[IMPORTANT] Why India 🇮🇳 is about to unleash it's era of greatness 🌟

Whenever I read foreign media outlets, India is the new Asian Tiger that will outpace most emerging economies in growth. But Indian media and Indian people act like India is the worst place to be. The dichotomy is extremely confusing. Why is it that foreign media coverage on our economy is more favourable than our own hopes and aspirations from this country? PS: I am really big on Indian Exceptionalism, the belief that India's economic development and trajectory are unique or exceptional compared to other nations, driven by our large and diverse population, thriving middle class, our entrepreneurial spirit, and the emphasis on technology and innovation. Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-04-07/can-india-overtake-china-as-world-s-growth-engine-it-could-happen-by-2028

Remember the time when we were surrounded by 5-6 startups making waves every day? They were the talk of the town, with incredible growth, innovative offerings, massive hirings, and funding galore. We couldn't stop discussing their latest feats! But lately, it feels like a different era, with a cloud of negativity casting a shadow. Dear Indian startup ecosystem, you have a history of miracles and game-changing moments. We believe in your potential to inspire, innovate, and motivate the youth. Let's bring back that magic and remind everyone why we're at the forefront of global innovation. 🇮🇳💡 It's time for something great, something remarkable. Let's reignite the spark and make headlines for all the right reasons!

..unless either of the two mess up insanely bad We'll probably get to the #3 spot if things go well. But it seems impossible that we'll ever go beyond that. Internal reasons that are very hard to fix:- (1) Our population TFR fell below standard replacement rate in 2023. This means we will not be able to follow the same economic growth trajectory required to reach developed status before population stagnation or declination. This is not a death knell but definitely very VERY bad news. (2) Our blue-collar workforce skill levels are not only subpar but are slowly falling behind the world standards every year. Much of our youth aim to join government orgs like the Army or the Railways which train for the job later, not before. Despite a national shortage of skilled plumbers, electricians etc, our vocational training orgs have been unsuccessful in attracting people towards these careers as well as churning out skilled workers. (3) Our bureaucratic environment is extremely slow with pathetic turnaround times on initiatives. This is not government specific and has always been the case so it seems like this will always be. This is not even a problem unique to India as many other countries have been facing this too but it is still a factor that negatively impacts our growth massively. I wish it was just internal reasons but a large part of it also comes down to both China and US being aggressively great at ensuring their successes:- (1) Chinese manufacturing seems nearly impossible to overcome - not just for India but also for the US. Yes, we might win over some industries and companies like the US, Vietnam, Thailand etc. have been doing but the amount of autocratic control in China allows them to crush competition easily. Case in point - the recent tussle between India and China on solar manufacturing which China won by autocratically lowering their prices. (2) If de-dollarisation succeeds, it will benefit China the most because (contd. in comments)

India's unstoppable rise in tech and innovation makes the West's decline clear. Yet immigration number always baffles me - are we being shortsighted? 🤔

I'm definitely not engaging with any answers that don't have a "Why". Regardless, my answer would be... Napoleon, The French Emperor and Military Commander "The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls that chaos, both his own and the enemy's." I've been watching a few documentaries on his military tactics. His innovative tactics and organisational reforms revolutionised warfare, setting the standard for modern military operations. His military campaigns, known as the Napoleonic Wars, reshaped the map of Europe and influenced military thought for generations. Personally, the battle at Austerlitz remains to be the best showcasing Napoleon's tactical brilliance and audacious maneuvering. In the midst of a freezing December day, his Army faced the combined forces of the Russian and Austrian empires atop the icy Lake Satschan. With the enemy mistakenly believing his right flank was weak, Napoleon executed a deception, withdrawing his troops to lure the Allies onto the fragile ice. As the ice cracked and creaked beneath their weight, the French unleashed their firepower, shattering the frozen surface and sending thousands of enemy soldiers plunging into the icy waters, resulting in multiple casualties and ultimately victory. Napoleon's rise from humble beginnings to becoming Emperor and his eventual downfall at the Battle of Waterloo is a legendary story of ambition and power.

Last week, I was wondering how long has it been for me since I joined Grapevine. Scrolling through OTPs, I realized that the first time I "may" have joined the app is exactly one year ago since today. It has been a hell of a ride. I have had insane conversations with some of the best minds in this country. It also made me appreciate how the same people who will be discussing Finance in one post also end up talking about Nietzsche in another post. I have always felt that we all have great stories to share in our lives. Grapevine has always been a place where smart people in this country have contributed to the collective knowledge here. Lastly, there are always a ton of gloomy folks around you, they are doomsayers. That is always because people in general are more optimistic about their future and that remains a mainstream emotion. Which means that the cost of being wrong is low and the praise for being right is high when you are negative all the time as it is a contrarian take. But let me tell you the most important thing, India is becoming big. No matter what may come our way. People will crib about things as they should, but don't let that deter you from building in India and staying in India. There is a ton of money to be made and you should aim to be on the right side of history.

Think about the years of your life in India after 2000, we have seen remarkable progress here, from insane technological progression to a thriving cultural revolution. Yet there is so much to achieve, new boundaries to push and drive at the cutting edge. We need to improve the living conditions of billions of Indians and become the bearers of true value enrichment. We often speak about what this country can do for ourselves and that’s a fair ask. But perhaps it is not about what this country can do for you but what you can do for this country. In 1967, my grandfather would have been toiling under the relentless sun or facing even the freezing chills of the Himalayas to grow crops. Today, I can grab a quick Uber to the airport, have an overpriced meal and fly to wherever I want. In the grand scheme of things, our time has just begun. We’ve always been the underdogs, the odds stacked against us and yet we persevere. Chandrayaan-3 is on its trajectory to the moon and perhaps as a show of unifying force it is a reminder that this country is on its way to something we haven’t witnessed before. Perhaps, to sit down and tune out the negativity is best, just focus on being a better version of yourself and inspire others to do the same. We are the kids who no one expected much from, yet we worked on ourselves and became so good that we cannot be missed. Just keep moving forward. Some Monday love from salt. :)

Reading reports of students from IIM Blr and Lucknow struggling for internships. Does anyone have any insights on the real scale of this? Any insights on the ongoing fulltime placement season for 2024?