Sam Pitroda's leap of faith

Book review of Redesign the World: A Global Call to Action

Former vice-chairman of NITI Aayog Arvind Panagariya may disagree. But Chicago-based Sam Pitroda is probably best known for being in the 1980s Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s technology and telecommunications czar. The man who introduced the internet for public consumption in India and laid the foundation for today’s one billion-plus phone subscribers. His book Redesign the World is a leap into a stratosphere beyond his specialisation.

Mr Pitroda correctly contends the world order was last designed in the 1940s with the creation of the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisation. “This design has served us well for over seven decades, but it has undoubtedly outlived its utility,” argues the author. This is not a novel point of view; but in a completely changed international landscape, there is certainly merit in modifying the structure if not embarking on a root-and-branch reform.

The five pillars of the United States-inspired construction were democracy, human rights, capitalism, consumption and the military. In economic terms, gross domestic product, gross national product, per capita income, balance of payments trade deficits or surpluses and foreign exchange reserves were conceived as measurement standards. Dictatorships, communist or otherwise, had other ideas. 

Military expenditure has emerged as the largest outlay in the world with an investment of $2 trillion per annum. “For one-tenth of $2 trillion,” Mr Pitroda estimates, “we can eliminate hunger and poverty from this planet.” He continues: “Unfortunately, democracy is not universal… Consumption has been carried too far and has choked conservation and sustainability. … Development today is wealth-centric and not health, well-being, education culture or human-centric.”

In his view, some significant tipping points have transformed the world from 75 years ago. He cites decolonisation, the rise of China, the fall of the Soviet Union, the terror of 9/11, the rise of technology, increasing inequality and the Covid-19 pandemic. In fact, he has utilised the enforced isolation brought about by the rampant spread of the virus and the death and devastation it has caused to people exposed to it to put pen to paper. 

He rightly points out there are two competing and contradictory visions of the world currently: The American and the Chinese. The American position, he feels, is open, whereas the Chinese stance is closed. Some may chip in here to cite Washington’s openness is not open-ended. Nevertheless, the Beijing model aspires to provide an alternative to the American style of operation.

Redesign the World: A Global Call to Action

Author: Sam Pitroda

Publisher: Penguin

Pages: 256; Price: Rs 699

 

In reaching out to a beleaguered Mao Zedong in 1972 to checkmate the US’s main rival at the time —  the Soviet Union —  Richard Nixon laid the foundations of China’s rise to superpower status. The Americans pandered to the Chinese in the mistaken notion of luring them away from totalitarianism by enriching it. Quite the opposite happened. China under Xi Jinping has returned to the hostility spewed by Mao, endowed with an economic and military might the country has never possessed. Its ambition is global dominance, with neighbours from Japan to India bearing the brunt of its belligerence.

So, Mr Pitroda presents a redesign manifesto, which he calls a “third vision of the world”; in other words, neither the American nor the Chinese view. It’s well meaning, but perhaps idealistic. He advocates strengthening democracy by making it more inclusive, equal, with greater opportunities, dignity, respect and justice for all. Human rights alongside addressing basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, health and education. A dilution of “greedy capitalism” with a focus on the environment and human capital. A move away from mindless consumption to sensible conservation and sustainability and doing away with the one-time-use philosophy in products.

Mr Pitroda is influenced by Gandhian principles. Thus, unsurprisingly he prescribes non-violence at all levels. Indeed, he goes to the extent of suggesting defunding police and military and using them for peaceful and security purposes. Is the world ready for such nobility? I doubt it.

Finally, he comes up with 10 action points. These include hyper-connectivity, in his opinion “the most disruptive innovation of the century” and should be availed of “to implement big changes to help redesign the world”. A shift from GDP to GEP (Gross Environment Development Product) and GHP (Gross Human Development Product). His home ground is naturally science and technology. On these, he emphasises: “Technology must be an entry point to bring about generational change and expedite development, such as in rural and poverty-stricken areas.” And: “Digital infrastructures, platforms and technology must be used to transform the fundamental nature of our institutions.” Furthermore: “We should encourage bio, nano, material, energy and cyber technologies to improve the environment, food, health, transport, infrastructures and comfort.”

Predictably, he speaks of a crisis of leadership in the world and the need to reform international institutions. He flags cybersecurity as “a new battle­ground that deserves global attention”. I would venture to add the menace of disinformation generated on social media, which renders power to dangerous populists, also demands the world’s preoccupation if democracy is to endure.

Mr Pitroda is chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress. However, he steers clear of politics. As an engineer he wants to engineer an alteration into a better world. Some of his designs are achievable. Others are more challenging to accomplish.