[size=10pt]India’s answer to Obama?[/size]
Press Trust of India
Posted: 2008-12-05 23:57:24+05:30 IST
Updated: Dec 05, 2008 at 2357 hrs IST

New York: Who could be India’s Obama who could unite the country and march the nation forward at a traumatic time? US business magazine Forbes feels it is industry captain Ratan Tata.

“While it (India) has the sympathy of the world (after the recent attacks), India could have an Obama moment—one in which a leader, whose personal history epitomises the country’s principles, marches forward to unite the country during its very moment of trauma. India has a chance now to get it right, but it needs a strong, credible leader to step up,” Forbes said in a report.

“As an American, I don’t get a vote in India, but if I did, mine would go to Ratan Tata,” added the report written by Forbes magazine’ Senior Editor (Asia) Robyn Meredith.

“He is not a politician, but he is the country’s most respected business leader. His Tata Group owns the Taj hotel that was just attacked, but his family is just as connected to India’s proud history as its shell-shocked present,” Meredith wrote in a weekly column published online.

Posing the question whether should there be not a way to involve Tata at the highest level in the government, the report noted that “a fractured India” would immensely benefit from his acumen and constructive patriotism.

Meredith pointed out, “Should there not be a way to involve him in government at the highest level? A fractured India would benefit immeasurably from his acumen, his managerial skills, and his very obvious—but always constructive—patriotism.”

Wondering what if the nation leapfrogged America’s approach, the magazine pointed out that the political leap could be as successful as the country’s technology.

Certainly an odd view but a good one. Ratan Tata is quick to take decision and unlike others he is always determinant to accomplish whatever he starts. Kind of man who has power as well as strong will. Nice idea though!

Right or wrong, the discussion line points to one thing, that we are still hero-worshipers!

Else, why should we incline to believe that only one person can resurrect India from its shambles?

My view is , even Obama can't do this, even if we really believe that was had happened to America was only due to as single person!

The basic problem is, India is still not ONE country....but a conglomeration of many countries..culturewise, religionwise, languagewise...even economywise!

So, it's not one man's job. And we don't want Heroes!

What we need is a cool, composed, integrated, functional body -may it have many political parties and industrialists like Tata-fully empowered to to run India as an Industry!

Warm Regards