Why Doklam Crisis with China is Good for India?

Why Doklam Crisis with China is Good for India?

By: 

Vijay Sardana

When I tried to locate Doklam on Google Maps of India, China and Bhutan, I was not able to locate. This was the significance of this place on the world map as of Yesterday. Today, all powers of the world and diplomats must be trying to locate where is this place, and Google has to update the maps soon.

Doklam Crisis is going to reinvest all aspects of India which will have its implication on all aspects of Indian administration. 

Doklam crisis will test the following:

1. Political maturity within Indian political system including politicians with different political interests 

2. Administrative response to crisis impacting national integrity and sovereignty;

3. India's diplomatic preparedness and our relation with "so called" friends

4. Our Economic and Trade Policy and Role of Industry leaders in ensuring reliable supplies on time for war (we can't fail in quality or performance because national interest and lives will be at stake)

5. Our Law and Order Management at the time of crisis and preparedness of police and civil administration

6. Our Defense preparedness and planning to guard boarders at multiple fronts;

7. Our Infrastructure along international borders to ensure supply lines at the time of crisis (you may read 'war')

8. Our Defense Technologies and Gaps in Defense Research and Production Systems (India can't depend on borrowed technologies at the time of crisis, we have history to learn from)

9. Role of our Media and Civil administration in maintaining law and order and confidence among citizens

10. Our capability to emerge as "One Nation -Strong Nation" at the time of Crisis, this will help crisis in future. 

As Indian, we are reactive society and not a pro-active society.

The best part of Indian mindset is, it works better in crisis and never work to plan to avoid crisis. Doklam situation is not a war, but the adversary i.e. China cannot be taken lightly, that is why it will force all of us to think on pro-active basis (before the war, which should not happen). This itself is a positive development for India. 

In my view, China unknowingly, activated many things in India which will benefit India in coming days. Key decision makers at all levels have to think overtime how to handle China and how to strengthen India for future. The curtain that China is a friend is now not there. It means now there is no reason to be defensive and give excuses for not doing right things and taking right decisions. Now national consideration should overtake the political considerations. This is required to make India strong.

In fact, Doklam will force all of us think and review every aspect of India, her capabilities and management systems. It is good that the adversary is China, this will force all of us to take a serious look on all aspects with microscopic details. With Pakistan and other small countries we take liberty to behave casually and think we had all means to manage them and we were not able to take clear stand on many issues. That is why crisis lingers on and we feel we are managing it.

Doklam crisis will force every department in India to have critical review of its functioning in national interest. Without crisis there was no reason for our administrators and politicians to spend time and have critical review of every thing which is hurting India national interest. The best part is, the 'Chalta hei' i.e. adhoc and casual approach will not work now with China as adversary.

Time to reinvent India:

I personally, feel this is a crisis which will help India to reinvent and Mr. Modi should not miss this opportunity to bring reforms in the country what is required truly in National Interest. This is a golden opportunity for him to reform India to the core. This opportunity is once-in-life-time opportunity for a true leader, hope he will do his best.

The way forward:

In my opinion, there must be a committee under Prime Minister himself to have fast track review of every thing on all aspects which I mentioned above and many more and this must involve all national political parties, states  level administrators, all sectors representative. This must be a truly National Council beyond political considerations.

I am clear that there will be diversion of resources to defense or for weapons purchase, away from social sectors like education and healthcare, there will be some pain in some sectors, but I think this is acceptable if India emerges as a better country in all aspects. This review may shrink or reduce wasteful expenditures and force to review our inefficiencies and response time.

This price we should pay to shake-up ourselves. In my view, review of all policies and making systems efficient and responsible t common man will be a better gain than doing nothing for years under one pretext or the other due to shortsighted political considerations. This is also an opportunity for Mr. Modi to ignore vested interests and 'friends with benefits'. 

National Interest at the time of crisis always help in driving the agenda and will ensure the speed of reforms with no opposition from any side. 

The clarity of thoughts and speed of reforms will decide the competency of the leadership and outcome of the crisis. 

Doklam is also a test of Mr. Modi's leadership as well, with in as well as outside India. History tells us that election outcomes are not the test of leadership, but crisis management is the test of leadership in national history.

Mr. Modi is known to capitalize on every opportunity, this is another opportunity for him to reform India. The management of this crisis will decide his place in history of India. 

I wish him all the best, as citizen of India, I am with him.

You are free to react and share. Do write your views in the comments section.

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