An Exemplary Republic

Vikram Bahri

A personal, nostalgic reflection on the Republic of India as it stands today, seen from the perspective of the author’s grandfather, Sardari Lal Bahri, who was a refugee from West Punjab (now Pakistan). Also, a Harvardian presents a SWOT analysis for India...

awaharlal Nehru’s famous words at the birth of Free India truly encapsulate the aspirations of this great nation and its people: “At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.” Refugees from Pakistan’s West Punjab included many industrious entrepreneurs who were going to become stakeholders of Modern India, as we know it today. My paternal grandfather, Sardari Lal Bahri, founder of the Jaipur Golden Transport Group, wrote his own script, which is a small, yet consequential, part of this colossal epic, the Republic of India.

Born in a rural family in Sargodha District, West Punjab, in 1905, Sardari Lal Bahri was the oldest of seven children. The untimely death of his father left him in a sink-or-swim situation at the age of 12. His widowed mother sent him to the nearest city of Sargodha to learn a craft for earning a livelihood.

“From the moment I first saw them in the city, I fell in love with automobiles,” my grandfather confided in me. In the early 1920s, Sardari Lal had become a proficient driver, among the few who dared to drive those moody beasts of steel and wood. Not many people know that the earliest buses ran on coal, such as a steam engine locomotive.

These coal-powered buses also served the needs of goods transportation for the populace. Traders would go to different towns for their work and usually return with wares or produce for trade/ self-use. The birth of India was preceded and, in many political ways, conceived by the end of the Second World War. Many surplus transport vehicles from the war were now available for civilian use. Sardari Lal Bahri made innovative and productive use of these war-beaten trucks, which ran on diesel and were more pliable and versatile than any of the automobile dinosaurs they had used before.

As my grandfather always lamented, “The Republic of India was born with a silver spoon of opportunity but in rags of colonial apathy.”

Ground for Growth

In 2009, Nobel Laureate Dr. Amartya Sen, at the launch of his book, The Idea of Justice, prophetically declared, “India is a nascent democracy and, by nature, democracies always evolve and flourish.” In my view, in the 73 years since becoming a Republic, India has fascinatingly evolved and flourished. I may be accused of partisanship and optimism, but that is the DNA of every refugee, anywhere in the world. In spite of wars, natural disasters, sectarian strife and, sometimes, condescending world opinion, India has stood its ground with resilience and aplomb. My grandfather came with almost nothing and created one of India’s largest trucking companies. He believed that we have to strive to succeed; waiting for change or opportunity is akin to waiting for rain with your mouth open to the skies.

In these momentous years, the Republic of India has provided the essential ground for growth that helped many entrepreneurs become iconic success stories, including: n Freedom from foreign rule/bias/tyranny. n Protection from internal and external strife. n Vibrant democracy to be able to choose one’s own leaders. n Laws and liberties to live with respect.

Obviously, there would be detractors to my views and that is perfectly all right for this is not a case of attempting to show the glass half-full. India is not only an exemplary Republic when compared to neighbouring States conceived from similar circumstances but it shows character to even those nations that flaunt “Republic” in their middle name.

The Republic of India @ 73: SWOT Analysis

During my study at Harvard we were made to do SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analyses for various business situations. As an ode to the wonderful experience of learning at Harvard, I am going to attempt a SWOT for India.

Strengths

n Largest democracy in the world: Enough has been said about this unique distinction which we carry with pride. n Young workforce: As much as it imposes a challenge to a nation, a youthful nation grows and develops to the needs of its citizenry. n Brilliant minds: We have some of the brightest brains in the world who have excelled in every area of human development. n Software nerve centre of the world: With a dramatically digitalising world, India is rightly acknowledged as its back office.

Weaknesses

n Resources constraints: As much as the

Republic wants to shrug the endemic afflictions of poverty, ill health and illiteracy, these demons continue to hinder India’s march towards becoming a developed nation. n Sectarianism: Since pre-Independence, crusaders such as Gandhi have been relentlessly trying to eradicate sectarianism with little success. The challenges posed by this demon and its affiliates–communalism, casteism and regionalism–pose a daunting challenge to growth. n Income and wealth disparity: Unfortunately, since Independence, the disparity in income and, therefore, wealth, opportunity and growth, has been skewed. This poses a great challenge to a democracy where a very small percentage of wealthy taxpayers pay for the subsistence of the country.

Opportunities

n Digitalisation: In the digitalised twenty-first century, the traditional wealth indices are rapidly getting obsolete. Rather than a nation’s wealth of oil and natural resources, its demographic dividends are being evaluated and compared.

India stands a strong chance of winning in this new race. n Competitive workforce: Owing to immense competition for scarce educational and infrastructural resources, our students have learnt to strive and succeed at most international forums/institutions. India’s diligent workforce (both, blue- and whitecollared) is globally admired for its brilliance and fortitude. n Inclusive and conducive global environment:

The twenty-first century, in spite of its challenges, is the safest, healthiest and most inclusive century. There are no imperialist armies or subjugated colonies. The international community is ready to help, educate, invest and thrive with India.

My grandfather came with almost nothing and created one of India’s largest trucking companies. He believed that we have to strive to succeed; waiting for change or opportunity is akin to waiting for rain with your mouth open to the skies

Threats

n Nuclear proliferation: The biggest threat to India and to the world comes from human beings. Man has created too many sophisticated weapons of death. With intemperate neighbours, India needs to learn to live with them in a multi-polar world. n Pandemics: The fragility of humanity was exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. As we grow towards a smarter, connected and better world, we are always going to be susceptible to powers beyond our realm.

Indeed, the Republic of India is, today, in the yardstick of nation-building, a toddler with a wobbly walk and unsure step.

Looking ahead, I conclude with the words of Robert Browning in his famous poem, ‘Rabbi Ben Ezra’: “Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be…”

Vikram Bahri is a New Delhi-based businessman who is actively involved in the businesses of Logistics, Healthcare and International Trade. He is also a Trustee of Jaipur Golden Hospital, where he leads his family initiatives in philanthropy.