Going by strictly economic measures, India is a successful growth story- impressive growth rates insulated by the economic downturn. Impressive Foreign investment, rising average incomes, that have doubled since the mid-1980s. IT driven industries employing a large work force with companies like Infosys and Wipro at the forefront of a knowdege based economy. What is this, if not a success story for globalization?

The dampener comes when we start looking at the quality of life of the people. Poverty continues to haunt as people continue lack livelihood choices, the country has the highest children under nourishment figures in the world, girl child continue to be discriminated against. In fact, it seems that the India describes in the para one has nothing in common with the India we are talking about here. They are just two different world with nothing in common.

Fundamentally, the problem is that the much applauded economic growth has been built on a exclusive and narrow base. Unless the deep-rooted inequalities– in access to and opportunities for health, nutrition, education, employment are addressed, India and Bharat will remain two countries with different realities and no meeting point. For India, development and social progress will require more than sustained economic growth brought about by globalization. It will need deep and undivided attention to inequalities and broadening the platform for greater inclusion of the disadvantaged sections.