Speak Like A Dragon

When Indian politicians say they want to make a Shanghai of Mumbai, they have no clue of what they are saying. It's like trying to change an Ambassador into a Ferrari! I have just returned from my first visit to Shanghai and Beijing, and despite the high pre-visit expectations, both cities surpassed them.

What impressed me most was the excellent infrastructure. The airports are the best in the world, with customer-friendly facilities and modern amenities, which make a strong statement about China's economic miracle. Shanghai's 21st-century magnetic train from the airport is a technological showpiece. Compare that to Bangalore's dilapidated airport, and I realised that Indian infrastructure is at least 20 years behind that of China. We must realise the adverse effect our shabby and inefficient airports have on foreign visitors, and we should make efforts to get the new ones ready.

Shanghai roads are broad, well-paved arteries that compare with the best in the world. Even Beijing's centuries-old roads are excellent, running north-south and east-west, in an orderly and well-planned manner that epitomises China. Our roads are mostly patchwork strips that run in a maze in most cities, and need urgent improvement.

The retail infrastructure in China is extremely developed and offers a strong base for business opportunity creation. By the time we in India reconcile with the contradictory views on fdi and other issues in this sector, China would have set new benchmarks in this arena. I saw a variety of retail businesses like stores, restaurants, and the like, offering massive employment avenues and wealth creation platforms, where individuals have taken the initiative to grab new opportunities. It appears that both the Chinese government and its people have played a combined and planned role in creating the country's success. China is thinking big—very big—and moving at full speed.

China has also done an exceptional job of building tourism infrastructure and marketing various locations. The charges are reasonable and the facilities good. Even the hutong (centuries-old hutment-like communities in Beijing) tours were marketed well, and I was tempted enough to make a visit. In comparison, would anyone ever enter Dharavi for a tour? When will we unlock the value of our tourist destinations?

But, beyond the visible, it's the qualitative aspects of the new China that are remarkable. We could never turn New Delhi into a car horn-free city. Who would have the interest and courage to decree that in our capital? The Chinese have made two of the largest cities in the world noise pollution-free by mandating no-honking rules. More importantly, people ensure the rules are followed. The Chinese go about their life in an orderly manner, which improves their efficiency. The lesson is that there's a need for Indian policymakers to enact rules and an equal onus on citizens to follow them.

Secondly, I couldn't but help notice the cleanliness everywhere. Surely, Shanghai is not a Singapore, but the main thoroughfares and the smaller streets are relatively litter-free. Bins are provided in all locations, and are used diligently by people. Indians could do well to learn from the Chinese on how not to dirty up our streets.

I also noticed an inherent desire for commerce and efficient service. The Chinese are willing to do business quickly and efficiently. Perhaps they lack the hospitality of Indians, but they make up for it by their eagerness and speed. Staff in hotels and stores are enthusiastic, even if it's affected. Chinese society is helped by the role played by the family at a micro level and the community at a macro one. Everywhere I went, I noticed the almost ubiquitous family groups and large community tours, as also the intimate family settings in Beijing's hutongs.

Chinese consumers also use products and services that are world-class in many respects, raising benchmarks across segments of the society. Nowhere was this more obvious than in sectors like consumer durables and apparel.

This does not mean that Chinese society is perfect. Language is a barrier for visitors and most Chinese cannot speak basic English. The media is boring and terrible, and I couldn't reconcile with the concept of the absence of democracy. But from an economic viewpoint, this absence has certainly helped China speed up its economic miracle.

As I look ahead, China offers huge opportunities for India. The common man in China likes Indians, even though he or she is still unaware of many things about us and hasn't interacted with enough Indians. The revival of Buddhism in China offers tourism opportunities to Indians, who can help the new-generation Chinese to learn about their heritage by travelling to Buddhist destinations in India. In areas such as services and design, India can help China and, in return, learn much in areas like manufacturing and technology. For that to happen, we must look eastwards: toward China. And prepare for what'll certainly be the Chinese century.

It's time therefore we woke up to the reality of the opportunity China offers. Instead of teaching archaic languages in our schools, we should make efforts to learn Chinese languages. That's an important way we can build a lasting relationship and gain from mutual benefits. Mandarin is the first choice. With a combination of English and Mandarin, we can communicate with most of the world. So, we must offer Mandarin as an international language in our schools.

Obviously, China will reciprocate with measures to build stronger ties too. If we seize the opportunity quickly, India will witness huge benefits in various fields.