India 2020 is about to become a reality. Are we ready? In 1998, Dr Kalam and Y.S. Rajan published the now iconic India 2020, a vision document for the new millennium that charted how India could become one of the top five economic powers in the world by 2020. Sixteen years later, as the year 2020 approaches, it is time to take stock of how much India has achieved and what lies ahead.
In many ways, India s growth story in the twenty-first century has been hamstrung by missed opportunities and slowdowns in project execution; but it has also been marked by new opportunities and emerging technologies that make faster and more inclusive growth viable. A renewed policy focus is now needed for agriculture, manufacturing, mining, the chemicals industry, health care and infrastructure to invigorate these sectors and boost economic growth, argue Kalam and Rajan. Alongside, education, job creation, emerging technologies, biodiversity, waste management, national security and the knowledge economy are some of the other vital areas that we need to build on as we look beyond 2020.
India can still make it to the list of developed nations in a decade. Beyond 2020 provides an action plan for that transformation.
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (Tamil: அவுல் பகீர் ஜைனுலாப்தீன் அப்துல் கலாம்) usually referred to as A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, was one of India's most distinguished scientists. He was an Aerospace engineer, professor, and chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. During his term as President, he was popularly known as the People's President.
Before his term as India's president, he worked as an aeronautical engineer with DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). He was responsible for the development of India's first satellite launch vehicle,the SLV-3 He is popularly known as the Missile Man of India for his work on development of ballistic missile and space rocket technology. Kalam played a pivotal organisational, technical and political role in India's Pokhran-II nuclear test in 1998, the first since the original nuclear test by India in 1974.
He has the unique honour of receiving honorary doctorates from thirty universities and the country's three highest civilian honours - Padma Bhushan (1981), Padma Vibhushan (1990) and Bharat Ratna (1997).
Former President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, who became popular as ‘People’s President’, passed away on July 27th, 2015 at the age of 83 in Shillong, India.
Great book must read for every Indian. The whole book is a SWOT (Strengths Weakness Opportunities Threats) analysis of our country. The book is carefully classified into chapters which represents various sectors of the economy. Detailed information of what all has been achieved in each sector, where we stand today as compared to other countries and the areas of development. The book starts with one of the major achievements in the recent times - India becoming polio free which went unnoticed. At the end of the book a thorough analysis is given first of the sectors and lastly what all needs to be achieved by the country as a whole. The only backdrop of the book, was that the environmental issues was a bit neglected (though he did highlight to have a sustainable development at the start) but no plans to maintain the environment along with the development was highlighted (except for water pollution and garbage disposal) More focus could have been given on the government roles and the initiatives that can be taken by an individual as well. But overall just loved reading the book sector wise and understand our pros and cons.
Beyond 2020 has fifteen chapters with extensive details on how to take the nation from present scenario to progress by pushing through missions on industries, services and agriculture. Each chapter of the book is accompanied by a number of graphs and statistics to support the data. The authors feel that the crying need in the country is not a shortage of plans, but arriving at the correct methodologies to implement the plans and figuring out how to reach the benefits to the people for whom the plans are intended. The book defines roles and actions of various people such as the panchayat leaders, members of the Legislative Assembly, members of Parliament, ministers, the judiciary, media, the corporate sector, the opposition, regulatory bodies, opinion makers, activists and intellectuals, students and youth, agriculturists, doctors and health professionals. The initial chapters of the book highlight the great achievement for a country as large as India to have successfully eradicated polio, but at the same time it also mentions that to maintain a polio free status is an equally challenging task. The book then progresses to tell that in many ways, India s growth story in the twenty-first century has been restricted by slowdowns in project execution; but it has also been marked by new opportunities and emerging technologies that make faster and more inclusive growth viable. The eminent scientists believe that learning that must be done from missed opportunities in order to move towards a brighter future. A lot of emphasis in the book is laid on improving education, job creation, emerging technologies, biodiversity, waste management and national security. A renewed policy focus is needed for agriculture, manufacturing, mining, the chemicals industry, health care and infrastructure to invigorate these sectors and boost economic growth, argue Kalam and Rajan. Over the last sixty- seven years, successive governments have been committed to achieve the national goal of universal education and have steadily increased the budgetary allocation for education. However, 35 per cent of our adult population is yet to achieve literacy. ‘Education for every Indian’- one of the many chapters in the book rightly throws light on the inequality of access to educational resources in the country.
