Proud to be an Indian, and looking for more . . .

This time last year the air was agog with proud assertions of how we have grown together as a Sovereign Republic for three quarters of a century. Celebrations were galore on what the country had achieved. We too, those associated with the NCCI, joined our fellow citizens in celebrating and praying together for the ways in which we have flourished and affirmed that we can do much more. We resolved to do better, to be more inclusive, to be less divisive and to cooperate and coordinate with everyone in all that we can be a blessing to the nation.

One year down the line we thank God for the accolades that different people and groups have won for India, be it sportspersons, artistes, writers, policy makers or scientists and soldiers. More Vande Bharats and many kilometres of mettaled roads, new airports, many more schemes for alleviation of poverty by the Union and State Governments – despite situations that we despised there was always something that could make one proud of being an Indian.

According to various reports, India ranks among the top five in the Global Economic Index, standing up as the 4th largest economy in the world; the country stands out in the Emerging Markets Index, Global Innovation Index and the ICT services export index. Its ranking in the AI readiness is steadily increasing. It is said to be 5th in research output worldwide, fourth in science and Technology clusters, 7th in Nuclear capability and is said to have the 4th strongest military worldwide. Indian Universities are among the top 15 in Employability. These and many such rankings do stand the country in good stead amongst her peers in the world stage. These are worth reckoning and could make every Indian proud.

We need to now focus intentionally, and with greater intensity, improving on the Gross Happiness Index (118th amongst 147), Global hunger Index (102 out of 123), Human Development Index (130 out of 193), Gender inequality Index (108th of 193), Rule of Law Index (86 out of 143 countries), Global Peace Index (115 out of 163), World Press Freedom Index (151 out of 180), and in lifting 234 million people out of acute multi-dimensional poverty. The Free Speech Index also shows need for improvement as India stands 24th amongst 33 countries surveyed. India has also been ranking consistently very high on the Social Hostilities Index as well as on the Government Restrictions Index, indicative of a volatile context and contra-indicative of inclusive growth.

As we move on as citizens of this great Republic, even amidst claims of wanting to develop indices of our own, we realise that we need to do more. Riding on the successes in the fronts that we have coped with global parity, we need to work on improving our performances on Human Development, Equity and Freedom indices, as well as addressing the Social Hostilities and Government Restriction Indices that will lift all ‘together and at once’. As citizens belonging to different faiths and ideologies, informed by each other, let us reclaim our Agency in designing our Destiny and in holding our elected representatives and public institutions accountable to ‘we the people of India’.

Long live the Republic !

Jai Hind

Rev. Asir Ebenezer
General Secretary