Is India the Next China?
It's time for me to briefly shift from discussing wildlife topics to something more relatable. As an aspiring entrepreneur at the ground level, I dream of growing big one day. When I meet today's business leaders or government officials, many claim that India will be the next China. The media is filled with these comments, but it makes me wonder if they've actually visited China to understand its depth. Have they mingled with Chinese people to grasp the philosophy they grew up with and the values they want to instill in future generations? This blog is not thoroughly researched; it's just my surface-level thoughts and reflections for you to ponder.
I visited China for the first time in 2015 to see the first factory from which we used to buy paper. Invited by the salespeople to come and check them out, we explored the area and were amazed by the development and sophistication. We decided to start working with them, but little did we know that some of those people would help transform our operations completely. We always hear that the Chinese never say no! They reverse engineer or tailor their products to fit the price points. Aware of this fact, we gave them a very small trial order, which was executed well, leading to repeat orders. Since then, visiting China and the Chinese mills became an annual trip, and I began forming friendships.
These friends helped me see China in a different light. I met both the billionaires and the struggling individuals. It’s interesting how both groups walk the same land and eat similar food, yet their perseverance is perceived very differently by the outside world. In my view, India cannot become the next China because we lack the infrastructure and vision for it. However, we have the ability to learn from the Chinese and surpass them at their own game.
The Chinese are fundamentally programmed. They are driven by Standard Operating Procedures, where intuitive thinking is often suppressed. The process is well established, and they strictly follow it, rarely questioning why. I'll share an incident from a recent trip: I had booked a renowned hotel in Nanjing and requested an early checkout due to a sudden change of plans requiring me to fly to Xiamen. The hotel denied the checkout because I had booked for two nights and unless the reservation was changed, they wouldn’t allow it. They were just following their SOP, sometimes beyond common sense. To be programmed in this manner, their education system needs to be very stringent.
In India, an education qualification is not necessary for most daily tasks. While the government is taking steps to change this, it will take time, as our "jugaad" mentality, or the ability to take shortcuts, helps us find loopholes in the system. A truck driver becomes a truck driver without having to pass any exams except a road test. How can we expect him to follow the law on modern highways developed by the government when his programming has been in a fight-or-flight mode?
Despite this, we are risk-averse people. We take calculated risks, while Chinese leaders often take risks based on minimal calculations, believing they can overcome any obstacle by minimizing production costs and selling at any price. The Chinese banking system is open, with interest rates at 2% and minimal securities. The state supports industry by providing free land, water, and subsidized licenses.
However, India has unmatched advantages. We are known for our reliability and trustworthiness. This reputation is why Indians are often successful in the service industry. We have one of the largest youth populations in the world, which should be our strength. This demographic makes India attractive, with a huge market, increased goods consumption, and enhanced job capabilities. We need to leverage this strength rather than replicate others.
History should be understood, evaluated, and analyzed. We can learn from China's growth and avoid their mistakes to make ourselves better and our country great. We are the nation of the future, and if we all improve by just 1% every day, in 100 days our country will be 100% better! So, India is not the next China, but we have the ingredients to create something even better.
This blog is not a researched piece, but observations and perceptions I have gathered. I might be wrong, but these are my genuine feelings. Also the images on this blog are not mine, and have been purchased from various stock images, but the feelings, the observations and the jist is purely and wholely mine.
