Irrespective of our individual opinions, one thing is certain, it’s ‘Time India’. Whether displaying the guts and courage against China in Doklam in 2017 or on the LAC in the Eastern Ladakh by occupying the Kailash ranges, India has not only become a regional power but has entered into a league of nations capable of influencing the world order. It has clearly articulated to China that ‘The State of Border’ will decide the state of bilateral relationship despite the fact that China wanted to put this LAC conflict issue on the back burner. Not only this, the recent articulation of EAM indicates that India should not be hesitant to intervene in other world affairs in furtherance of its National interest and world peace.
While there are multiple capacities and Comprehensive National Power (CNP) elements that can facilitate India achieving its National aim but in absence of a potent industrial base, the capacities will always remain restricted. India has lagged in this field substantially affecting the manufacturing capacities in all the domains especially, in the defence sector.
Certain new things have emerged in the recent past which are likely to continue in major part of this century. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has brought out equipment and industry-related challenges even for such a powerful country like Russia. It is running around the world to meet its critical requirements, of course, issue is getting more complicated due to the ‘sanction regime’. At this juncture, despite being the second biggest exporter of arms in the world, its support to more than 60 countries in the world has been adversely affected including India. All three services of the Indian Defence Forces are adversely affected since Russian equipment constitutes the bulk of our weaponry. Support timelines are getting missed and number of spares are not available with no clarity on the time by which these will be restored, if at all. New world order is emerging. While India has gained diplomatically during the ongoing turmoil in the world, real military and national power are lacking. This will be possible only when we start observing our industries from a strategic prism and nurture them in mission mode. This is not only required in the defence domain but in all other domains as well. Each of the industrial dimensions complements the other.
One would remember the recent statement of Mr. Nitin Gadkari, the cabinet minister wherein he advocated the use of recycled material from other countries for road construction capable of reducing the cost of construction to 25% as compared to current costs. Just imagine if the road construction industry excels at this, laying of axial and lateral roads in the border states will be faster, cheaper, and durable. This is one example wherein typically a non-defence industry also contributes substantially to the war-waging capacity of the nation.
In addition to the above, there is another big change which is rattling the world in a big way and that is due to China. The whole world is worried about the expansionist agenda of China clubbed with its debt-trapping strategy. Most of the countries in the Indo-Pacific region, those along the land route of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and those along with the maritime route of BRI are worried about the devastating agenda of China and looking for help. India is best suited to address these concerns the world over but only if starts looking at its industrial base strategically and leverages that in the National interest for the genuine good of the other countries in the world.
Most of the countries having a ‘Sea connect’ are worried about exercising their sovereign powers within their territorial waters. Not only this, they want to have effective surveillance over their EEZ as well, so that they can use their sea resources for the good of their country. This will require quality surveillance equipment and a response mechanism. India itself needs such resources in a big way due to the large sea coast. It is therefore incumbent on India to indigenously produce such equipment for itself and thereafter market it to the world in the countries needed.
It is obvious that when such equipment with strategic orientation is produced in the country, it will require networked MRO setups in the country and abroad to maintain such equipment. The above is just one example whereas if India looks at its industries with strategic connections, this will in no time push India to a higher pedestal amongst the comity of the nations.
It is time when we stop looking at our industry merely as a stand-alone capacity wherein organizations/governments/individuals are working on a profiting model alone. The whole nation has to be re-invented and re-imagined wherein we look at our industries as a great strategic resource for carrying forward our national interest. The erstwhile concept of some industries being classified strategically needs a serious review and the entire industry must be seen from that perspective.
One would do well to understand this from a historical perspective. At the end of WWII, when Berlin was well within reach of Stalin, he decided to shift attention to Crimea as Crimea had better capacity in capability building for soviets than Berlin. Russia has been benefitting to date from its Crimean captivity and re-captivity later.
Once the country starts looking at Indian industries from a strategic view point, everything will change and we shall inherit a new India bringing prosperity and employment to the country and the world. Indian footprints so created within each part of the country will address the growth imbalances besides many other countries of the world will see a different and supportive India.
