We do not know how to congratulate and thank ourselves, except to take on more responsibility, accountability, and by giving more time, energy, and effort. We also need to take advantage of this, to clean up the system, and purge out who/what are not ‘for’ and who/what are not ‘right’.
Along with Vittal Rajan, KS Gopal was the co-founder of Deccan Development Society, DDS in 1983 or so. Today, DDS works with 50 Sanghams, collectives; 5000 dalit indigenous women members; 400,000 lives impacted. DDS is known for its Participatory approach, PRA, praxis; dalit women empowerment; and innovative efforts at Zaheerabad KVK. Gopal also co-founded CEC.
Trinamool Congress is splitting in Lok Sabha too. 19 Lok Sabha MPs including Yusuf Pathan, Shatrughan Sinha, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Saayoni Ghosh expressed their desire to ally with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. Two Rajya Sabha members Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Sushmita Dev have resigned from the House and the party.
Mystic, Saint, Bairagi Kabir, ~1398-1448. Kabir Panth (10 million panthis) inspirer. Disciple of Swami Ramaananda. His works include: Kabir banis (sayings), dohe (couplets), sloka, and saksi (evidence). Parts of Adi Granth of Guru Nanak. Can we try and read, listen to, and practice Kabir panth?
India’s GDP was one-third of global GDP until 1000 AD. 25% by the time Mughals came in. Its growth became negative during 1500-1800. Yet caravans took ‘funds’ out of India on a regular basis. Taj Mahal was commissioned when 7 Million succumbed to famine. Even with this large GDP, the people at large were not ‘rich’ by any token of measurement, in contrast with imperial splendour. Many children became slaves. Land was the property of the sovereign. Artisans were on starvation wages. The burden of sustaining imperial grandeur fell upon those who tilled the soil and worked the looms, while the rewards accumulated at the top.
Post-Mughal India, 1800-1947, India was turned into an underdeveloped colony. Through systematic economic exploitation, deliberate de-industrialization, extreme taxation. Native manufacturing was destroyed; discriminatory tariffs in favour of British goods; raw materials were exported cheaply, and finished goods imported at massive margins; massive “drain of wealth” to fund the British Empire was pursued; weavers, artisans et al were forced out to go into agriculture, to rash wages in agriculture; wealth of India was siphoned out; payments to British for ‘administering’ India; currency system that takes away forex to British treasury; extreme rates of land tax, exceeding 50% revenue often; severe decline in local food production, due to diversion to ‘commercial’ crops; famines, food shortages and millions of deaths.
By 1947, 340 million-strong India’s GDP was USD 20 billion, which was just 5% of world GDP. With widespread poverty, life expectancy was about 32. Literacy 12%. Epidemics like malaria, tuberculosis, and smallpox were frequent. Infant mortality rate was alarmingly high.
In 75+ years of Independence, per capita income is 500 times; GDP is USD 3.5 trillion making it one of the first five economies of the world. Still, India’s GDP is 4% of the world GDP. Green, White, and Blue Revolutions have brought in self-sufficiency in food, milk and fish. Life Expectancy is 73, and literacy 77%+. 260 million students in 1.5 million schools, 35,000 colleges, 750+ universities. 70% of individuals above 15 have received 10 years of education. IMR is 25/1000; MMR 88/100,000. We are about 20% people of the world today. Can our GDP touch 20% by 2047? Can that be equitable income? Can we, farmers, value-adders, and consumers, be prosperous with good health and decent wellbeing?
Yes, we can. If we coexist, flowing. Living in harmony, generous, kind. In N? Santaniyoga for 7L.