Al Ahrar, p.2, (5-11-2008)

India again

By: Hussein Shobokshi

Once again, India shows practically the difference between hard-working peoples and lazy ones. Launching its first moon mission, India joined the space club nations. India, the world's largest democracy, is harvesting the fruits of its efforts in paying special attention to education and training and adopting one comprehensive vision that depends on knowledge-based economy. Meanwhile, Pakistan is still suffering tribal and sectarian strife entailing a vicious circle of assassinations and bombings.

The third world has admiringly watched India shift from a developing country to a third-world country, and further to deservingly join the major industrial nations.

India has become an important nation in terms of technology. The world's largest steel company is owned by an Indian businessman. The Indian company Tata Group owns major companies and hotels throughout the world. India also takes the lead in terms of film production. Indian writers win important world prizes. The Arab world has to reflect on and benefit from the Indian experiment. The Indian model is similar to the Arab one. Both India and the Arab world face the same development, social, political, cultural and economic challenges.

Still more surprises are expected from India. Tata's new car, "Nano", is expected to appear in world markets soon. The new Indian car is the world's cheapest car.

Indian universities, schools and institutes are continuously improving and becoming more competitive and effective. The Indian citizen, after having been an object of mockery, has become an important element of efficiency, success and excellence. His value in the labour market has surpassed the value of his counterparts from the old industrial nations. Undoubtedly, people in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal feel sorry that they are not part of India's progress and its amazing economic development. The Indian experiment is astonishing. It is a success story that deserves to be related and, more importantly, to be followed.

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