbol Shakya used to represent their identity.

Shakya Coins date back to the sixth century BC to 450 Century BC. The coins are too crude, having no particular shape, but every coin bears a Pentagonal symbol.

Pentagon is a symbol that almost every ancient civilization (and even at present) has used in their occult practices. Pentagon not only suggests geometric perfection but represents the five basic elements in occultism as well as in ancient science. According to Sankhya philosophers Earth, Water, Wind, Energy and space are the five elements that make the universe.  In Shaivait Occultism too five-style worship of the Goddess was widely practiced. A similar thought, like Sankhya’s, about five elements can be traced in Greek science and even in Freemason occultism of Europe. It also has been the symbol of the underground womb in Egyptian iconography. In later Buddhist Gnosticism also we find the pentagram symbol.

  

Saurashtra Janpada

Saurashtra coins too date back from 6^th century BC to 4^th Century BC. The unique feature of the Saurashtra coin is most of the coins have been punched with an image of the fertility goddess. Also elephant and bull signs too are found on many coins.

  

Fertility Goddess symbol we find on abundant seals found in Indus valley civilization. If we look carefully at the headdress of the deity is quite similar to the mother goddess’s images of Indus culture. The image is normally attributed to “Shakti”. Bull and Elephant symbols too have been abundantly found in Indus civilization, those represent male productive prowess. 

We thus can infer that the flow of Indus valley civilization was continued uninterruptedly till the fourth century BC.

  

Conclusion:

Every region (Maha Janpada) used some occultic unique symbol (motif) to represent its identity. 

The symbols, at the least in the five cases discussed above, though diverse in nature, still possess one similarity that the presence of a centrally dotted circle, pentacle or triangle. This indicates the thought process of the civilization as a whole being unique.

The symbols moreover represent Gnosticism prevailing in the civilizations of those times along with non-Vedic Shiva-Shakti (fertility) worship.

we have seen on every triangle, petal or pentagram centrally a solid dot is positioned. In Shaivait occultism (Yogic practice) centered dot signifies the focalized energy and its intense concentration. It can be envisaged as a kind of energy deposit which can in turn radiate energy under other forms.

The presence of the trident and arrows, weapons of Shiva suggests non-Vedic Shaivait religious practices of those times.

There seems no influence of Vedic religious thought and practices in any symbolism on the coins, as it doesnt show any way that the Vedicism had influenced local cultures and religion that had rooted in ancient tantras. 

Hence considering Vedas as the source of modern Hinduism is wrong. had it been the case, we would have noticed Vedic influence in the symbolism that represented people and regions! 

We also are going to have a look in the next chapters at the coinage of later times till the second century AD to understand whether symbolism changed with the introduction of the monarchist political system and what was the language being used in those times. 

Also, we have observed that many symbols like the triskele, six petal flower, and the pentagram with few others are found in ancient paganism worldwide. Though there are slight differences in the design, the striking resemblance shows that to some extent inner force of the human mind works similarly, no matter how geographically far apart. The same thing applies to the languages which reflect in some common words across the civilizations.  

We cannot attribute the similarities in the symbolism worldwide to borrowings or exchanges as symbolism is an innate expression of the human being that carries its unique identity. Though symbols are same, the meaning or purpose attached to it may differ from one region to the other and also may change with time. This applies to the languages also. We find similar words in many languages but the meaning of those words vary from people to people.  

If language too is made of vocal symbols, the same applies to it also. It needs no single source for the evolution of any group of languages. Independent Evolution Theory, related to geo-geographic surroundings, which I am proposing for the species, symbols and languages only can answer the vital questions that still keep us baffling about our ancient civilizations and remote past. Same time, giving any credit to the Vedics for the early evolution of modern Hindu religion goes against the material proofs and hence such very wrong-founded notions are needed to be discarded. The fact is Hindu religion always was heavily dependent on Tantras and not Vedas. 

We will discuss more on this in the next installment!

-Sanjay Sonawani

See the next chapter at http://ssonawani.blogspot.in/2017/02/coins-those-tell-us-cultural-history.html

 (Image Courtesy: coinindia.com)

See Also: http://ssonawani.blogspot.in/2013/04/shunga-dynasty-and-sanskrit.html

Islam & Vande Mataram!

The dispute over “Vande Mataram”, a national song, is not new in India with Muslim denying it singing on the pretext that it is anti-Islamic and Hindu radicals forcing it with a slogan, “ Ees Desh me rahana hoga to Vande Mataram kahana hoga!” Both are wrong in their perceptions and actions.

Vande Mataram is a song that had inspired millions of revolutionaries and freedom fighters during the freedom movement. In the song India is conceived as benevolent Goddess Durga, a mother worshiped by her children! (citizens.) What objection Islam has on the song is it is anti-Islamic because female deity of any form is a Satan and hence cannot be worshiped or prayed as Quran denies the existence of any female deity. It is one and only one almighty Allah who deserves human praises leaving no place for any other God or Goddess.

