Maverick Remembered

Why India Missed The Industrial Revolution

A little bit of history doesn't hurt. Funny that some people here who had seen the declassified notes of the British PM Harold Wilson – just like anybody with an internet connection – seem to take them at face value. That is the independence of Mauritius was automatic and SSR loved to be called Premier. They seem to think that the Leader of the LP came to the negotiation table mostly unprepared. SSR and unprepared??? He also took his General Secretary to London even though that guy had lost his seat in the 1963 general elections. By 96 votes. Probably to cheer the latter up as he'd always wanted to go to Trafalgar Square.

Michio Kaku on Civilisation Paths

Jaufeerally Pleading For End of Growth Worship

That was in a very refreshing interview where he warned that our present model is simply not sustainable. I totally agree and have been using my megaphones to get this point across. Karim also found a big disconnect between the lofty speeches and what's get done about our environment. I don't disagree one bit.

China Giving More Loans To Africa

Than the World Bank. I heard Stephen Sackur mention this yesterday on Hardtalk. He was grilling Obi Ezekwisili the Bretton Woods institution's VP for Africa. The latter said something interesting: inequality is a time bomb that destroys your society. Couldn't agree more. Which has been after all the basic trigger for the Arab Spring. That would explain why The House of Saud is spending USD130 billion to buy peace in the Kingdom.

Here too, bean-counting policies have seriously harmed the fabric of our society during the last five years. For some thoughts on this check our little multimedia collection. No subscriptions required.

How Bihar Overcame The Jungle Raj

We know that growth rates should be taken with a big grain of salt. Still, when an Indian state like Bihar -- not exactly the poster child for economic development -- clips an average growth rate of 11% over the past years 5 years it is worth finding out how they did it.

Turns out they changed little things and that had a huge impact. By the way, 11% that's two-and-a-half times our growth rate since July 2005.