China on the rise - 

Road to riches since 1962! 

It has economically progressed to becoming a world super power! as rightly and effectively portrayed by Prasenjit K.Basu (based in Singapore) in his book "Asia Reborn"

Well China is indeed worth watching. I remember, it used to be a iron curtain till sixties and seventies till Mao Tse Dong was the chief of Communist Party of China. His successors including the present leader Xi Jinping have opened up the economy in such a way that the economic growth has maintained its speed and vigour continuously for about 3-4 decades. It is only next to USA in economic prowess and progress right now.

India, a colony of the British, suffering from the bad legacy in terms of administrative structure and political setup is still a developing economy. It is afflicted with all the drawbacks of ill-equipped systems with lack of real patriotism from top to bottom. It is so much politicised at every level that no scheme or programme escapes the eyes of selfish politicians with the result the outcome is a big zero. 

Mr Xi, 64, has emerged as the most powerful Chinese leader in the recent times who was conferred a second five year term by the ruling Communist Party of China. Millions of officials across China have been asked to study President Xi Jinping's book on governance which contains his speeches, ideological thoughts and instructions.

China, the equivalent of India in size and population, history and culture, is far ahead because of its disciplined political setup. The central leadership is able to execute things the way they plan both in the short term and long run with less wastage of time and money which is next to impossible in India in the given political scenario at the moment. Even the countries like South Korea, Taiwan, Japan have done a wonderful job in economic development.

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Political funding in India.

I agree with Zoya Hasan, Prof. Emeritus JNU that when party funds are raised and controlled centrally, this weakens the State units and rank and file vis-a-vis the central leadership on a range of issues including leadership selection and nominations for elections. It also discourages democratisation that would otherwise limit their power to accumulate wealth or promote personal power at the expense of public interest.

Political parties - with the exception of Left parties - still refuse to lay down settled and predictable procedures for almost everything they do from the selection of candidates to the framing of a manifesto.

God help this country!

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South Africa

Nelson Mandela led ANC party to power in the euphoric 1994 election that marked the end of white-minority rule.

Things turned worse after Mandela retired from politics just after one term of five-year in office as the President of South Africa. Great leader to be emulated by other politicians in other countries!

Soaring unemployment and government corruption have fuelled frustration among millions of poor black South Africans who face dire housing, inadequate education and continuing racial inequality. It is a curse for many a nation in African and Asian continents to be ruled by third rate and hopeless leaders. What will the citizens of these countries do for transparent and efficient administration at the end of the day?

President Jacob Zuma whose reign has been marred by graft scandals, will step down as ANC chief but remain as head of state ahead of general elections in 2019.

Hell with such politicians found wanting badly in their life and working style!

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Xi Jinping & Narendra Modi

Two stalwarts - Mr Xi Jinping and Mr Modi - are heading currently two super powers, namely, China and India. Both richly deserve to rule their respective countries for more than a decade initially.

Both are strong-headed nationalists in their own style and action. China is a communist country ruled by a single party for more than 6-7 decades while India got independence from the British in 1947.  India is a democratic country practising parliamentary system of governance by duly electing public representatives to both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies once in five years.

Governing China by a single party with minor differences in terms of religion, culture, language, food habits, living style among its citizens is comparatively easier whereas India is having several languages, umpteen number of political parties at the national level and regional levels vying with each other and competing during and after the elections.

Ruling a nation like India is not a joke. After a long time the country has given a massive mandate to Modiji to take this country forward on the path of "development" 

As an economist-cum-administrator my only wish is that Modiji gets a good and competent team to advise him correctly and carry forward his programmes in right earnest.

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