In 1998, Dr Kalam and Y.S. Rajan published the now iconic India 2020, a vision document for the new millennium that charted how India could become one of the top five economic powers in the world by 2020. Sixteen years later, as the year 2020 approaches, the authors came out with Beyond 2020 , another book to take stock of how much India has achieved by now and what lies ahead. The book successfully points out the problem areas in hindrance of the country’s development such as inadequate infrastructure, illiteracy, unhappy conditions of roads, railways, ports, etc and also gives handful suggestions to improve the same. The book assures that India can still make it to the list of developed nations within a decade. But for that transformation to take place, there are a number of reforms that need to be carried out. And the important thing to remember is that every Indian, each one of us has a role to play as we look to build an India beyond 2020. The book underlines that the twenty first century will be India’s if everyone works hard with a constant commitment and endeavour to better ourselves and transform India into the country of our dreams. The book ends on a very positive note charting out the mission in a four point action plan for the nation which includes making ample water available for both urban areas and villages, creating an earning capacity for every family, working towards sustainable economic prosperity and possessing great values.
Author: A.P. J. Abdul Kalam and Y.S. Rajan Publishing House: Penguin group Cost: 399 Indian Rupees Pages: 281
A very nice book telling the methods to adopt if nation wants to progress and become a Developed country. The book covers various methods that need to be adopted in fields of Economy, Agriculture, Mining, Infrastructure, Military etc. if nation wants to mark its strong presence.
Excellent book with a lot of factual information about India, along with suggestions on how to take our nation further on the path of development to realize our dream of a Developed Nation!!!
The book "Beyond 2020", a sequel to "India 2020" written in 2014, opens with an overview of India's status in 2014. The authors highlight the missed opportunities over the past two decades, particularly in the manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.
In this book, the authors revisit their vision for a developed India as outlined in the India 2020 book, discussing achievements as well as still-stagnant conditions across various sectors such as agriculture, industry, infrastructure, mining, education, healthcare and service sector.
The authors continue to emphasize the importance of technology and skill development and the government to create the enabling environment for the corporate sector and NGO and all Indians to participate to achieve India's development goals in the next one or two decades.
They introduce two concepts, "User Community Pyramid (UCP)" and the "Sustainable Development Radar (SDR)", to highlight sustainable development through the convergence of technologies. This approach aims for the optimal use of resources, ensuring benefits reach user communities and fostering human development of all Indians.
Rather than delving deeply, the authors propose general solutions for each sector to thrive. Unlike India 2020 book, this one is devoid of technical jargons, which makes it an easy read to finish this book in 3-4 days (depends on the reading speed and number of hours allotted to read per day).
I plan to start the next book "Target 3 billion" and hope this book gives me the insights on how to strategize India's rural development in detail.
Evolving great citizens of India- this means that every citizen should have not only an earning capacity or the capacity to acquire knowledge but they should also become good human beings possessing great values. Where there is righteousness in the heart , there is a beauty in the character . This righteousness starts at home with the teachings of the mother and father and with once first teachers
With this line the author's made a perfect conclusion the mission of india is taking to become developed nation in couple of decades.
Dr. Kalam is a respectable figure not only in scientific community but in every Indian household. The strategic plans laid out in this book is nothing but some sort having a “Ram Rajya” dream which is not a bad idea but this sort of highly ambitious ideas are mostly dependent on political will which we hugely lack because of greed and other such evils. So what a common person can do? Well, read the book but I’d recommend this book to bureaucrats and politicians first as they are mostly responsible to build a nation.
