Calling China, can you hear me? I have a friend who is in China... I had mailed the link of my blog to him and he count not read it!! Not because of any language problem, he is an Indian who can read and comprehend Hindi and English fairly well. He also has access to internet... so that is not a constraint. The reason for his inability to read the blog - China has blocked access to most blog sites, to further its political objective of suppressing free speech and expression of thought. The following link leads to an informative article about Chinas policies: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=10749. The article also alleges that China was helped by US based organizations like Cisco Systems in its censorship program.

For each step that China takes forward emphasizing economic progress, it takes, or atleast tries to take, two steps backward in human or political progress. Wherever its political system encounters opposition, it crushes it - it does it politically wherever there is international focus - as it is trying now to combat pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong (http://www.economist.com/World/asia/displayStory.cfm?story_id=5280837) - else it does it through brute force - as it did to protesters in Dongzhou (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/17/international/asia/17china.html?th&emc=th, http://www.economist.com/World/asia/displayStory.cfm?story_id=5310240) recently.

I cannot imagine myself being stopped from writing this blog. This is my opinion and I would damn well like to express it. For all its failings, India gives me this liberty and I think India is richer for that.

Delving into the topic a bit, whenever there is a public or political debate between people with different motivations, political or regional or religious backgrounds which delays decision making, some of my friends and acquaintances turn around and say - "You know, we should be like China! No argument, just execution". I disagree. It is this debate, particularly this public debate ("the noise of democracy" cliche), which applies a check and balance to the entire process. This debate makes decision making stronger. It might delay things but when things get done, there is usually a consensus and the progress made is usually stronger and not easily reversible by subsequent political upheavals.

However, China has achieved substantial economic progress through its system, however flawed. The numbers show that - and it is difficult to argue with such impressive numbers. However, there are umpteen examples of countries that have done it the other way and succeeded. The United States, England, countries of mainland Europe, Australia have all managed economic progress while fiercely protecting freedom of expression and other individual freedoms. And more importantly, they have proven that their progress is lasting and sustainable, a area where China still has a lot to prove.

I believe India needs to hold these democracies as its 'ideals', if it is achieve sustainable growth and if the people of India are to be truly empowered.  ¶ 2:15 PM