Is India Ready to Shine on the Global Stage?
India has the potential to flourish if the 1.4 billion Indians at home are provided with better chances to showcase their talents and hard work, according to Ajay Chhibber.
Key Insights
- The impressive success of the Indian community around the world highlights lessons valuable for India’s growth.
- Indians thrive abroad because they compete in fair, merit-based systems with fewer bureaucratic hurdles.
- Necessary reforms include cutting down red tape, improving access to education and finance, and establishing a transparent merit-based system.
- There’s a call to reconsider dual citizenship, as this could enhance India’s ties with its diaspora and boost both growth and global influence.
Why Do Indians Excel Globally?
The question of why Indians consistently perform well abroad may provide insights into how India can rise too. Around 35 million Indians live outside of India, and they have been achieving great success in their new homes.
Kishore Mahbubani, a noted diplomat, pointed out that Indians thrive internationally because there is a level playing field where they can compete freely. This is evident in the United States, where Indian Americans represent just 1.5% of the population yet earn more than $70,000 on average, surpassing other groups known for their wealth.
Many Indian-origin leaders now hold high positions in major corporations and various sectors like healthcare and technology.
Success in Diverse Environments
Some critics believe that the high achievement rates of Indians in the U.S. are due to their educational backgrounds. However, globally, Indian communities have thrived even in less selective migration scenarios. For example, in the U.K., Indians have consistently exceeded national averages in wealth, employment, and education despite facing discrimination.
In several countries like Mauritius and Trinidad, individuals of Indian descent have made substantial economic and political strides, transitioning from indentured laborers to influential community leaders.
Strong Leadership and Integration
People of Indian origin have taken on significant roles in various sectors around the world, showcasing their capabilities. For instance, Antonio Costa, a former prime minister of Portugal, traces his roots to India. Leo Varadkar, former Taoiseach of Ireland, is another prominent figure illustrating the community’s successful integration into leadership roles.
Highlighting these successes isn’t meant to boast; it’s a call for India to consider why its citizens excel when they leave the country. The goal should be to create a competitive environment within India that allows for similar achievements here.
Rethinking Dual Citizenship
Currently, India rewards the accomplishments of its overseas citizens with honors like the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, and those abroad can apply for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. However, many hope for the option of dual citizenship, as it is permitted by several neighboring countries.
In the past, concerns about loyalty may have justified this stance on dual citizenship, but those concerns may no longer hold weight today. Critics often question the contributions of overseas Indians, but their vast remittances are the highest globally, suggesting untapped potential.
A Vision for India’s Future
Ultimately, the success stories of the Indian diaspora serve as a beacon of hope. India can achieve similar heights if opportunities for innovation and hard work are enhanced within the country. With the right framework, India could even surpass rivals like China in the global race.
Ajay Chhibber, a distinguished visiting scholar at the Institute for International Economic Policy, George Washington University, emphasizes that unlocking India’s talent could lead to extraordinary achievements.
