Chacha Modi

Did Nehru create a Modi?

Our first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru was enthusiastic about 'developing' India. Present Prime Minister Narendra Modi too is showing great enthusiasm for 'development'. So is Modi a new avatar of Nehru?
I feel there is an important distinction which motivates their development dream, but also a significant common-ness among these two leaders. The latter is a cause for concern.
Not much should be made of the fact that Nehru fancied state-dominated enterprises, while Modi fancies a private capital dominated enterprise. Actually, both prime ministers are following the popular trend of their times.
The 1950s and 60s were a period of humane, welfare state thinking - even western capitalist nations in Europe developed strong state welfare programmes during that time. Today's political climate is quite the reverse; it is dominated so much by a mercenary capitalistic thinking that even communist China is developing capitalist expertise..

How to Self-Destruct a Second Time

Naidu brings in the Colonisers - again

Shri Chandrababu Naidu has done it again.

Nineteen years ago, he became Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and spent 9 years on the job. But he made a mess of it because he believed blindly in what the foreign management experts told him. In the process, he nearly sent the state to economic ruin.

Four months ago, Naidu once more took over as Chief Minister of a truncated Andhra Pradesh. And he is taking exactly the same steps as he did 15 years ago. He has hired McKinsey as his economic advisor. They are preparing a 'vision' document to liberally develop the state. State assets and resources are being prepared to be given to private corporations. Millions of farmers may lost their land and forced to migrate.

Did we say he is doing all this for the second time? A little recap may be useful.