Many have tried to find supportive references from Quran those may help to convince Muslim’s to accept the Song. Some have tried to make convenient interpretations that the song is not addressed to any female deity but Mother India and there is nothing wrong in praising mother!

I think there is no need to find any reference in Quran or reinterpret the song. Song conveys the clear meaning that was intended by the author Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay and so the Quran too is quite clear in its instructions.

India is a sovereign State and has adopted “Vande Mataram” as a national song. In the speech before Constituent Assembly Dr. Rajendra Prasad had stated:

"The composition consisting of words and music known as Jana Gana Mana is the National Anthem of India subject to such alterations as the Government may authorise as occasion arises and the song Vande Mataram, which has played a historic part in the struggle for Indian freedom, shall be honored equally with Jana Gana Mana and shall have equal status with it. I hope this will satisfy members. (24-1-1950)

Though song portrays mother India in the form of Durga in next stanza that is not part of the national song, the motive of writing the song was to inspire Indian nationals against oppressors. The song has no religious sentience but conveys age-old cultural ethos of the Indian society. Had it been the case Indian Christians, Buddhists and Jains too would have opposed to the national song, but this is not so far a case. Except for Sikh, at one instance, no other religion has opposed to this national song. In any case, this is not the hymn in praise of Goddess Durga. The position of 'Sarasvati Vandana' is quite opposite since it certainly is a hymn in praise of Vedic  Goddess Sarasvati to which opposition can be justified.

Looking at the nation in motherly form and comparing her with Goddess Durga is but natural as Durga is considered as the savior of the Good and destroyer of the evil. Even if considered the entire song, it does not suggest anywhere that Mother India be worshiped in idol form; instead, it is a poetic expression, quite natural for a poet who carries thousand of year’s cultural tradition in his genes. And also it should be but natural for the citizens those have shared same history and culture over a millennium to respect motherland wholeheartedly. Religion has nothing to do with this. Spreading religious sentiment is not at all purpose of this National Song!

And most importantly Constituent Assembly has chosen only first two stanzas of the entire poem as a national Song that doesn’t mention Goddess Durga, but describes wonderful forms and abundance of beauties of the mother India.

Another objection from Muslim community is the song is a prayer. “Vande” means to bow…not salutation! Bowing in praise before anything else is against tenets of Islam. They have no objection on saluting but bowing in praise. I think this is a grave misunderstanding of the Muslim community, especially religious leaders. “Vande”, a Sanskrit word, is misinterpreted in this particular respect! In the context of the song, Vande doesn’t mean to bow before anybody…indeed it is salutation. While singing this song also in practice people salutes national flag in respect…they don’t bow…rather it is not expected at all! And since “Vande” means salutation, there cannot be anything against Quran if sung by any Muslim!

Hinduists have been more responsible in triggering opposition to the national song. In their opinion, the song indeed is a Hindu song. I do not think Hinduist factions show their over enthusiasm for enforcing the song out of patriotism. To them Hindutva and patriotism are one and the same, thus the national song is none but Hindu song. This makes the thing more complicated or may be the main reason Muslims opposing it so stubbornly!

However, let us not forget that Constitution wouldn’t have chosen this song if it had any religious touch. It wouldn’t fit for secularism that has been a highly revered core principle of Indian Constitution.

Forcing national song from the religious point of view cannot be acceptable to any citizen, no matter which religion he/she belongs to. Same time no one should oppose to the national song based on biased viewpoint and misinterpretations those are forwarded to create the divide. Also, the stanza’s those are selected as the national song does not mention Durga.

Still “Vande Mataram” has become controversial unnecessarily since a long time. Various Fatva’s have been issued to restrict singing Vande Mataram by Muslim’s.

Hinduists should learn to make their case beyond religion. Secularism doesn’t demand such fanatic stances from either religion. Robust with Hindu nationalism, they have invited unnecessary divide on the issue to which Muslim's would naturally oppose. Deliberately forcing national song on Muslim community have created this dissent. May be this was their ultimate intention to disturb Muslim mindset. However, Muslims too should understand that reciting Vande Mataram is not at all blasphemy. It is not anti-Quran. Paying respect to mother nation with due salutation is not prohibited by Quran. 

And most importantly, since Constitution has selected the song as National Song, there cannot be opposition to it as Constitution is supreme over religions or castes of the Indians. Creating any sort of controversy over the national song is anti-national, anti-constitutional and thus supporting to the separatists. No religion or its tenets are supreme over the Nation!

-Sanjay Sonawani

How India can beat China?

A fact cannot be neglected that whatsoever are the political relations between India and China, both are rival Nations and will continue to be so in the future. Tensions or aggressions on the boundaries from Chinese side are bound to continue as long both countries are following different political systems and aspirations.  China is set on the expansionist mode and before India, in all probabilities, Pakistan may be its victim, sooner or later.  This aside, both countries are claimants of the title “Economic Super-Power” since the wake of new millennium that pours more fuel in the burning pyre of rivalry. To acquire this title, if India is determined so, the fierce competition is inevitable and it may take place, besides attempts to capture marketplaces , right from the diplomatic tables to the boundary disputes. 

