Barackface

Tuesday, March 03, 2015

English: Map of the British Indian Empire from Imperial Gazetteer of India (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Narendra Modi talked relentlessly of building 100 smart cities across India as he crisscrossed the country on the campaign trail. That is a great concept, and might be India's ticket to going back to being the leading country on the planet, like it once was. For most of human history India and China have been the two richest countries on earth.

India is not going anywhere unless it can grow up double digit rates for the next 30-40 years. That is the key thing. But economic growth is not enough. India's vast energy needs have to be met through innovations in clean energy. If you can't see the sky, does not matter that you have a lot of money in the bank.

But the only way India can become the leading country is if it takes its democracy to a whole new level. India has to celebrate diversity better than any other country. India has to celebrate free speech better than any other country. That is a precondition to India creating the trillion dollar industries of tomorrow.

Those 100 smart cities have to think along the lines of clean energy, organic farming, diversity and free speech. Those 100 smart cities have to become microcosms of the India of tomorrow.