India comes of age
A country enjoying 50 years of independence is, by historical standards, a relatively young nation. But India, which celebrates its golden jubilee today, is also an ancient nation with a myriad of people and cultures that have helped shape human civilization as we know it.
India's political and economic development, since gaining freedom from British rule in 1947, is indeed unique. Its progress has provoked interest from neighboring countries and those across the sea.
India has not adopted repressive measures against its 970 million people, who are drawn from different ethnic groups and social and religious backgrounds, in its bid to make the country a modern state. Yet it has earned its reputation as the world's largest democracy.
Instead of emphasizing economic progress and social welfare, India has made political liberalization its first priority so that it can cater for the aspiration of its people.
After half a century, however, India is starting to reveal the extent of its dormant economic potential. The deregulatory measures India has introduced over the past few years, such as stimulating foreign investment, have pushed the country into the front ranks of the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific region. This region, many predict, will be a market and economic heaven in the coming millennium.
Added to its established political institution and judiciary system, India's private sector has proved to be the backbone of the country's overall economic activities. This sector accounts for more than 75 percent of the nation's Gross Domestic Product.
Many analysts believe that -- based on the premise of 7 percent growth, in the world's second most populous country, until the year 2025 -- India will become an economic superpower in the next century.
The Indian government, irrespective of which party is at the helm, has always made great efforts to promote democracy and freedom of speech and expression. It has also taken strong steps to eliminate discrimination. This explains why, at one time, India had a minority Moslem president even though the majority of Indian citizens are Hindus. While, at other times, it had a Sikh as head of state. Even now, incumbent President Kocheril Raman Narayanan is the country's first low-caste citizen to hold the top job.
Despite its achievement, India surely has a lot of problems that it still has to cope with. There are political problems arising from separatist militants and a need to improve the living standards of the poor and underprivileged, who still constitute one third of the country's population.
To achieve these goals, India, we believe, will continue to open its door to foreign investors. This will be achieved without creating the fear of a disguised domination by foreigners, as happened two years ago. The more foreign joint-ventures operating in the country, the more job openings there will be for people to improve their lives.
India's success, obviously, benefits not only the New Delhi government and the Indian people but also the entire international community.