Very inspiring and insightful article. Gandhi ji had once said " India is a country of villages.To know real India, discover the hidden wealth there." The journey and story of the awardees is a lesson for the young generation to emulate .PMs " Maan ki baat" on last Sunday of every month also has mention of such exceptional people who are serving the nation .
The winds of change are making an impact and let's hope our country is able to eradicate poverty, unemployment,illeteracy and hunger soon .The Economic Survey today also highlights our progress in various spheres.Lets see what are the Budget focus areas!!
Thank you for your thoughts and kind appreciation. Couldn't agree with you more about your surmise that change is here. Big issue is what you implicitly suggest that whether this change can be sustained. Besides managing the dynamics of such a monumental makeover, India also has to deal with blowback from vested interests--both within and outside the country.
On Sunday, 29th of January, the Indian Women's U19 cricket team, created history by beating England in a one sided final. One of the stars in the team, is a girl from the slums, who had been spotted and given professional coaching to become a top performer. There are others like her in many other sports, a champion ladies hockey captain to name a few, was also from an impoverished background. The latest is Md Siraj, who is currently the No.1 ODI bowler in the world. There are many many others. Similarly your article Anil, where the national focus has shifted to we the people. The real strength of India will be unveiled when the focus is on people from all strata of society, instead of an elite and privileged few. Just imagine the force of 1.4 billion people, when fully unleashed. Hopefully this has been understood and hence the pattern of national awards. Very enlightening and a valuable addition to national growth 👏
Thank you for sharing the information about our U-19 champions. Was aware of the accomplishments of those who previously lived in darkness in other sporting disciplines. Remarkable. Sport is always the first place where such change is visible--and this comes about when the enabling environment changes. I am therefore hopeful that indeed this is not another false dawn and that India has crossed the tipping point.
The Economic Survey released yesterday says that by 31 March India's GDP will be $3.5 trillion--In 2010 it was about $1.6 trillion and India was ranked 9th in the world. The country's per capita GDP is touching $2,500--till a few years ago it was stuck at $1,500.
Guess change is here and your prophesy of 1.4 billion stakeholders in India's future growth may well be true. Fingers crossed.
Thanks a lot for highlighting the Padma awardees. These days one actually looks forward to knowing more about the Padma awardees because each person seems to come from a simple and humble background. They have silently been working for the benefit of the society for almost decades. Such selfless service is commendable. They generally aren't economically well off but they don't hesitate before investing their savings for the greater good of mankind. The officials must be having a tough time deciding upon the winners. Thankfully there is no limits that only these number of awards can be distributed each year. When we look back at the previous awardees before 2015, one often wondered what they had done to deserve the awards. Now we are overwhelmed by the selfless service of simple people who think about others before themselves.
Thank you for your thoughts and liking the latest column. So glad that you share my sentiments--feel good--when looking at the Padma awards every year. And you are so right about these people and their honest commitment to their cause--regardless of what it costs them or they can't afford it. Truly inspiring stories.
Hello Anil: You could not be more right. This is another example of the deepening and expansion of India’s democracy. Here is what struck me about this year’s awards: When the list came out, I calculated that roughly FIFTEEN PERCENT (15%) of the awards went to recipients from the Northeast. You can correct me if I am wrong.
What immediately occurred to me is how this reflects the now very visible presence of Northeast Indians all across the country, including in major cities, something you didn’t see 25 years ago. Their greater presence and involvement at the heart of Indian life and democracy infinitely strengthens the quality of Indian life and democracy, not only integrating India, but also expanding India’s horizons eastward. This is a long-winded way of saying that the Padma awards are an index of a transforming India that people at home and abroad simply don’t understand when they use old, very limited prisms to observe India.
Thank you again for another fine column. Until next time.
Thank you for your response and sharing this nugget of information about the bid to correct a legacy of regional bias. Nice.
You are so right, India is in the midst of a gigantic social, economic and cultural makeover. Whether it is good, bad or ugly only time will tell. At the moment it is ending an extended era of status quo that denied most Indians basics like electricity, water, cooking gas and so on. And the Padma awards as you rightly point out has begun to reflect this change.
Dear Anil,
Very inspiring and insightful article. Gandhi ji had once said " India is a country of villages.To know real India, discover the hidden wealth there." The journey and story of the awardees is a lesson for the young generation to emulate .PMs " Maan ki baat" on last Sunday of every month also has mention of such exceptional people who are serving the nation .
