Political Literacy: The Unseen Force Driving (or Stifling) a Nation's Economic Destiny

 

This video appears to illustrate the party's intellectual shortcomings, deficiency in patience, and pronounced arrogance, which collectively impede their receptiveness to superior ideas. This resistance is particularly notable given their extended period in office—over half a century. It underscores the point that educational attainment does not necessarily correlate with intelligence.

The bedrock of a nation's destiny is its economy. It is the fundamental force that erects the grand edifice of a nation, within which independent chambers like the military, diplomacy, infrastructure, foreign relations, and foreign trade reside. The symphony of their coordinated efforts orchestrates a nation's standing in global forums, determining not the volume of its voice, but the weight of its pronouncements.

India's economic saga is a testament to this profound truth. From a zenith in 1 AD, when our land commanded an astounding 33% of the global economy, a vibrant tapestry of entrepreneurship and trade propelled us to unprecedented heights. This was an era when the ingenuity of our people fueled a prosperity that echoed across continents. Yet, a precipitous decline followed, culminating in a dismal 3.4% by 1947, a figure we languished around for far too long. The post-independence era, tragically, saw governments adrift, seemingly disconnected from our glorious heritage. The very spirit of enterprise, woven into the fabric of our culture, was not merely ignored but actively stifled, replaced by state-controlled behemoths that devoured public resources and stifled innovation. This journey into economic lassitude reached its nadir in 1991, forcing us to mortgage our gold and approach international lenders with a begging bowl.The grudging embrace of economic liberalization in 1991,

born out of compulsion, marked a turning point. However, it was the advent of the BJP-led NDA government in 1996, under the visionary leadership of Late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, that ignited a new dawn. The nation, for the first time, heard of disinvestment, the Golden Quadrilateral, and the ambitious interlinking of rivers – not just for irrigation, but as vital inland waterways. The defiance of the 1998 nuclear tests, met with inevitable sanctions, became a crucible for national resolve. Far from being dampened, our collective spirit rose to the challenge, fostering an "animal spirit" of entrepreneurship that spurred dramatic economic growth, a phenomenon previously unseen. The subsequent political choices of 2004, a poignant display of political illiteracy, momentarily dimmed this nascent optimism. However, the inherent momentum of economic activity carried us forward until 2008, before a renewed descent into a morass of scams and corruption cast a pall over the nation, culminating in a resounding public rejection of the incumbent government in 2014.

Since 2014, India has embarked on an economic renaissance that is nothing short of transformative. The nation, once shackled by self-imposed limitations, is now a testament to what an unfettered spirit can achieve. The dramatic strides in financial inclusion are emblematic of this shift. In 2014, only 53% of adults held bank accounts; today, the expansion is staggering, with over 520 million new accounts opened within just four months of that pivotal year. India's nominal GDP, which took 60 years to reach its first trillion dollars, and another seven to reach two trillion, has demonstrably doubled from approximately $2.1 trillion to a projected $4.2–$4.3 trillion in the past decade alone – a testament to an accelerated growth trajectory.

This resurgence is not confined to the titans of industry. It is a profound, inclusive revolution extending to the very grassroots of our economy. The formal inclusion of street vendors and micro-entrepreneurs, empowered by digital payments and Mudra loans, represents the broadening base of a massive economic pyramid. Farmers are now liberated from the clutches of usurious moneylenders, accessing formal credit. Women, through self-help groups and innovative training programs like drone operation for agriculture, are emerging as powerful economic agents. While challenges remain in areas like large-scale food processing and affordable storage, the strategic plugging of leakages through Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) is yielding tangible results.

The nation's infrastructure is undergoing a breathtaking metamorphosis: new trains, airports, modernized railway stations, world-class hospitals, IITs, and medical colleges. An expansive network of roads, highways, and expressways crisscrosses the landscape, complemented by electrified railways and dedicated freight corridors. Even religious tourism has become a catalyst for economic vitality, as evidenced by the Maha Kumbh, where a family of boatmen alone earned an astonishing ₹130 million in just 45 days. Timely project completion, by eliminating cost overruns, liberates capital for new ventures and attracts crucial Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), directly contributing to increased per capita income at every level of the economic strata. Furthermore, the strategic exploitation of solar, wind, and hydro power, alongside the burgeoning focus on green hydrogen, electric vehicles, and defense manufacturing and exports, paints a vivid picture of a nation forging its own path to sustainable and self-reliant prosperity.

