However, Dr. Mello, during a Q&A session brought out an important point. He was questioning our belief in transplanting western models of development into poor countries around the world, which could prove to be disastrous. We may have to re-think development models, evolve local solutions, ideas which sound very familiar and close to home – the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. This was kindly reminded to us Gandhian scholar and graduate student at Oxford, Ian Desai.
To me, the current Indian development project, seems to be wonderful example of blindly transplanting western and models of development. It also feels very myopic.
The 1 lakh car, being developed by the Tata Motors, promises to put way more automobiles in Indian roads, than one could ever imagine. Cars and freeways are quintessentially American. However, Americans had the luxury of inhabiting a country twice the size of India, with hardly any people living there. Obviously, laying six lane freeways was quite an easy task. There are no worries of acquiring land from poor farmers (as is the recent case for the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor between Bangalore and Mysore, a classic example of transplanting western models). All I’m saying is that when you have a billion people, and three thousand years of history, unlike most other ‘developed’ countries and thus need to self-evolve models of development.
Gandhi, almost eighty years back probably had the foresight to see these problems and proposed self-contained communities. There is very little chance that the big-city model would work in India. If you don’t believe me, just try driving around Bangalore, Mumbai or Chennai. No amount of roads and freeways can support five-thousand odd families migrating to these cities in search of work, every day.
The answer I believe, lies in creating economic opportunities in small towns and rural communities. However, given our collective myopia as a society, favored by government policy and business strategy, I believe we are heading for a Collapse (which incidentally is the new book by Gared Diamond, strongly recommended by Dr. Mello)
Honestly, I wish I’m wrong. May be twenty years from now, I would live in a beautiful suburb near Bangalore, drive my convertible powered by hydrogen fuel cells, in gleaming six lane freeways, to the nearest Wal-Mart, and buy a carton of milk. Unfortunately there are a billion reasons this picture looks wrong to me.
7 comments:
There are diverging opinions on your take in this subject. Cities are not created by some external "Hand of God". Cities evolve- they get formed. There are numerous villages in India and be sure that Agro Based developement would not be able to lift these people out of poverty. Cities are where development is. True, we cant built american quality highways with multiple exits and confusing numbers. But sure, we can create a good public transportation system and utilise the 4 lane roads that we have to reduce over dependance on private transportation.
Unfortunately, development is measured in matching US/Western Levels- may be our definition of what is developement itself is skewed.
Insightful!
Hope u write furthermore and often..this one came after 2 months!
Very nicely written ... these days i am also thinking in the lines of " When will this mad running end ?" :-) keep writing ..
Anu Ramya
Krish,
What you are saying is called 'conventional wisdom'. But, all of agree the economic growth in India is breaking conventions. I'm saying lets fundamentally re-think these issues. For instance, cities were created with a need for people to be in close proximities, would we need this if we have fibre-optic cables?
Vipul,
Will Try
Anu Ramya,
Mad Running: You are not alone!
@santhosh: I beg to differ on the need for creation of cities! I dont think cities were created for the need for people to be closer to each other- I think if that is the case, Villages are more conducive than cities- I hadnt come across Cities where people are closer to each other- cities are primarily economy driven- May be this is conventional wisdom- but this is like an axiom. Cities bring in economies of scale, which villages cant- Cities bring in ready market for finished good and services at a central place- which villages cant- Cities complement and supplement various competencies- which villages are ill equipped to. Communication is not the only issue for cities to be formed- in that case, the US cities like NYC should n't exist anymore- if you cant find optical fibre and wireless communication in such a mass scale in US, where else can you find? I find the works of Steven Johnson to be more convincing in this regard. May be you would have already read his work- The Ghost Map is very enlightening in this aspect- you can also try "Emergence- The connected lives of ants, brains cities and software". I find them marvelously researched and good to read!
Indeed thats a very nice post! :) People have progressed a step ahead than before. Earlier I guess no1 ever gave a thought for most of the things happening around them. And now when people are open minded enough to discuss these things, we can expect appreciable developments in the future! :)
Dear All,
What we think, or what we know,
or what we believe, in the end is
of little consequence.
The only consequence is what we do.
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