Which country in the world can boast of a diaspora of around 4 million in USA?
And, which country in the world has as many Non - Resident Economic Advisers as India, mostly in USA?
Kaushik Basu, Rakesh Mohan, Raghuram Rajan, Arvind Subramanian, Pranab Bardhan, Gita Gopinath, Abhijit Banerjee and how many more?
And, they are constantly in the media, rather than giving their ideas privately to the Government. The media, of course, laps it all up. And, they feed on each other.
Is the government devoid of people who have data, can analyse and chart out courses of action? Is it fair to underestimate the people in government? Their capability, their knowledge, their perspective? Does this border on the offensive on the part of our diaspora Economists?
If it is not about getting personal publicity, would these thought leaders take time out to send their suggestions to our leadership? Not through the media but directly and quietly? That would show them in a very different light. And, if their ideas are not found acceptable, will their egos be hurt, bruised, disturbed?
As a postscript, would it not be really nice if our nonresident Economists became resident in India, working in an Indian University? Living in this real world of India, experiencing it 24X7, contributing ideas, sharing thoughts on the spot instead of belonging to the offshore variety— that would be so welcome. Not just to be in positions of power in government but outside the Government, like ordinary people. Perhaps, their ideas would find greater resonance and respect.
This is not meant to show disrespect to the non-resident Economists. This is only to ask them to think of others working daily to deal with the many aspects and dimensions of the current crisis. To be concerned is welcome. To share ideas even more so. But, can this be done out of media attention? Is it necessary to fill up column space in the print media and TV time?
It would be interesting to have a study done discipline wise on the number of Chinese from mainland China who went for higher studies to the US and the numbers that returned to their motherland either to work or teach and the numbers that went from India and got back to India to teach or work. i Know for a fact that in religious studies most Indians who go for higher studies to the US in particular stay back and keep criticising or understand Hinduism only thru’ the western eyes. In Academics also most Indians who go for further studies prefer to stay back in the US universities and teach rather come back to their motherland. Once they have decide…
as one who "lives in this real world of india, experiencing it 24/7", i've often shared advice - in private, solicited and un-solicited - with the government. i do not have any feedback that says it is welcome. instead, i live in the hope that something i say publicly may just be heard by, and agreed with, someone who in turn will be heard by the government. i think our diaspora economists live in the same hope - and i for one, like hearing them. they often offer an alternative view to what we hear at home. even if i do not agree with every word, i do not think we can ever have too much advice. so kaushik, …
as one who "lives in this real world of india, experiencing it 24/7", i've often shared advice - in private, solicited and un-solicited - with the government. i do not have any feedback that says it is welcome. instead, i live in the hope that something i say publicly may just be heard by, and agreed with, someone who in turn will be heard by the government. i think our diaspora economists live in the same hope - and i for one, like hearing them. they often offer an alternative view to what we hear at home. even if i do not agree with every word, i do not think we can ever have too much advice. so kaushik, …
I've always been curious Tarun the way that the Indian media - and readers - pay more attention to those who live abroad. Go and live in the US or UK and you are an instant go-to person for views and you have far greater media visibility than you would living in India. So I'm not sure the economists would get more resonance: respect maybe, but they'd have to fight harder to be heard.