What has @narendramodi done in the last 11 years - except provide 100 million gas connections, build 112 million toilets, disburse 370 million health cards, pull 250 million Indians out of crippling poverty? If you know of someone who has done more, by all means vote for him.Click this link to watch the VideoAnand Ranganathan

https://x.com/anilkohli54/status/1931246358671049103

Our former finance minister speaking in the Parliament had not one word of encouragement for the new digital Payment system launched in this country in 2015.A visiting Minister from germany experiences the ease of Digital Payment

The sheer scale of achievements in the past 11 years is monumental and publicly documented. The 520 million beneficiaries of the Mudra loan scheme, who have collectively received over ₹33 lakh crore in collateral-free loans, represent a phenomenal generation of new job creators. This is not merely economic growth; it is a profound reawakening of the national spirit, a powerful assertion that India, the ancient economic giant, is not just reclaiming its rightful place, but is on an inexorable trajectory towards its previous exalted position in the global order. The journey from being a laggard to a leader is a testament to the indomitable will of a people and a nation that was once shackled, but now soars. The repeated mandate from the people serves as an unyielding validation of this exhilarating ascent, a rejection of stagnation, and a resounding declaration of a future where India's voice will resonate, not through decibels, but through the sheer weight of its economic prowess and the profound impact of its renewed destiny.

Extreme poverty in India sees sharp decline! Number dips from 344.47 million to 75.24 million;

poverty rate down to 5.3%, says World Bank

At World Bank’s raised poverty line of $3 a day, extreme poverty rate falls to 5.3% in 2022-23 from 27.1% in 2011-12 https://indianexpress.com/article/business/world-bank-poverty-line-rate-falls-2022-23-10051890/ via @IndianExpress

India's extreme poverty rate dropped sharply to 5.3% due to free, subsidised food transfers: World Bank data shows https://www.livemint.com/economy/indias-extreme-poverty-rate-dropped-sharply-to-5-3-due-to-free-subsidised-food-transfers-world-bank-data-shows-11749308171240.html

Surya Ghar Yojana: Finally, the Right Spark for Untapped Power of Bharat?

 

While we recognise the need for Large SolarParks Which are like the Seas & Oceans.

What an absolutely thrilling time to be a citizen of Bharat, especially with the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana! It's genuinely intriguing to ponder why such a brilliant initiative, centered around the abundant blessings of sunlight and solar energy—resources never subject to governmental control or scarcity in our incredible nation—hasn't been fully embraced by governments from 1952 all the way to 2024. After all, India boasts a rich history with solar energy, dating back to William Adams' pioneering solar cooker in 1878! And let's not forget the incredible strides made in the 1980s, driven by visionary government initiatives and subsidies, which saw 340,000 solar cookers distributed in just 12 years. Similarly, solar water heaters have been a part of our energy landscape since the 1980s, actively promoted with admirable subsidies and incentives.

It's truly inspiring to see a proactive approach to harnessing solar energy for power generation now. While the past may have presented its own unique challenges, perhaps a focus on immediate solutions or a deep dive into potential technical hurdles, we can now look forward with immense optimism. It took a Prime Minister with a profound vision and an unwavering commitment to the well-being of our people and our beloved nation to champion this magnificent scheme. Of course, challenges are a natural part of any ambitious endeavor, but with a positive and forward-thinking mindset, we can undoubtedly overcome them. Let's not get bogged down in anticipated obstacles, but rather keep our eyes firmly on the prize: a future powered by the sun, offering immense, all-encompassing benefits for every corner of our country!

This truly makes one curious: is the target of 1 crore (10,000,000) Surya Ghars merely the exhilarating initial phase, or is it the ultimate, grand aspiration for a nation as vast and dynamic as ours? Today's urban landscape is rapidly evolving, with independent dwellings giving way to vibrant gated housing colonies and apartment buildings that stand tall across our metros, Tier 1, and Tier 2 cities. It's a natural question to ask how this visionary scheme will embrace such modern living spaces. If it does, how will it unfold? And if not, why not?

Credit for this image :Bloomberg.

Credit for this image TATA Power.

