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Indian growth

My favourite India Story

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Disclaimer: this post is focused on our economic affairs 😊.

As a human, 75 years is a time to enjoy one’s retired life. However, as a nation, 75 years still makes you very young and full of possibilities. The report card on India is definitely be a mixed bag. The proverbial glass might be half-full or half empty (depending on how one sees it). You must have already seen or read several videos and articles on our achievements, so let me not dwell too much on that. However, I can’t help myself to share this beautiful video by Google :

Now let me share a simple anecdote, which for me, best describes us as a country. I keep repeating this story and there is a ‘risk’ that you might have already heard it from me 😊.

The Context

This is an anecdote shared by Mr. Balram Singh Yadav, Managing Director  Godrej Agrovet Ltd, at a Kotak Mutual Fund conference (I was in the audience). Godrej Agrovet is a company deeply entrenched into the Indian rural and agrarian economy (you might know of its most famous product, ‘Real Good’ chicken). Mr. Balram joined the company as a management trainee in 1990, so he knows a thing or two about BHARAT.

The Story

During one of his visits to Punjab, he was invited by one of his dealers for a dinner at the dealer’s home.

While they were chatting, the dealer’s 10-year-old son comes to say hello. As is the case with most Indian middle-class households, it’s important for a father to showcase his child’s prowess.

As part of this exercise, he asks his son, ‘Beta uncle ko batao, 5 * 5 kitna hota hai’ (Son, please tell uncle, what’s 5 multiplied by 5). The son immediately replies, ‘23 papa’. The dealer says, ‘Shabaash beta !!!’ (Well done son) and rewards him with a 5 star (I know there are too many 5s here).

Mr. Yadav is bemused and asks, ‘Why did you reward him, even though his answer was wrong ?’. The dealer’s replies, ‘Arre kal tak tho 21 bata raha tha, aage badh raha hai’ (till the other day, he was answering it as 21, this is still progress).

This is BHARAT.

We are not perfect, far from it. But we are better off today, than we were yesterday (on most economic parameters). We have a long way to go and there should be no ambiguity on that. As an active and tiny participant in this process, I am strongly bullish on India (my small tribute to recently deceased Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, who was perpetually long on India).

Our Role

Also, I must reiterate to all of us, who are investing in the Indian capital markets, that we are indeed contributing towards nation-building. Our investment provides the much-needed capital to Indian entrepreneurs. This exercise is creating more jobs and nudging India on the path of sound economic future. So, this Independence Day, give yourself a little pat on the back😊.

P.S : What’s a bigger proof our today being better than yesterday

Disclaimers : This one does not require one 🙂

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