Do you think India is the rising superpower of the 21st century? Why/ why not?

By Krishanali Merchant

Plants thrive in fertile soil, with regular sunlight, water, and careful treatment.

Similarly, society represents the fertile soil, education is the sunlight, basic

amenities are the water, and care is happiness. However, in India, the soil is

contaminated, the plant is kept in the shade, deprived of water while the rain is

beyond reach, and neglected of love and care .

I firmly believe that India is not the rising superpower of the 21st century.

Unfortunately, our nation is a subject to multiple obstacles that hold us back from

our ascent.

To begin, India faces deep-rooted socio-political disparities. India has a wide gap

between the rich and the poor, with a small elite class enjoying immense wealth,

while the vast majority of the population struggles to meet their basic needs. The

lack of equitable distribution of resources perpetuates social inequality. With these

issues, only the elite of India are creating change, while the others remain in the

dust with their lives uncared for.

The fact that so much of the population cannot even access the basic right to

education is disheartening. Social taboos still prevail, women can't even access

menstrual pads and men don't even know what menstruation is. Societal norms

from centuries ago are still alive in some communities we aren't even advancing

with the current needs.

Without addressing these issues, how can India claim to be a rising superpower? It

is the 21st century, technology is over the top, everything is so advanced, but our

country's people still suffer everyday from basic issues solved elsewhere decades

ago.

I think that it is the new generation's responsibility to fix these problems and create

change in hopes for an India that may not be a superpower but can at least live in

peace, with every person having basic rights and amenities and living a happy life.

By Krishanali Merchant