New York’s Lincoln Plaza is not a place where Indians gather in numbers even on a normal lively summer day, much less on a winter morning with temperatures touching a freezing minus 10. But precisely this is what happened on a recent Sunday morning. At around 8.30 am, one by one over 20 buses coming from New Jersey, Queens and Long Island made a beeline and Indians of all hues descended from them. Thereafter they patiently queued up at the entrance of the Avery Fisher Hall of the Lincoln Center.
After two hours of dazzling Bollywood style cultural programme, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh was led on to the stage with a rousing welcome by sounds of dhol tasha and Indian bugle. The packed house kept chanting ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’. The people were there to listen to Shivraj Singh Chouhan. For the first time, an Indian Chief Minister had made it to the Lincoln Center.
India has been wooing foreign investors and Diaspora for a long time. PM Modi, however, raised the pitch and made passionate appeal for foreign investment during his visit to the US in September 2014. Within India it is the States that will be actually implementing the projects and receiving the investments. Also traditionally, investors have complained that while the Center might introduce economic reforms, the roadblocks remain at the level of States. PM Modi while speaking at ‘Invest MP’ event in Bhopal a few months back, made an interesting suggestion wherein he recommended that the States create a ‘global talent pool’ of experts, academicians and scientists for India’s economic development. He was also candid in emphasising that the States and Center need to work together for growth and development.
How can States create their own talent pool? Is there enough flexibility in our framework that allows the States to take proactive action in this regard?
At Madison Square Garden in September 2014, PM Modi had forcefully appealed the Indian Diaspora to actively participate in India’s development and growth through its knowledge, expertise and resources. He also requested Indian-Americans to contribute to tourism in India by bringing others with them.
This is easier said than done. Who would take the lead? Such ideas require implementing machinery. Who will take the lead in removing the bottlenecks while receiving the investments? How will the expertise and resources be channelled? PM Modi provided the answer during the ‘Invest MP’ event by mooting the idea of a talent pool. As a quick follow up, Chouhan launched his version of ‘Friends of MP Conclave’ in New York in February.
The fact that the Diaspora came to listen to him in good numbers is noteworthy. Chouhan did not disappoint them. Just like the Madison event, the Lincoln Center event was a well-choreographed presentation that received above average response. In attendance were local Congressmen/women, Assemblymen, City Councilmen/women and County Chiefs. They were honoured and spoke eloquently, lauded the India-US relations. The audience had members from their constituencies. Chouhan’s one hour speech in fluent Hindi (without translation) was received rather well. He kept the audience spell bound and that too without referring to notes. With informal style his message was chockfull with policy details. He inaugurated the ‘Friends of MP’ Conclave portal and invited the Diaspora to get connected with his State. He kept them on the edge of their chairs and received standing ovation a number of times.
Following the first wave of liberalisation in the ‘90s, many States had started wooing investors abroad. However, so far there is no convincing strategy as States are not seen as players in the economic diplomacy. Besides, lack of infrastructure and qualified manpower including the negotiating skills the inward looking self-congratulatory attitude of bureaucracy at the state level hampers the efforts at connectivity between States and the outside world. As a mark of new beginning, MEA has recently set up a ‘State Cell’ to coordinate these activities.
The well-prepared visit of Chouhan may entice other States to embark on a similar venture. But they need to do what Chouhan claims to have done. Not only has he done away with the ‘single window’, but has done away even with the ‘door’ so that he can personally welcome all those who wish to connect with MP. Now if politics could lead to an exchange on the cultural front!