Surely, the ultimate target for this groundbreaking initiative should be significantly higher, empowering every single citizen to become a proud contributor to our national endeavor of harnessing clean and green energy! Solar energy, as a fundamental natural resource, holds the incredible potential to make not just coal, but even imported gas, redundant for electricity production. Imagine the positive ripple effect on our import bill and foreign trade balance – a truly magnificent prospect!

One can only hope that the Union government is already envisioning a manifold increase in its target of 1 crore Surya Ghars. And as for apartment owners, what exciting modalities and conditions will enable their enthusiastic participation? We eagerly anticipate a concerted effort from both Union and State governments to illuminate these vital points.

It's wonderful to observe that many buildings in my own complex already utilize solar panels, primarily for common area requirements. If common areas can be so effectively powered, why not extend this incredible benefit to the residents themselves? Perhaps a forward-thinking approach could even make it mandatory for developers to integrate solar power into all new projects, while existing structures can follow a smooth and accessible path to participate in this transformative scheme.

This isn't merely about saving on electricity bills; it's about something far grander – contributing excess electricity to the national grid, thereby fueling nation-building and development! Imagine the collective power of our housing complexes lighting up local streetlights and community compounds! Fewer power-producing stations, reduced stress on our grids, and uninterrupted power supply for vital industries and the farming sector – the positive impact would be absolutely monumental.

Just picture the astonishing collective impact if every single apartment were to contribute even a modest 1KW per day, not drawing from, but adding to the national grid! It's a truly inspiring vision, and we can only hope and believe that the Union and all State governments will wholeheartedly embrace this objective, working tirelessly to achieve this magnificent, solar-powered future for India. The sun is shining brightly on our nation's energy future!

Link to read PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY), the world’s largest domestic rooftop solar initiative, has achieved a historic milestone with 10 lakh homes now solar-powered as of 10th March 2025.

Link to the ArticleTired of rising electricity bills? ‘Ghar Ghar Solar, Tata Power ke Sang’ is your answer. Aligned with the visionary PM Surya Ghar Yojana, the har ghar solar yojana is a game-changer. 

Extremely encouraging to notice the innovation in Solar Power Sector. Hope the Union government takes note of this. https://x.com/hellojainam/status/1930932397618389176

Operation Sindoor and the Crumbling Pillars of Global Influence Part-3

 

Link to video on credit dd:Aakashteer system

We often undervalue our own ingenuity, ironically terming it "Jugaad," even as the world recognizes, applauds, and rewards similar innovation. AakashTeer serves as a powerful demonstration of this inherent ingenuity, showcasing our ability to transform outdated weapons into potent, contemporary, and cost-effective platforms. This proven capability presents a highly attractive proposition for other nations: utilize our services to upgrade their legacy weapons, thereby avoiding the prohibitive expense of acquiring new, costly systems.

Link to the video onIronDome of India

A pretender has transformed into a serious contender.

Is causing the earth to shake, the empires built over years with hard labour by the Arms Manufacturers in many countries are trembling & may crumble. ostensibly a third world country without resources, technology & weapon platforms. Has burst on the global scene with an ADS that is proven under real conflict conditions. Others have to play catch up. Even if a matching system is developed they are still at a disadvantage. Their system is not conflict certified. Now it claims Vs conflict certified system. Why should any sensible nation invest in an untested system when a proven system is available.

Prepare for a paradigm shift. The articles below confirm our remarkable progress, leaving global arms manufacturers in disbelief. A former net importer has burst onto the scene, offering conflict-proven weapon platforms.

link on Link to read the Article India’s Wake-Up Call: Why US Defense Reform Must Match the Speed of Modern War

Article by Dr. Walter Ladwig’s commentary in RUSI, titled "Calibrated Force: Operation Sindoor and the Future of Indian Deterrence," provides a detailed analysis of India’s approach during Operation Sindoor

From Past Glory to Future Prosperity: The Power of Development

     

 What a curious turn of events! One might even say it's a testament to the unpredictable nature of democracy, or perhaps, a finely honed sense of public relations.

On June 9th, 2024, Prime Minister Modi, much to the astonishment of... well, not everyone, but certainly a fair few, embarked on his third consecutive term. This, frankly, was a scenario few could have conjured in their wildest, or even mildly imaginative, dreams. It's an opportune moment to cast our minds back, not merely to the past eleven years, but to an era when the now-Prime Minister was simply "NaMo," the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

For many of us, active political participation was a quaint notion, something others did. I, for one, maintained a detached, almost academic interest, diligently consuming two newspapers daily and performing the sacred ritual of prime-time news in both Hindi and English. This latter habit, forged in the crucible of my school days, involved perching beside my parents as the state broadcaster’s remarkbly composed newscasters (a stark contrast to today’s decibel-defying screamers) delivered the day's events.

