The world seems to be in turmoil. There seem to be problems everywhere. It got me thinking about an article I had written 25 years ago (in Amar Ujala), in a similar situation - and I decided to reproduce it, since it is relevant:
"When we travel around the world, we cannot help noticing that at immigration counters at airports, at customs barriers, at shopping centres, at international seminars, there is a certain respect for people from economically strong countries. There is a certain ‘deference’. Small courtesies are extended. The tone of voice is different. There is some extra consideration.
This courtesy is reserved for those from the US, a country which has both financial and military power; from European countries like the UK and Germany; and Asian countries like Japan and Singapore. Japan and Singapore are really unique. They have no military might. But they have great economic power. Their citizens are therefore welcomed and feted.
At a conference of 300 participants in Australia, where the number of Japanese participants was only 15, the organisation thought it was worthwhile to arrange for concurrent translation facilities for the Japanese delegation. They also gave some of the Japanese speakers extra time beyond the schedule, in consideration of their inability to speak English fluently and fast, and their tendency to make long speeches. No one will say this explicitly, but such consideration comes from a wellspring of respect for strong nations and citizens from these countries. This is not to say that citizens of other countries are despised. They are not. But they are not offered ‘deference’.
This is why it is so necessary to focus on creating a vibrant and economically strong India. India has all the advantages that Japan and Singapore do not have. A large land mass. Abundant and great variety of natural resources, from coal to iron ore. Different climatic zones. A rich and long history. Large human resources and an abundance of talent. Yet, India is poor and still classed as a ‘less developed country’. The per capita income is low. It has among the largest numbers of poor people, who live below the poverty line, and also the largest number of illiterates.
A recent issue of Business Today analysed the economic performance of India and reported that with the recovery of the US economy, India’s economy also seems to be moving forward. We can now look forward to a 6.5% GDP growth, while earlier, it had been estimated at 5% or less. The foreign exchange reserves are at a comfortable Rs48 billion, the highest to be achieved. They say that industrial recovery could well be on the way in India. But they also ask, “Is there anything that could upset this rosy forecast?” Yes, but it has little to do with the economy. It has everything to do with what is simmering in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. If communal clashes flare up and continue, the economy’s recovery may be set back by several months. If not years. The editor ends by saying:
“Let us hope that better sense prevails.”
Economically weak nations are also easily pushed around. Just as economically weak individuals and communities are pushed around by the richer and/ or stronger. When you look at the totality of global trade, you will find that Western countries try to put obstacles in the name of sanitary and phytosanitary measures. They try to erect trade barriers in the name of the environment and health. But if you examine many of the products that are exported from the developed countries to the developing countries, you will find that many of them are not only environmentally unsound, but also rubbish. Many of these products that come from developed countries are environmentally unsafe.
Devinder Sharma, a food analyst from Delhi, says that in 1996, India imported 1,000,000 tons of wheat from Australia, later rejecting the offer from the US. The wheat from the US contained more than the allowable limit of downy mildew. The US was upset that India was not buying this wheat—even though it did not pass the standards for local consumption in the US itself. This shows how developed countries maintain double standards when it comes to environmental standards.
Developed countries have also been trying to dump excessive soya bean production in India for the last two years. This variety of soya bean contains seven diseases and five pests which are not found in India. It is likely that the soya beans may have been a genetically modified variety. They are pushing hard for India to accept these stocks.
Developed countries have very strict environmental standards for tropical foods, but the standards are very loose in the case of temperate fruits. This simply means that India will find it difficult to export fruits to the USA.
And Germany has banned carpets from India and Pakistan, because they employ child labour. They have also banned leather products because India is cruel to animals. On the other hand, Germany is the biggest exporter of toxic waste in the world. They claim that handling of this hazardous waste will provide employment in countries like India. Will they accept such an argument in Germany itself? Germany is also the biggest supplier of nonessential drugs. These drugs are not allowed to be sold inside their country, but they allow them to be sold to developing countries. India is one of the major recipients. Despite Germany’s double standards, nobody challenges them.
As long as we are a poor nation, we will be pushed around. Nobody pushes Singapore around. Or Japan. Or South Korea or even Taiwan. They may be small, but they have economic power. They can talk as equals. If we want to talk as equals, we cannot talk with one hand holding a begging bowl. And as long as we are a nation fighting within itself, with little time for the economic development of the country, we will be pushed around!"
Much of what is said above is relevant again, today—after a gap of 25 years. We are still spending time on closing meat shops on festival days and on inter-caste, inter-religious clashes, mostly on matters of little consequence. - and with loss of lives and damage to private and public property! And losing sight of the goal of 'the greater good for all'.
(Walter Vieira is a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants of India - FIMC. He was a successful corporate executive for 14 years, capping his career as Head of marketing for a Pharma multinational, for India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka- and then pioneered marketing consulting in India in 1975. As a consultant, he has worked across four continents. He was the first Asian elected Chairman of ICMCI, the world apex body of consultants in 45 countries, in 1997. He is the author of 16 books, a business columnist, international conference speaker and has been visiting professor in Marketing in the US, Europe, and Asia for over 40 years. He was awarded Lifetime Achievement Award for Consulting in 2005, and for Marketing in 2009. He now spends much of his time in NGO work - Consumer Education and Research Centre, IDOBRO, and some others.)