REVIEW I‘ll pen down this book review by reinstating a profound statement made by Maharshi Patanjali roughly around some 2500 years ago:
“When you are inspired by a great purpose, by some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds and your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world! Dormant forces, faculties and talents come alive and you discover yourself to be a great a person, by far than you ever dreamt yourself to be.”
Beyond 2020 is an aftermath analysis and future road based on the groundbreaking book by the deadly combo of Kalam-Rajan’s India 2020. This book boldly projects the still-incomplete mission of Developed India by throwing light on blunders and mistakes, yet never sounding satirical or pessimistic. As the flame of Dr. Kalam ‘s vision is never set to vent out, so is this book, which clinches on to us and answers the far-cry of long existed irritating questions on implementation by suggesting more steadfast and aggressive approaches as countermeasures. The 15 lucid chapters in it, are brimming with exhaustive details of facts and stats. Legacy of Dr. Kalam’s books, continues in this book too, which doesn’t outweigh the reader with technical analysis; and gives such an optimistic touch to it that we feel nothing has been lost; that ‘There‘s still time’!
Now, get ready for philo-bombs!:
Knowledge isn’t the use of grandiloquent literature or narcissist projections. It is the pride-less possession of practical USEFUL wisdom and not the mere robotic-&-lifeless utopian data. It’s not about scrutinizing the complexities but it’s about the depth; the richness of the context; the relevance and authenticity of it; rather than to mislead or confuse us by exaggerations. Knowledge, by far, shall be lucid in logical thought and easy understanding, if not completely tangible.
Okay, so reclining again towards Beyond 2020. This awesome bluish-covered book is a spring of realistic knowledge and makes us aware WHERE INDIA STANDS TODAY..and I’ll not say that its all theory and a smooth ride. It has the critical part of analytical content because that’s the prime need of it.
GOALS SPECIFIED: [There aren’t any shortcuts like clear-cut goals mentioned; but after reading it, I can suffice it in 5 PRIMARY Goals; which barely makes up to some 30-40% of data of this book]
Goal #1:
National smart waterways grid for ensuring water availability during critical times of drought and disasters. Making ample water available for both urban poor and 6,00,000 villages of the country. River linking projects.
Goal #2:
GDP progress to touch $10 trillion by 2030 from current vacillating $4-5T. Uplifting the 150 million people BPL (below poverty line) and lower middle classes, by establishing 7000 PURA clusters; linking physical-electronical-knowledge and economic connectivity with urban clusters; Tele-medicinal aid for remote villages.
Goal #3:
Working towards sustainable economic prosperity of nation by the generating of employment potential for India’s 600 million youth. Development of Innovation and scientific incubation for better GER (Gross Enrollment Ratio). Establishment of Linkages of Industrial sector with institutions for lesser rate in unemployment. Vocational training for skilled output.
Goal #3:
Increasing agricultural output from 250 million tonnes to 350 million tonnes. Introduction of GM (genetically modified) crops. R&D for health-safety analysis and procurement by testing.
Goal #4:
Zero tolerance for terrorism. Indigenous production of defense utilities, instruments, weapons and assets. Increased amount in Defense services in GDP share for sustaining grip in external as well as internal securities.
GENERAL GOALS:
He also speaks on innovative countermeasures such as:
User community pyramid Societal business model Societal development radar
He enlists an agenda of quintessential topics such as:
Managing infrastructure Enhancing mining sector Enlisting possibilities in manufacturing leadership Balancing commerce and conservation through biodiversity protection Increasing mobile connectivity [Increasing teledensity; providing coverage for 62,443 uncovered villages; per capita GDP increase by 10% increase in mobile/broadband penetration] Pharmaceutical potentialities.
AFTERMATH: After missing critical opportunities indispensable sectors viz. Agriculture, and manufacturing, he looks at India through a vista of light and potential. It’s a long way to go now, to achieve what once, was easily attainable. Lax policies, Dormant functioning, and wide presence of Corruption have delayed the inevitable, but with collective responsibility and aggressive implementation of missions, we can surely catch the train.