Understanding ‘growth’ with Amartya Sen, Jean Dreze

When you find two stalwarts from the world of academic economics on stage debating and discussing the economy of a country considered the world's largest democracy, you expect to be at the receiving end of confusing statistical figures and incomprehensible jargons. But things were different at the book launch of 'An Uncertain Glory: India and its Contradictions' at the India Habitat Centre, Delhi on the evening of July 22, 2013.

In conversation with journalist Barkha Dutt, Nobel laureate Amartya Sen and economist Jean Dreze took us through some of the important chapters from their book in the most comprehensible way with no trace of obscurity in their arguments.

Economic growth versus social growth
We are familiar with the 'Sen-Bhagwati' debate that assumed a status of national importance recently, almost being threateningly compared to the much intense (Rahul) Gandhi-(Narendra) Modi clash ahead of the 2014 elections. The clash of ideologies between these two much revered economists finds space in their respective books as well. While Jagdish Bhagwati (a Columbia University professor of economics, Nobel Prize contender) and Arvind Panagariya's book, 'Why Growth Matters: How Economic Growth in India Reduced Poverty and the Lessons for Other Developing Countries' emphasizes on the absolute necessity of economic growth to fight all social inadequacies; Sen and Dreze propose ideas for a self-sufficient and competent social sector to realise the true meaning of 'growth' in 'An Uncertain Glory'.

Learning from our neighbours
Professor Sen argues that India's abysmal economic performance in opposition to countries like China is because "smart commercial politics" have neglected the majority of the population which is still struggling for proper education and basic health amenities. India desires to be a superpower but somewhere lacks a clear understanding of the real meaning of growth. Sen explains if being a superpower means fifty per cent of the population is deprived of minimum sanitation facilities then that model of 'growth' is a suspect and it caters only to a certain privileged class least concerned about the needs of the marginalised. Both Dreze and Sen summarised the concept of sustainable development in words of historian and economist B.R. Ambedkar's commandment that goes- 'Educate, Agitate, Organise'. Class and caste barriers hinder social equality, gender indicators reflect poorly on the status of women in India and wide gaps in wage rates between agricultural labourers and University professors for instance, validate India's weak economic progress over the years. Bangladesh might have been slow in economic growth but it fares better than India when it comes to social development, gender equality and women empowerment suggest the economists. India lags behind Bangladesh, Japan and China in areas of inclusive sensibility, transformational ability and productivity.

Scepticism is no solution, we need a vision
Scepticism and blatant criticism of government actions is not the solution but moving toward a vision that has room for constructive policies and reforms for the market economy to benefit all sectors is what we need. The book, as Barkha says during the discussion with the authors, comes across as a "staggering, disturbing reality check" that foregrounds the many inequalities, leakages and inefficiencies in governance which continue to plague society. She raises a valid point on the questionable status of schemes like the mid-day meal that cannot be blindly relied upon thanks to the eye-opening tragedy that recently claimed lives of many children in Bihar. However, to largely conclude that India is incapable of effective implementation of social reforms and competent public services would be an equally unfair judgement that Sen warns us against. Confluence and not conflict of interests is the need of the hour.
'An Uncertain Glory': Optimistic and agitational
Justice Leila Seth (also the mother of celebrated author Vikram Seth) who launched the book appreciated the lucid, research-based narrative that substantiates the many success stories and failures of the Indian economy in the past decades. She calls the book an 'agitational' one that calls for positive change and action. It is a book that in no way dismisses India's potential to be a superpower but takes detailed notes on the failures that have been a serious impediment on its road to 'certain glory'. 'An Uncertain Glory' is not loaded with criticism alone; it is in many ways an optimistic book that we should not miss reading.

Prominent guests: Despite heavy rains and traffic logjam the turnout was massive. Theatre artist and actor Sanjana Kapoor, Penguin India publisher Chiki Sarkar and others were spotted at the event.

('An Uncertain Glory: India and its Contradictions' published by Penguin Books ( Allen Lane))

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