Beating China in this Game, Not a Happy Sign at All

New Delhi/Chandigarh: The United Nations Population report announcing India overtaking China in population must have sent shockwaves to many wise Indians, other than myself. Although every patriot Bhartiya would have hurled up his shirt out of joy, like Saurav Ganguly did in Lords a few years ago, I was clasping my bosoms out of fright, whether I should feel elated at overtaking China in population numbers by over 29 lacs on a windy Wednesday afternoon or not?

Going by the figures put up by the UN body monitoring world population, India had 142.86 crores mouths to feed last night, compared to Chinese 142.57 crores.

Though many would disagree with me saying we have over 284 crores hands at work, growing food, working in factories, adding to monetary health, using their skills and brains for the betterment of the country and so on, so forth.  We have seen many positive trends in the recent years, a stabler economy than many others, we have a strong decisive government putting up its achievements over last 9 years and Yes, the country’s strong fundamentals.

So why I am crying over imaginary fears, must be puzzling many, who are elated for having beaten China in population, as if Indian forces have captured Mount Everest and are focusing their HighTech binoculars across China borders waiting for marching orders.

Yes, that happened in 1962, when Chinese troops entered into NEFA, Aksai Chin and other Indian posts, claiming to put up 10 men against One Indian soldier on the war front. Then China had a population of over 69 crores compared to India’s 44 crores, also had an edge in warfare; Mao Tse Tung having pushed their king Chiang Kai Shek out of Peking a few years ago, and had an eye over Tibet and Indian territories.

Coming back to population matrix, India’s annual growth has been about 1.2 to 1.5%, adding about 1.7 crores each year while mortality rate has been 0.73% which mean we are adding more younger population than losing out on elders, about 50% population being below 26 years age. Though our fertility rate of 2.0 is reasonable, thanks to educated classes, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Christians adopting sensible family raising norms and standards (@1.2 – 1.4), there are other sections among poor and religious minorities unwilling to reign in their horses, thus contributing to Indian-China numbers victory (though I would say – a precarious self-goal).

Whether there is any population dividend in this victory; would be a toss-up question, possibly the Coin disappearing in the blue sky.

A small disciplined population, focused on target could be more an advantage than a huge crowd running helter-skelter, at cross purposes. Examples are Japan, Israel, South Korea and Germany, achieving much more prosperity, strength and security. These are democracies like us but more focussed on job than freedom and foul political agenda chase. There are other countries with close societies like gulf countries with strong fist controls; Russia, Central Asian and many smaller nations with discipline and socio-economic prudence.

Though India and China are big populous societies, the political management and hardline controls make China much productive and prosperous. China could raise its economy in last 50 years from 1970 onwards through hardline population proliferation, grabbing technologies, boosting production and flooding world markets with cheap but consumer friendly gadgets, upgrading defense and using thus earned dollars to challenge Super Power America.

Indian democratic system needs an overhaul to define Rights and Duties; Democracy and Delivery, Power and Governance; Justice and delivery of Nyaya and lastly set forth routes for achieving targets using this Population Advantage to Strength and Power. We need to eradicate our inherent weaknesses in the democratic pot-pourie.

We need to understand that Democracy is not only Elections around the Year, Justice is not Just Attending the Courts and Governance is not just Forming a Government!