Will India be Viksit by 2047?
Recently India’s rise from being the fifth largest economy to the fourth largest economy was accompanied by multiple views on why it is a big deal as well as why it is not. Economists, geopolitical strategists, and political parties have put forth their views on India’s journey to becoming a developed country. There is truth in each of these views.
But to start answering the Viksit India 2047 question we need to go beyond economics, geopolitics and political parties. We need to go to the core of what a nation is – its people. Being a business consulting outfit – The Strategy School has over the last five years worked with multiple companies across various business verticals. We had the opportunity to have conversations with thousands of Indians who are either the consumers or prospects of our clients. Through these conversations we believe we have uncovered why India will be Viksit by 2047.
Why will India be Viksit by 2047? The short answer is ‘steely resolve’. Indians across all walks of life have a clear, concrete and practical plan on how they intend to make their lives better. And they are putting these plans into action. In the Viksit India 2047 context two sets of ‘steely resolve’ people stand out because of the impact that their actions will have over a long period of time.
- Parents
- Young working professionals
It was early 2022, when a client consulted us on how an English-speaking course could be launched. There are multiple such courses that are offered to adults, but this one was different – it was being offered to children between 8 and 12 years of age. Additionally, to children whose parents do not speak English. To understand the scope for this offering we spoke to parents across the length and breadth of the country. We encountered people who run tea stalls, farmers, small businessmen and homemakers. Mostly from rural and small-town India and people who live in the suburbs of larger cities. Their sentiment towards this course was overwhelmingly positive. What surprised us was the steps that they had already taken to ensure that their child gets every opportunity to move ahead in life. In many households it was the first time that a child was enrolled in an English medium school. Most children were being sent to a tuition center. Parents were enrolling their children for dance classes, swimming lessons. Not because they have spare money to spend but because they feel that interacting with many ‘new’ people outside the comfort and safety of their house and school will instill confidence in their child. They were in turn cajoling and insisting that their child participate in competitions at school. So that they get used to dealing with stressful situations. Champions are being nurtured at homes across the country. Every sacrifice is being made so that they can move ahead.
More recently we worked with an institution that offers upskilling courses for working professionals – engineers. To chart out the strategy for this client we spoke to people who had already completed these courses as well as a bunch of people who could possibly be interested in enrolling for such a course. We encountered the same level of clarity and ‘steely resolve’ that we had experienced with the parents of young children. Each of these engineers have started to experience the disruptions that AI and ML have brought to their workplace. They are viewing the future with an equal mix of anxiety and ambition. There is a genuine concern that they could get irrelevant soon. There is also a realization that new technology will bring new opportunities with it. They want to ride this wave. They realize that to ride this wave they need to upskill and develop domain expertise. The data revolution created its own set of products, businesses, unicorns and billionaires. The technology revolution will create many more. And they are getting trained at institutions across India.
India will get Viksit by 2047 because of its people. Because of the millions and millions of mothers and fathers who are nurturing champions. Because of its young workforce and the preparatory steps that they are taking to become the creators of the future.
