Rudra leaned back in his chair, staring at the map of India pinned on the wall before him. The year was 1970, and his mind was racing with the realization that the path ahead would be anything but simple. He had already decided: he would return to India, but he needed a plan. A plan that could bring about a fundamental change, one that would not only shape India's future but also elevate it to a position of global prominence.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the major issues plaguing India at that time. His mind sifted through the layers of the country's problems—where to begin?
India was in the midst of economic turbulence. Agriculture was still the backbone of the nation, but it was also its weakest link. The country was battling food shortages and struggling with industrial underdevelopment. The agrarian reforms had been slow to take root, and the economy was overly reliant on foreign aid. India's industrial growth, though present, was stagnant, and its ability to innovate and compete globally was minimal.
The political landscape was another hurdle. While Indira Gandhi held power, her leadership was met with increasing opposition, both from within her party and outside. The country was highly divided along ideological lines. The Emergency was still several years away, but the seeds of authoritarianism had already been planted. Public unrest simmered beneath the surface, and many were growing disillusioned with the existing government.
Corruption ran rampant in the bureaucracy and political circles, stifling development and progress. The education system was inadequate for the demands of a modernizing world. The country's infrastructure was crumbling. Potholes, power cuts, and inefficient transportation systems made everyday life a challenge. The industrial sector lacked the cutting-edge technology needed to keep pace with the rest of the world.
Rudra knew that these issues were interconnected. Fixing one without addressing the others would do little to lift the country out of its current state. He needed to tackle them all.
His mind wandered to the mistakes India had made in its post-independence journey. The decision to focus too heavily on centralized planning and socialist policies had stifled private entrepreneurship and innovation. The inefficiencies of the License Raj and over-regulation had kept India's economy underdeveloped, leaving the country behind in the race for global supremacy. These were not just mistakes of policy—they were mistakes in vision. India had failed to embrace global competition and adapt to the rapidly changing world.
What could he do differently? How could he steer India in a new direction?
Rudra began to sketch out a mental blueprint. The first challenge he identified was economic liberalization. India's economy was ailing, and the only way to fix it was to open it up. He would have to find a way to encourage private investment, promote industrialization, and integrate India into the global economy without sacrificing its sovereignty.
But it couldn't be done overnight. The changes would need to be incremental, starting with policies that encouraged innovation, competition, and entrepreneurship. The License Raj would need to be dismantled, and heavy industry would need to be modernized. Agriculture needed to be reformed—India had the potential to become self-sufficient, but it needed to invest in better agricultural practices, technology, and irrigation systems.
Next, Rudra thought about the political landscape. India needed strong leadership, but not the kind of leadership that ruled through fear or populism. The country needed to embrace democratic principles and maintain the balance between progress and justice. He would have to tackle corruption at every level of governance and create a system that rewarded efficiency and merit, not cronyism. The political establishment would have to be held accountable.
Rudra had to confront India's infrastructure crisis. Roads, railways, electricity—these were the veins of any nation. The country's crumbling infrastructure was holding it back from becoming a true powerhouse. If he was to lead, he needed to address the bottlenecks in transportation and energy, ensuring that industries and citizens had access to the basic services that would enable them to thrive.
Finally, Rudra turned his attention to education. The future of India's youth needed to be reshaped. An educated workforce would be the key to lifting India out of poverty and into prosperity. There needed to be an overhaul of the educational system, focusing on skill development, technological education, and research. The universities needed to foster critical thinking and innovation, not rote memorization.
As Rudra reviewed his thoughts, a sense of purpose began to settle within him. These changes wouldn't be easy—they would require careful maneuvering, patience, and strategic alliances. But it was clear to him that India's future could only be secured through hard work and dedication to transformation.
Rudra knew that this would be a long journey, one that would require him to carefully navigate the complexities of the political and social landscape. But his resolve had hardened. He would return to India, take his place in the political arena, and start the process of change, one step at a time.