1/n
Wishing everyone a decade of fulfilling deep desires, original ideas and forceful actions in the 2020s.
20 thoughts for the 2020s...
Wishing everyone a decade of fulfilling deep desires, original ideas and forceful actions in the 2020s.
20 thoughts for the 2020s...
2/n
This decade will see India become the world's third-largest economy.
Our conversations need to reflect that strength.
We will need to discard ideas that have kept us poor, embrace those that will power us ahead, and keep us ahead.
So, focus on wealth creation and growth.
This decade will see India become the world's third-largest economy.
Our conversations need to reflect that strength.
We will need to discard ideas that have kept us poor, embrace those that will power us ahead, and keep us ahead.
So, focus on wealth creation and growth.
3/n
A rising power means rising global expectations, rising responsibilities.
The world seeks deeper engagements from India, stronger influence in global affairs.
From regional security to Aadhaar, India needs to create an array of public goods for the world in 2020s.
A rising power means rising global expectations, rising responsibilities.
The world seeks deeper engagements from India, stronger influence in global affairs.
From regional security to Aadhaar, India needs to create an array of public goods for the world in 2020s.
4/n
This presents challenges as well as opportunities.
India will rise one Indian at a time.
We need to make sure no Indian is left behind for want of opportunities.
This presents challenges as well as opportunities.
India will rise one Indian at a time.
We need to make sure no Indian is left behind for want of opportunities.
5/n
Humility will help. Remember, even a $10 trillion economy still means a per capita income that will be less than what China's is today.
So, celebrate but don't drown in the deluge of celebrations.
It's a long journey ahead.
Humility will help. Remember, even a $10 trillion economy still means a per capita income that will be less than what China's is today.
So, celebrate but don't drown in the deluge of celebrations.
It's a long journey ahead.
6/n
The Indian democracy will be pulled to the Left, the Right and every direction in between. All are valid voices.
So, make yourself heard but learn to listen as well.
That's the inheritance of India's liberal intellectual traditions -- value them, live them.
The Indian democracy will be pulled to the Left, the Right and every direction in between. All are valid voices.
So, make yourself heard but learn to listen as well.
That's the inheritance of India's liberal intellectual traditions -- value them, live them.
7/n
Our journey in 2020s will be paved with disruption: be prepared.
It will be another decade of conflicts and protests: legitimate tools of democracy, they must be expressed.
But they must come with zero tolerance for violence.
Those indulging in violence must pay.
Our journey in 2020s will be paved with disruption: be prepared.
It will be another decade of conflicts and protests: legitimate tools of democracy, they must be expressed.
But they must come with zero tolerance for violence.
Those indulging in violence must pay.
8/n
National security will hog the headlines.
Hyphenated to an evil called Pakistan, China will continue to support Pakistan’s terror against India.
Having tasted 2019 through Balakot, they may finally accept the grit of India, relent and hopefully restart a new journey to peace.
National security will hog the headlines.
Hyphenated to an evil called Pakistan, China will continue to support Pakistan’s terror against India.
Having tasted 2019 through Balakot, they may finally accept the grit of India, relent and hopefully restart a new journey to peace.
9/n
At home, bigotry will continue its run. Majority or minority, call out any and every form of bigotry -- don't try to be too clever or politically selective.
Remember, the monopoly of the few is behind us. There are new voices in the arena of ideas.
At home, bigotry will continue its run. Majority or minority, call out any and every form of bigotry -- don't try to be too clever or politically selective.
Remember, the monopoly of the few is behind us. There are new voices in the arena of ideas.
10/n
The war between individuals and collectives will wage on in 2020s -- in religions, in ideologies, in organisations, in politics.
Individuals will influence collectives, collective will carry individuals.
Give some, take some -- there will be no absolute winners.
The war between individuals and collectives will wage on in 2020s -- in religions, in ideologies, in organisations, in politics.
Individuals will influence collectives, collective will carry individuals.
Give some, take some -- there will be no absolute winners.
11/n
While negotiating these conflicts, learn good behaviour from our leaders. Loud their arguments, passionate their fights, vicious their attacks. But they are able to find common ground to share smiles and meals.
Fight for your innumerable Indias, but don't fight India.
