From: vmuddan@hubcap.clemson.edu (Sekhar Muddana)
Subject: Re: India: Question of self-confidence / Dr.Manmohan Singh
Organization: Clemson University, Clemson SC
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 15:22:11 GMT

In article <1992Apr10.074450.25141@nuscc.nus.sg> krishna@iss.nus.sg (Krishnamoorthy Subrahmanyam) writes:
>It is 200 lines of 80 column article. It is quite interesting to know the view
>points from one another mahanubavudu, from Bharath.
>
>...Krishnamoorthy.
>
>---------------------------------<cut-here>-------------------------------------
>
>                       India: Question of self-confidence
>                                     
>                              By Dr. Manmohan Singh
>
>
>( The article is excerpted from the finance minister's convocation address to
>  Mysore University delivered on March 29, 1992, and published in 
>  Hindustan Times,  New Delhi, April 3 1992.)
>
>  There is another important respect which requires urgent national attention. 
>I refer to the visible signs of erosion of national self-confidence and to the
>need for strong corrective action.

  IMHO it will take a long time. (20 years!?)

>  A feeling has grown that something we Indians are inferior to other nations, 
>that we cannot compete against other countries in the global markets, that 

   Considering the facts, anyone would reach that conclusion.

>  Take, for instance, the area of trade. Industrialists in the country are 
>blessed with many advantages that other countries donot enjoy. Our wage costs
>are very low. Our food prices are generally lower that elsewhere. We grow some
>of the world's best cotton at extremely competitive costs. Our raw materials,

    The best cotton that he is talking about is Suvin and MCU5 grown in
Guntur and Prakasham districts in AP and parts of Karnataka and
Maharashtra. We sold that cotton at Rs.5.50 per Kg in 1973. We had to
sell it at Rs.4.50 per Kg in 1992. Well, we are competititive, Aren't we? 

>It has sheltered monopolies and accentuated disparities in income and wealth.
>Protection entails a subsidy given to the producer at the cost of the consumer.
>Heavy protection granted to industry has constituted massive discrimination 
>against agriculture; no wonder that the disparities in living standards between
>rural and urban India have increased over time.

     And I have read articles criticizing the subsidies given to farmers
on the net. Subsidies do not make an iota of difference to farmers. No subsidies
imply higher prices to consumers but add nothing to farmers income.

>not to equate protection with patriotism and trade with sin. Glorification of
>autarky can do our country enormous harm. India fas a fairly diversified natural
>resource endowment but it has to be recognised that on a per capita basis we 
>are not well endowed with natural resources. Thus India has to become a major
  
 How true. After all we contribute 20% to world's population.

>  But practice is helped by example, and action by resolve. For this leadership
>our nation will look to you, to young men and women whom it has educated at much
>cost. I would invite you - I would challenge - to look at the world with frank
>and confident eyes, and to translate the lessons it holds into a better life for
>our people.

   Frankly, it is a little late.


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