India's stifling bureaucracy hurting growth

My column this Monday reflects on some of the subjects that occupied me this over the weekend. I returned from an interview with golf legend Gary Player, who is among the most curious and updated men I know at 80. Apart from the fact that he does 1300 situps at this age and flies once a week if not more, he seems to relentlessly learn about the goings around us and has erudite views. As a global sportsman, our conversation went beyond golf a few times and for good reason.

We spoke about Narendra Modi and Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) and the need for strong leaders in the world. "To me may be he was the greatest leader ever lived. He took a country that was annexed by the Japanese, one that was in dire straits and turned it around. No guns, no graffiti, no rapes, no drugs. He created that country," Player shares of his impressions of the first Prime Minister of Singapore who ruled for over three decades and remains a widely admired political figure in world history.

Narendra Modi who was in Singapore to attend LKY's funeral said, "He (Lee) was a global thinker, who saw things ahead of others. He was an advocate of economic progress, but also made tireless efforts to advance peace and stability in our region. We deeply valued his friendship and his support for India's economic progress and global role."

What made India very interested (and sometimes upset) in LKY's thoughts was his ability to be tremendously honest about his view on the country's complexities such as the caste system, the bureaucracy and how they interfered with India's growth potential. In his book, "From The Third World to First," he concluded India failed to be a thriving democracy because of its "stifling bureaucracy."

As expected, such unsolicited suggestions didn't go down well with India often. At the time of India's liberalisation in the early 1990s, Lee Kuan Yew reminded the then PM Narsimha Rao that India's civil servants hindered investments as it didn't facilitate but regulate the activities of investors. LKY, who the Economist calls the 'wise man of the east' was in India in 2005 for the Jawahar Lal Nehru Lecture where he shared how Singapore grew by inviting foreign investors in an era that India was occupied with welfarism. "When most of the Third World was deeply suspicious of exploitation by western MNCs (multinational corporations), Singapore invited them in. They helped us grow, brought in technology and know-how, and raised productivity levels faster than any alternative strategy could." LKY had both admiration and criticism and he openly expressed it. He spoke of India's democracy and potential with great expectations but his books reflected his unreserved disappointment.

Player in our conversation shares LKY's analysis on India's administration but expresses hope from Modi's new government. "I read his latest book and his criticism and he is very valid and wise, he asks India to change and open up. No doubt he adds that the future of India has huge potential and I wish India the same. Narendra Modi is a charismatic leader and he is a great communicator with a connect with the youth."

Our conversation on politics and leadership was a bye-product of our interview on golf but that

itself reflects on a core value that global individuals must have, which is knowing and learning from other leaders. The past week has brought back memories for Singaporeans but for other nations, it revived the story of a strong leader whose experiences can prove to be valuable lessons for all.