इंडिया India Rising

Everyone talks about the rise of India during the last few years. The rise is particularly visible in the middle class people living in the metro and large cities. However, like China, rising salaries, opportunities and improved standard of living is confined only to large cities, and has not trickled down to the smaller cities and rural areas, where the majority of India lives. After independence in 1947, when Nehru started building huge public-sector companies, he also though that the prosperity will trickle down to the entire country; however, it did not happen. Of course, one happy development that has spread to the entire country is reliable communication, which is perhaps the cheapest in the world. Even sadhus use cellphones these days!



Depending on whom you ask, you would get different views about the rise of India. BBC's "The Changing World" broadcasted a very interesting four-part detailed documentary about India's booming economy. This program, which was originally aired in February 2007 is available for listening. Each part is about 25 minutes long.

Part I : Changing Life in Large Cities

A new materialism and consumerism is an obvious sign of India ’s growing middle class -- Shopping Malls, Luxury Apartments, Cars, Hotels... Earlier India used to spiritually rich, but materially very poor. Now, it’s a very different story. Click to listen...

Part II: India that has been Left Out

This part focuses on the Indian state of Bihar, India's Heart of Darkness, left out of India ’s economic revolution. Click to listen...

Part III: India's Changing Entertainment Industry.

Click to listen...

Part IV: Environment and Social Cost of the Booming Economy

Click to listen...