South Asia

The Socialist Republic of India

By Dweep Chanana ⋅ February 20, 2006 ⋅  Email this post ⋅ Post a comment

Delhi’s international airport has had a facelift since four months ago. There were new luggage trolleys at the airport - they were smooth and almost went straight! In the middle of the arrival area was a new information desk. I could have rejoiced.

Except the trolley’s were badly designed - no brakes, and too little space. The information desk was in the middle of two luggage belts - creating a huge bottleneck. There is always a but in India.

But wait. I’m like those spoilt foreigners that expect India to be resemble their home country. It is not. Not yet, thank god. So much good news to warm the heart.

Private schools in Delhi have been ordered to admit 25% of their students for free. These schools were provided government land at nominal prices on the condition they would admit students from economically poorer segments. Now, the court has started to enforce that quota. The son of the professional, the businessman, and the sweeper will study together - hopefully.

The story of our ‘dhobi’ that irons our clothes, inspires me. In the morning, his younger daughter - about 10 years old - gets up early for school. After school she helps her father - collecting and distributing clothes. After lunch, time for tuition, before returning to work, eat, and study at home. It is a daily, and tiring routine. She is top of her class. These are the people that need that top-notch education, the private schools must provide.

The sports complex in Vasant Kunj, where I live, has a gym, tennis, soccer, basketball, swimming and skating facilities. Anyone is eligible, for a very low price. This place is not for the exclusive. Another place where the government is redistributing wealth.

In developing a country, the challenge for a society is to leave no one behind. India is at that crossroads between socialism and capitalism. Arriving at the airport, one feels that India takes two steps back for every one forward. But the devil is in the details and they tell a different story, of opportunity, mobility, and hardearned ambitions.