Globalization and India's Poor: No Trickling Down by Amrita Sharma

True to what she wrote to us: 'I'm game for writing on any topic', Amrita Sharma is here again; this time on globalization and the poor in India, inspired by a classroom discussion.



Globalization is the new buzzword that has taken the people of thenation by storm lately. The nation has received unending applause forseeing unforeseen heights in international trade and economy. One cancertainly say that these are the heydays of Indian economy when internationaltrade is flourishing like never before. To top it off, the developingeconomy has fascinated the whole of world, and countries have began tosee India as a lucrative destination for setting up their overseastrade.

But while a part of the nation is busy bragging on thissuccess, there exists another chunk of population of India which isstill alienated to the term ‘globalization’. This chunk consists of thepoor living in the villages and even those living in the slums ofdifferent metropolitans and the so-called 'mini-metropolitans' of India. It’s not just the awareness of globalization that is lacking amongthe poor but matter-of-factly the effect of globalization also has nottouched the poor who are still striving to make both ends meet and arestarving for the very basic needs of life. Advocates of globalizationhave to say that economic growth of the country has increased thestandard of living of the people and the BPO industry has providedemployment for the middle class people who are now finding opportunitieseven in the global market place. Definitely, the middle class has shiftedto a better way of life but the poor is still sobbing.

Affordable healthcare facilities for children and women belonging to the lesserprivileged class is still a distant dream. The campaign taken up by thegovernment for setting up of at least one school in every village ofthe country which will also provide one meal a day, has still got a longway to go. Laws for checking child labor needs to get sterner. Agrarian policies that can help agriculture to look up in region with fertile land are craving for government's support. How can the government be so oblivious of the state of agriculture in India which is compelling farmers to commit suicide? Has globalization taken such a toll that the government needs to be reminded that a major part of the revenue of the nation still comes through agriculture?

The solution to this predicament does exist.

It’s high time the government got serious and took some giant strides for the uplifting of the poor while accentuating its economic development. The government can implement national development policies to reduce poverty while taking care of its international commitments and agreements. The middle class benefiting from globalization also has a role to play. By not being repulsive to protests for the rights of poor and (India being a democracy) by pressing upon the government for implementation of poverty reduction policies in tandem with economic growth policies ,the middle class can be pivotal in helping the poor to mollify and letting them benefit from the success of globalization.


The bottom line is: a nation cannot aim to prosper when a major chunk of its population is struggling for nothing more than a simple livelihood.

Amrita Sharma Hits T20 Out ??

Amrita Sharma's back again and this time she hits hard the new avatar of entertainment-cricket T20. We post her write-up to initiate a new theme: Is T20 killing the 'game'? As always, the ideas expressed are writer's and the blog/editor's agreement or disagreement is not intended or implied. The author can be reached at sharamaamrita1986@sify.com.

Fast,Furious and Entertaining.The adjectives most aptly describe this new version of cricket.It reflects the dawn of an all or new era of the sport.Its not just cricket but spiced up cricket.With ingredients of glitz ,glamour and speed the T20 has grabbed eyeballs of millions or more fans world over,who initially used to find it dificult to remain glued to the couches for a day or even more.This new guise of cricket is also more suited to the temprament of the generation which is unaware of the word 'patience' and wants everything in an instant.And so why not instant cricket??

And then came the latest hit.The first ever T20world cup that sped past in some seemingly fleeting moments leaving the Indian fans rejunavated with the astounding victory of the Indian team.It gave the younger lot still more reasons to celebrate as the winning trophy was bagged by the Indian team which mostly consisted of younger battalions transcending all expectations.With such affirmitive evidences to its credentials how could the T20 not have been a grand success?

But even in the midst of such unrelenting jubiliations, can we dare to accept some hard facts.That the T20 is not simply impeccable in its present state with frivolous stunts like 'free hit'which no way is worth deciding a winner between two teams which isequipped with fortified sportsman.That it is less about playing cricketand more about winning a cricket match or it is more about professionalism and lucre than quintessential cricket.Moreover it also requires a different set of players with a different temprament(fast,furious kind).

The point to be brought home isthat the T20 cannot be a substitute to test cricket or an ODI and thatthe mainstream cricket will never lose its sheen even in front of thisflashy new incarnation.

But since the festivity is still on anddoes not seem to ebb too soon,we can certainly say that this buddingform of cricket has sure got a long way to go!!

The First Student Response: Lets Redefine Our Attitude by Amrita Sharma, E-7/IIIrd Yr.

This is the first student response that we are publishing. The ideas expressed are writer's and the blog/editor's agreement or disagreement is not intended or implied.




Engineer – a person who controls engines or machines....this is how, the dictionary defines an engineer. But for us, as engineers-in-making, its time for some introspection. The question is: do we fit well into this definition or has the sudden effect of globalization and economic boom changed the point of view of an engineer? Let’s be candid and reconcile to this fact. As budding engineers we can very well sense this change in attitude towards engineering. The first thing that flashes our imagination when we think of being successfully placed is that we are working for some MNC and holding a coveted managerial post. But to me, this isn't something it ought to be. Its not that I am thoughtlessly skeptical and am loath to go with the demanding flow. It’s because this trend somehow alarms me of a bleakly situation that can crop up sometime if not in the offing. There is no dearth of work to be done in the hard-core engineering sector, but there is a dearth of willingness to work as an 'engineer', to whom, nothing can be more fascinating than playing a pivotal role in enhancing and consolidating technology, leave aside making money. With the evolution in technology, there has been an immense demand of R&D, to keep pace with the competition world over. And so, the redefinition of engineering is truly not required. If at all something is required, it is redefining our attitude towards engineering!

Let’s not forget that we, as engineers, are makers and managers of technology and not money. The world isn't running short of people who will take care of the rest! Money is just the return we get for our work and contribution this is how we eke out our living. We really didn't believe when Prof. Mukhopadhyay said that 'an engineer is some one who makes money and more money and even more money’.

We will be 'the’ engineers.

First Two Themes: Prof. D.Mukhopadhyay's Inaugural Address at E-Fiesta and The Farewell thats Around the Corner

We introduce the first two themes on this site:

(i) E-Fiesta seemed to have a huge audience but only on the 'cultural day'. When Prof. D. Mukhopadhyay from Jadavpur University, Kolkata made his 'inaugural', 'non-technical' speech on the Saturday morning there were not more than twenty students. And those who were not there missed something. In his witty, provocative manner, he 'gossiped' on the most existential of all questions: "Who is an Engineer?" and replied," An engineer is someone who makes money, and more money and even more money." He went on to talk about how engineers, best of them included i.e. IITians, are all consumed by this solitary target of making money and have somewhere lost their 'self-definition' which, he thought, included producing original knowledge and 'solving problems'. Our theme is : as engineers-in-making, how do you define yourself? What are your targets? How do you see yourself as a would-be engineer? How do you see/plan your future? Write the prototype of an engineer that you have in mind and write what is your future-self in your imaginations.

(ii) The IVth year MITSians are 'leaving' and one can already sense the feeling of valediction in the air. How do they look back on their life/lives in MITS? We make their farewell and looking back the second theme and invite write-ups, photo-essays, memoirs, messages from all of them - the IVth year travellers.