Manufacturing, tourism growth crucial for job creation

By Aswin Devan | NT

Bengaluru: Expectations were so high when two stalwarts shared the stage to discuss a plethora of issues that affect our society. The duo - industrialist and author Naushad Forbes and historian and author Ramachandra Guha - did not disappoint the audience either as they shared many original thoughts.

The event was to discuss Naushad Forbes new book - ‘The Struggle and the Promise: Restoring India’s Potential’ - at the Bengaluru International Cultural Centre in Domlur on Friday.

The book dwells into India’s potential - targeting rapid economic growth as its collective goal, investing in innovation, design, education and research, building independent institutions step by step and harnessing its diverse culture.

Guha initiated the discussion by delving into the current employment crisis. He raised a pertinent question on how manufacturing and tourism, which according to Forbes are two vital elements that could generate economic growth, could be contributed to the employment generation. In response, Forbes talked about the imperative intervention of factories and touched upon the idea of modernity through the intellectual complexities of Marxism. “There is huge scope as only less than 10% of the workforce in the country has been involved in manufacturing,” he said.

To a query from Guha about the role of governments in creating jobs, Forbes said labour reforms are a necessity in the manufacturing industry.

“Tourism requires infrastructure development and connectivity. Gover nment should never limit the cultural attributes and it should stress those soft points of the country which we have in abundance from our food, dress, dance, and music and culture,” he said. Forbes took the opportunity to express his optimism on how entrepreneurship can contribute more. In reply, Guha remarked that plurality is cognitive to the field of tourism.

The discussion touched upon the economic understanding of the nation. Forbes said between 1991 to 2017, India was being shaped into a better nation.

“Our imports and exports were growing simultaneously whereas now we have a delusion that exports should be growing by all means. The thrust of reducing bureaucratic discretion and reducing the power of individual bureaucrats had existed at that time. But from 2017 onwards things began to turn around for the worse,” he said.

Guha then read out excerpts from the book, which details the role of institutions in Indian democracy.

“Instead of a strong leader determining what is right independent institutions should stay in the rules, these rules are built on a foundation of distinctive and balanced values.” He said some leaders in the country are proclaimed authoritarians.

The writers also took time to talk about their perception of Nehru and religion.

The program started with the welcome speech of V Ravichandar, chairman of the Bengaluru International Centre