‘Gujarat can become like China, but not like India’

The economic boom in Gujarat is not on par with certain other social factors in the state, which could make Gujarat like Chine and not India. It is an economic boom similar to Singapore, unlike Europe, said renowned political psychologist and social theorist Ashish Nandy. Talking to DNA, he said, “Certain factors have led to the economic boom in Gujarat. But the state may fail to remain like India after that.”

Society here has a fear of criticism and always tries to kill it, he said. “Society in Gujarat has a fear of being what it is and there is no free flow of ideas that can make the state a thriving cultural sphere,” Nandy said.

“Many people,” Nandy said, “are not allowed to practise their freedom of expression in Gujarat. This is perhaps the state in India with the maximum number of bans, be it films or books. Organised mobs do not allow films and books that criticise the government to exist in the state.”

This fear of criticism actually shows a lack of confidence, he said. “A confident society will always allow criticism, which literally does not exist in the state,” Nandy said.

The noted political psychologist said that Gujarat’s overall development should be alongside its economic boom “The current economic boom will help Gujarat create a replica of China. But the state cannot become like India. Say, it may become like Singapore, but not like Europe,” he said.

Talking about a solution for the problem faced by the state, Nandy said that this could be achieved only through the intervention of the people. “I hope a day will come when the people in Gujarat fight for freedom of expression,” he said.

Regarding the leadership of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, he said, “Modi is aspiring to be a national leader, but he will not succeed there. India is still an apex society, and Modi cannot be accepted at the Centre.”