This refers to the article by Sanjaya Baru “Manufacturing superpower” (March 21). The Chinese ascent has been stunning but it also represents some sort of poetic justice. The clock seems to have come a full circle to the 18th century when the Chinese were global technology leaders. It was the English and their fellow Europeans who upset the global applecart in the 18th and 19th centuries by upstaging India and China as top manufacturing nations. For the last decade or so, China’s pace has been blistering. It is that country’s clearly defined blueprint to reach the top that continues to inspire awe around the world. What seems ironical is that they have achieved these heights with foreign direct investment from the West and the Japanese, in the process leaving them behind. We Indians have done creditably thus far; it is now time to move into fifth gear. That could only be achieved if we utilise our strengths and move according to a clearly charted gameplan, with stringent timelines. Then we too would be able to reclaim our pre-eminent position on the world stage.
Dushyant Singh Panwar, New Delhi
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