Why India is not a Superpower?

     The idea that a Third World Country (steeped in poverty and corruption) with fifth rate leaders who ply sixth rate polices can possibly be a "superpower" is so laughable that it is not a joke, but sign of a serious mental disorder among Indian elites. True, these elites generally don't get to step into the dirt and filth and poverty that is India. 

     If, one day, our elite do step back from their delusions and start looking at REALITY, they will find sorrow everywhere. Yes, they'll find "happy" people who still manage to retain sanity despite severe poverty, but these are not happy happy, but sad happy. They are forced to pretend to be happy, pretend that God has made them suffer thus, and that since God is great, they must be grateful to Him even for this blessing of life. 

     No doubt that's a very good philosophy of life, and can help us rise from situations of deep misery. But surely India is capable of more. 

      While the rich consume luxury goods and the middle class buys fancy cars and gadgets and holidays in Bangkok, they blind themselves to the reality for 700 million or so immiserated Indians. In their vainglorious dinner-table talk about ''superpower'' status, they forget that a country that cannot meet a poor person's most basic needs – enough food, clean drinking water, and electricity – has no business aspiring to superpower status. 

This is the reality:

1. About 400 million Indians have no electricity.
2. India has more mobile phones than toilets.
3. Millions of children are not in school.
4. Most cities have no sewage treatment systems.
5. No major city has continuous water supply.
6. Disease is rampant.
7. Infrastructure is pitiful.
     UNICEF report released this month says there is acute malnutrition and hunger among the urban poor. Another UNICEF report found that 93 million Indians live in urban slums, on pavements and construction sites. 

     Yet should anyone plead that the poor have been left behind they will be subject to heated criticism. It hurts the pride of Indians to be reminded of the country's poverty. But the existence of poverty itself does not hurt their pride. 

Guest Blogger:
     This blog is written by Akash Kulkarni. Akash and me are same minded people. I am thankful to him for his contribution. We hope we get such great topics and articles from you.