The strange paradox that India is

First world capabilities and third world inadequacies

India is a strange paradox. As the leading social activist , Jayaprakash Narayan of Lok Satta recently mentioned in a public gathering, our country combines first world capabilities in some areas with third world inadequacies in others.
We have business leaders like N.R.Naraynamurthy and Azim Premji who are second to none in terms of their vision and statesmanship and commitment to the highest standards of corporate governance.We have companies like TCS, Infosys and Wipro who have demonstrated consistently their ability to execute large IT outsourcing contracts. We have some public servants like Kiran Bedi who can match the Rudi Gullianis of the world in terms of their go getting capabilities. We have some of the most hard working people in the world in the corporate sector, toiling very long hours in their offices.
But we also have some of the most incompetent and dishonest politicians in the world. And the few who are competent and honest are not the greatest communicators. That includes our current prime minister. Recently, I watched a video of Al Gore the former vice president. He could bring the crowd on its feet by his impassioned appeal to save the earth from global warming. And recall Ronald Reagan when he was the US president. Or more recently Tony Blair, former prime minister of England. I can think of few Indian politicians who have that kind of an oratorial capability, people who can combine substance with style and deep conviction.
Even more of greater concern is the concentration of power in the hands of a few individuals and the complete subversion of the democratic process. Indeed, there are few checks and balances on some Indian politicians. Recall the way in which the current president was selected. And that too when the previous president (who most people accept as one of India's most popular presidents ever) was available for a second term and was a clearly better candidate.
We also have some of the most in disciplined people in the world- who drive rashly on the roads throwing all traffic rules to the wind, who do not like to stand in the queue and who talk loudly in public places without caring about the inconvenience caused to the people around. Not to talk about the Diwali crowd who seem to draw sadistic pleasure bursting crackers which can damage the ear drums of people around, especially the senior citizens.
And while we do have some great companies, none of them find a place among the world's 100 most corporate brands published by Business Week recently.
Our legal system is pathetic. Judgments relating to some of our most celebrated cases like the Coimbatore and Bombay blasts have been delayed for years and are only now coming close to delivery.
And I need not mention our pathetic infrastructure which is choking many of our cities including Bangalore.
Clearly, notwithstanding the hype created by a few intellectuals and columnists,our current rate of economic growth cannot be sustained if we are not able to develop first world capabilities in many more areas where our current standards are shameful to say the least.