While negotiating these conflicts, learn good behaviour from our leaders. Loud their arguments, passionate their fights, vicious their attacks. But they are able to find common ground to share smiles and meals.
Fight for your innumerable Indias, but don't fight India.
12/n
The idea of India is really the aspirations of a billion Indians, not a select few, each as important as the other.
Of course, India is the centripetal point within this centrifugality, or what is loosely called unity in diversity.
This is invaluable, preserve it.
The idea of India is really the aspirations of a billion Indians, not a select few, each as important as the other.
Of course, India is the centripetal point within this centrifugality, or what is loosely called unity in diversity.
This is invaluable, preserve it.
13/n
Pre-2020, India's democratic discourse was around entitlements.
In the 2020s, the currency of political discourse must change to empowerment and equal opportunity.
Pre-2020, India's democratic discourse was around entitlements.
In the 2020s, the currency of political discourse must change to empowerment and equal opportunity.
14/n
Politics will continue to infiltrate the economy.
Politics carts voter voices to public discourse.
The economy must listen, but not be held hostage to it.
Way forward in 2020s is through policy inversion -- let wealth creation drive wealth redistribution, not the other way.
Politics will continue to infiltrate the economy.
Politics carts voter voices to public discourse.
The economy must listen, but not be held hostage to it.
Way forward in 2020s is through policy inversion -- let wealth creation drive wealth redistribution, not the other way.
15/n
The word 'reforms' will continue to be the go-to idea of the 2020s.
And in this decade, India may finally bite the bullet on administrative, political and judicial reforms to bring greater accountability in these institutions in dire need of change.
The word 'reforms' will continue to be the go-to idea of the 2020s.
And in this decade, India may finally bite the bullet on administrative, political and judicial reforms to bring greater accountability in these institutions in dire need of change.
16/n
Media screams it is a pillar of democracy.
The 2010s saw it implode under the weight of its own economic models, ideological contradictions, false narratives.
The 2020s, we hope, will see reforms in the media.
Else, it will continue to wallow in and write its irrelevance.
Media screams it is a pillar of democracy.
The 2010s saw it implode under the weight of its own economic models, ideological contradictions, false narratives.
The 2020s, we hope, will see reforms in the media.
Else, it will continue to wallow in and write its irrelevance.
17/n
The 2010s saw the beginning of India's cultural revival reach take-off point.
The 2020s will see a greater consolidation, a deeper exploration of our civilisational inheritance.
Music, books, Sanskrit, the six schools of Indian philosophy...all will bloom in a billion minds.
The 2010s saw the beginning of India's cultural revival reach take-off point.
The 2020s will see a greater consolidation, a deeper exploration of our civilisational inheritance.
Music, books, Sanskrit, the six schools of Indian philosophy...all will bloom in a billion minds.
18/n
The search for the 'Indian way' began in the 2010s. This journey will move forward in the 2020s.
The Indian way is really an integral sojourn of body, mind, psychic; material, mental and spiritual.
But it can’t stand on the past alone. It must have a 21st century outlook.
The search for the 'Indian way' began in the 2010s. This journey will move forward in the 2020s.
The Indian way is really an integral sojourn of body, mind, psychic; material, mental and spiritual.
But it can’t stand on the past alone. It must have a 21st century outlook.
19/n
What people call the 'battle for the soul of India' is really an exaggerated and emotive account of thought streams, contesting one another.
In the Indian tradition, acceptance and embrace are the tools.
The only war is for the country, the only winner India and Indians.
What people call the 'battle for the soul of India' is really an exaggerated and emotive account of thought streams, contesting one another.
In the Indian tradition, acceptance and embrace are the tools.
The only war is for the country, the only winner India and Indians.
n/n
Above all, the 2020s offer all of us, once again, an opportunity to look within, deepen the conversations with our Self.
We are blessed with many gurus, many spiritual traditions. Choose and discover the inner selves.
Then make your offerings to the Soul of India.
Above all, the 2020s offer all of us, once again, an opportunity to look within, deepen the conversations with our Self.
We are blessed with many gurus, many spiritual traditions. Choose and discover the inner selves.
Then make your offerings to the Soul of India.