However it seems, looking at the present scenario, China has left India far behind in diplomacy and in economic development, that should worry us more.

Accepting the fact that these two Asian Nations are looked at as main contenders for assuming title of “Super Power”, presently China taking the lead, it will be interesting to see how India can beat China in nearest future from different points of view.  

Let us take first the positive angle:

Though China looks like a giant before India, able to overtake even USA, is a myth as Chinese economy, unlike India, is heavily indebted. 

China aggressively has captured global markets, but in the segment of light engineering goods, mostly unreliable and not-so-durable electronics, T-Shirts, Crockery, umbrella’s etc., whereas India is advanced in heavy engineering on its own, having in-house developed engineering force that is globally applauded. Chinese economy is rather trade-based whereas Indian economy, so far, is based on manufacturing of capital goods and assisted by high-quality IT industry.

India has an excellent intellectual and engineering force sought after by global corporate houses where China lags behind. Though China is on the mission to train its part of the generation with English tongue, it cannot compete with India in this regard.   

        

Chinese population growth will become stagnant in nearest future whereas India, being youngest country, will be able enough to provide adequate workforce to keep economy propelling. As per statistics and views of the experts, male-female ratio in China is so-much-so unequal that Chinese population growth will take reverse turn by next decade and will start declining. This also is bound to create social problems to which no remedy may help.

Banking industry in China is heavily suffering from bad loans, no matter whether in housing or industrial segment, forcing many banks to declare bankruptcy. So internal financial burdens are growing that may lead China towards great financial crisis in nearest future.

Chinese political system and economic system are entirely opposite to each other and keeping balance between both for long term may not be easier for Chinese polity.

Though Tiananmen unrest was cruelly suppressed and privatization was undertaken by Chinese Government following the guidelines of Zhu Rongji. Deng had assured people ‘Getting rich is glorious”!, and had taken the path of privatization, that speedily changed economic scenario of China, still unrest is brewing that can explode anytime in the future. India is a sufficiently and well experienced democratic country where such situation can never occur unless policies go haywire.

Other serious problem with China is the subsidies lent to support cheap rates to the extent of 30 to 100% which can burst Chinese bubble any time in nearest future. On the contrary India is gradually reducing subsidy raj which will benefit India in long run.

This is summing up of the positive views; now let us have a look at the negative points those we must take into the consideration.

Indian economy just recently has crossed two trillion mark whereas Chinese economy is over nine trillion, a huge gap that India may never be able to bridge.

China in every respect of development has left India behind by 8 to 15 years and shall continue to keep same pace in the future to its advantage, thus will make it almost impossible for India to ever cross China in the race.

China is still ahead by ten years in poverty elimination, infrastructure and health facilities if compared to Indian staggering efforts in this direction.

China has been able to provide more jobs to women in domestic product segment (70%) whereas Indian manufacturing is still predominated by male (57%), thus adding to the manufacturing costs, making Indian products less competitive.

Advantage that China has over India is political system in which China can make instant decisions and implementation without any delay, whereas Indian democratic socialist system, peculiar in its nature because of multiparty government, decision making is a lengthy and time-consuming process, not to talk of effective and timely implementation, thus hurting the growth rate.

Only thing that is almost equal in both the countries is heavy corruption!

Taking all pros and cons into the consideration, what are the chances that India can beat China and become a super power as dreamt by every Indian? 

To me, to beat up China and surpass her economic growth India needs to do the following:

India has still abundant unutilized resources that need to be explored for value-addition and creating additional wealth, thus productive employment. This only can be done through the liberal policies abandoning the socialist governance system. Then only the intellectual and natural resources can be brought in use efficiently to make India a richer country.

Acquisition of farming lands for the industrial purpose should be avoided or India may inevitably meet with the same fate like China. Instead of centralizing the industrial growth, it has to be distributed (decentralized) proportionately in the country, so that all the regions are equally benefitted. Also, the focus on the growth of agriculture is equally required. 

Indian unutilized man-power should be trained and motivated to manufacture variety of marketable light-goods adhering to the strict quality guidelines on massive scale. This is only way to reduce overburdened farming sector that consists of large number of unutilized and under-utilized workforce.

India should strictly adhere to the policy of family planning and should not fall to the evil concept of turning population to the consumer to boost up the economy. China’s geographical size is almost triple over the size of India, thus making it heavily populated country over China. Large population should not be taken as a positive sign and a vehicle of economical growth.

Only sustainable economy can face and stand any kind of economic aggression. India needs to design and implement policies in this direction so that India resources are best utilized with value added marketable and durable goods, giving enough freedom to its entrepreneurs. 

India should focus on creating and deploying indigenous capital resources instead of  heavily depending solely on FDI’s in the times of the crisis. Over-dependence on foreign capital may lead India to economic debacle if any great recession hits anywhere in the world.  

There could be many other ways that can be discussed to beat China on economic front, but we can look up positively at what I have stated. Banning Chinese goods is a very petty way that only will express our protest but will not assist us to leap ahead of China! 

- Sanjay Sonawani