The winds of change are making an impact and let's hope our country is able to eradicate poverty, unemployment,illeteracy and hunger soon .The Economic Survey today also highlights our progress in various spheres.Lets see what are the Budget focus areas!!
Dear Vandana,
Thank you for your thoughts and kind appreciation. Couldn't agree with you more about your surmise that change is here. Big issue is what you implicitly suggest that whether this change can be sustained. Besides managing the dynamics of such a monumental makeover, India also has to deal with blowback from vested interests--both within and outside the country.
Like you say now all eyes on the Budget.
Best
Anil
On Sunday, 29th of January, the Indian Women's U19 cricket team, created history by beating England in a one sided final. One of the stars in the team, is a girl from the slums, who had been spotted and given professional coaching to become a top performer. There are others like her in many other sports, a champion ladies hockey captain to name a few, was also from an impoverished background. The latest is Md Siraj, who is currently the No.1 ODI bowler in the world. There are many many others. Similarly your article Anil, where the national focus has shifted to we the people. The real strength of India will be unveiled when the focus is on people from all strata of society, instead of an elite and privileged few. Just imagine the force of 1.4 billion people, when fully unleashed. Hopefully this has been understood and hence the pattern of national awards. Very enlightening and a valuable addition to national growth 👏
Dear Gautam,
Thank you for sharing the information about our U-19 champions. Was aware of the accomplishments of those who previously lived in darkness in other sporting disciplines. Remarkable. Sport is always the first place where such change is visible--and this comes about when the enabling environment changes. I am therefore hopeful that indeed this is not another false dawn and that India has crossed the tipping point.
The Economic Survey released yesterday says that by 31 March India's GDP will be $3.5 trillion--In 2010 it was about $1.6 trillion and India was ranked 9th in the world. The country's per capita GDP is touching $2,500--till a few years ago it was stuck at $1,500.
Guess change is here and your prophesy of 1.4 billion stakeholders in India's future growth may well be true. Fingers crossed.
Best
Anil
Dear Anil
Thanks a lot for highlighting the Padma awardees. These days one actually looks forward to knowing more about the Padma awardees because each person seems to come from a simple and humble background. They have silently been working for the benefit of the society for almost decades. Such selfless service is commendable. They generally aren't economically well off but they don't hesitate before investing their savings for the greater good of mankind. The officials must be having a tough time deciding upon the winners. Thankfully there is no limits that only these number of awards can be distributed each year. When we look back at the previous awardees before 2015, one often wondered what they had done to deserve the awards. Now we are overwhelmed by the selfless service of simple people who think about others before themselves.
Dear Ranjini,
Thank you for your thoughts and liking the latest column. So glad that you share my sentiments--feel good--when looking at the Padma awards every year. And you are so right about these people and their honest commitment to their cause--regardless of what it costs them or they can't afford it. Truly inspiring stories.
Looking forward to your continued participation.
Best
Anil
Hello Anil: You could not be more right. This is another example of the deepening and expansion of India’s democracy. Here is what struck me about this year’s awards: When the list came out, I calculated that roughly FIFTEEN PERCENT (15%) of the awards went to recipients from the Northeast. You can correct me if I am wrong.
What immediately occurred to me is how this reflects the now very visible presence of Northeast Indians all across the country, including in major cities, something you didn’t see 25 years ago. Their greater presence and involvement at the heart of Indian life and democracy infinitely strengthens the quality of Indian life and democracy, not only integrating India, but also expanding India’s horizons eastward. This is a long-winded way of saying that the Padma awards are an index of a transforming India that people at home and abroad simply don’t understand when they use old, very limited prisms to observe India.
Thank you again for another fine column. Until next time.
Shiv
Dear Shiv,
Thank you for your response and sharing this nugget of information about the bid to correct a legacy of regional bias. Nice.
You are so right, India is in the midst of a gigantic social, economic and cultural makeover. Whether it is good, bad or ugly only time will tell. At the moment it is ending an extended era of status quo that denied most Indians basics like electricity, water, cooking gas and so on. And the Padma awards as you rightly point out has begun to reflect this change.
Looking forward to your continued participation.
Best
Anil