Prior to 1990's the Indian Private Sector was unwieldy and overstaffed. They were one step ahead of the non performing Public Sector, but just. I still remember everyone's apprehensions when the Economy was opened up by Narasimha Rao (I refuse to give credit to Manmohan Singh. The story goes that P V Narasimha Rao asked his then Finance Minister Manmohan Singh to prepare a reformist budget immediately on assuming charge as PM. MMS presented a draft budget, which was 'status quo' at best. A furious PVN read the riot act, and told MMS what the Budget should contain specifically. But Congress dont want to give credit to PVN, or for that matter any PM who is not from the dynasty. Hence, they have conveniently ignored his contributions. Even MMS will be trashed in due course). We all thought then that foreign owned MNC's will storm the Indian Industrial Scenario and gobble up our existing private sector. But Indian businessmen were smarter. During 1990's, they leveraged the IT, trimmed their fat, and were lean, mean and fit when the MNC's finally landed ashore. The rest is history. They beat back the MNC challenge, while at the same time, Indian businessment transformed themselves into Indian MNC's and attacked the Overseas giants in their own market, and beating them in their own game. Today, Indian business is very competitive, albeit a little unethical.
But our politicians have not changed with time. They still have a mindset that they are the brown sahebs and they have the god damned right to do anything they want, once they get elected. Every action of theirs is not transparent, and their behaviour is rent seeking. They have forgotten that they are the servants of the people. The people were patient, but have run out of it now.
While, the people may not have turned out in great numbers for the protests by Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev, there is still an undercurrent of hostility against the politicians. If they see the writing on the wall and be proactive, it is good for them. Or else, they will be forced into change they dont like.
