Agreed, china broke off its isolation path but you think CHina;s 10 yr head start is the difference you are seeing today? Not at all, the policy was iin place for at least 1-2 decades before in China with long term planning under Deng guidance. India lacked the right political support. That;s why when folks bad mouth commnism and cheer democracy, I laugh. The Chinese and even some INdians understood, that in theory its great but to reap its full potnential, the ppl must be educated on how to see it for the greater good not personal good.
I am in favor of the current economic policies but I was trying to point out that India;s Isolation worked out in her favor. Times were rough back then but there was plan but it did not see fruit. I compare it to China and how the Chinese leaders saw that her ppl needed to be weary and aware of Western society. In India, many don;t have a clue, especially if you are from the lower strata of society. Look at how how developed countries are going back to old ways in terms of cooking, green products, etc. India is suffering more now, as it readily absorbs all this but the ppl don;t understand the wide long term implications. Look at the rate o obseity in India, the increase of cancers and heart disease? Hell, look at how the jute industry was almost destroyed and reduced to a low leve. We love to use plastic bags yet lack any means of sanitation. Indians want these products but there is no long term vision of the harm of such products. Take a look at the US, they are trying to revive the slow food movement, reduce plastic bag conumption, even cig companies make most of their profit in places like India due to lax laws. Our ppl suffer while the politicans get ****** rich. The sad part is when India is in deeply terrible position, these scumbags will fly off with their hden wealt. In order for India to truly succeed, we need to educate out ppl. Socialism may sound bad but ideally it is a great principle but nobody had been able to show its true potential except maybe Cuba, even so you will have naysayers.
Don't be mistaken. Geo-politics would have never let that happen. That;s what I was referring to when I said INdira knew India was "young." I agree though for the most part Socialism was bad but it was an experience and hopefully India learned from its mistakes.
As for Punjab militancy, I could have swore I read somewhere it was supported, trained and partly funded by ISI. I don;t know what IG is, but of course there was a strong Kalistani element. Nonetheless ISI jumped on the opportunity when it presented itself.