My political stance was a masterful exercise in ambivalence, subscribing to no particular ideology, despite the lingering childhood specters of Jan Sangh, which later morphed into the BJP. My engagement with the electoral process was, shall we say, sporadic. A single vote cast in 1989, and then, after the rather rude shock of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s unexpected defeat in 2004, a re-engagement in 2009. Since then, it seems I’ve become a veritable polling booth connoisseur, diligently exercising my franchise in every election, be it general or state assembly.

Then came the year 2002, and with it, the Gujarat riots. The subsequent, almost theatrical, vilification of the then-Chief Minister by the media, intellectuals, NGOs, and the venerable Congress party compelled many of us to pose the most impertinent of questions: Why this outrage? Was this India’s inaugural riot? We, after all, boast a rather notorious history of such unfortunate events. The 1984 Sikh massacre, which I witnessed firsthand in Delhi, remains vividly etched in my memory, as does the incumbent Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s rather astonishing apathy. Yet, curiously, he escaped such sustained vilification, even after his later, frankly indefensible, justification of the tragedy.

As the daily ritual of maligning the Gujarat CM commenced, every prime-time bulletin on every channel seemed to be exclusively dedicated to the Gujarat riots, as if the rest of the world had simply ceased to exist. This, for me, was the tipping point. "Where is the evidence?" I began to ask. "Who has it? Why is it never presented?" Only allegations, endlessly looped, as if a faulty tape recorder was stuck on repeat. The demonstrable development in Gujarat was, of course, conveniently ignored.

Driven to distraction by this incessant media drumbeat, I foolishly attempted to articulate my dissent by writing letters to newspaper editors – none of which, predictably, ever saw the light of day. Comments on news channel and newspaper websites were held in perpetual moderation limbo. Social media, a concept as alien as personal space for a Mumbai commuter, was still a distant dream. These were the only available soapboxes, and making my voice heard felt akin to shouting into a gale-force wind.

Then, 26/11 happened. While my attention had been almost morbidly fixated on the media’s peculiar gymnastics, this terror attack and its aftermath deepened my already considerable disgust for the incumbent government and its coalition leader. Corruption, it seemed, had reached an art form, and the media, well, their co-option was as subtle as a brass band at a funeral.

Around 2009, the nascent seeds of social media began to sprout in India, and gradually, we, the digitally disenfranchised, found our way onto these platforms. Twitter, despite its initially baffling 140-character straitjacket, emerged as the champion. We adapted, learning to express ourselves with surprising efficacy within these belittling limitations. By 2010, a burgeoning, albeit largely independent, mass of users, without a unified agenda, coalesced around a singular objective: to usher in a new government in the upcoming 2014 general elections. Our focus remained stubbornly fixed on the media and its purveyors. We were, in essence, tilting at windmills, unaware of the grander design unfolding. The sole aim was to dislodge the incumbents. We were, after all, not "active" in politics, merely individual contributors to a collective whisper that would soon become a roar.

Then came January 1st, 2012, a date that, in retrospect, seems almost divinely ordained. NaMo, with a stroke of what can only be described as strategic brilliance, descended upon Twitter, following a paltry 170-odd common users. A game-changer, indeed.

The following August, the government, with a timing that seemed almost too perfectly inconvenient, indulged in an act that irrevocably shifted our collective gaze. From that moment on, our focus narrowed to a singular, unwavering objective: ensuring the eviction of the current government and the installation of our chosen leader.

This ambition, once a mere murmur in the digital ether, crystallized into reality on May 16th, 2014, when the general election results were declared. Recounting the subsequent unfolding of events would be, frankly, monotonous, as most of us experienced and witnessed it firsthand.

This nation, it seems, has decided that wax heroes are best left to Madame Tussauds in London, preferring instead to adorn and worship our real heroes. The journey, it seems, is far from over, and we, the newly engaged, are quite unwilling to let it conclude before 2047.

Isn't it fascinating how a collective annoyance can inadvertently pave the way for a political phenomenon?