India grows younger at sixty

"If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it even if I didn't have in the beginning" these are the golden quotes by Mahatma Gandhi, which I truly believe.

This year India is celebrating its sixty year of independence. Here are some facts about India, which I thought of sharing with all.

With an estimated population of 1.12 billion, India is the world's second most populous country and is expected to be the most populous by 2030. With the world's 12th largest economy at market exchange rates and the 3rd largest in purchasing power, India has made rapid economic progress after independence. India maintains the third largest military force in the world, which consists of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. Auxiliary forces such as the Paramilitary Forces, the Coast Guard, and the Strategic Forces Command also come under the military's purview.

Foreign exchange reserves have risen from US$5.8 billion in March 1991 to US$208 billion in June 2007. With a GDP growth rate of 9.4% in 2006-07, the Indian economy is among the fastest growing in the world. India's GDP in terms of USD exchange-rate is US$1,103 billion. India has the world's fourth largest GDP at US$4.156 trillion. India's per capita income (nominal) is $979, ranked 128th in the world, while its per capita (PPP) of US$3,700 is ranked 118th.

Well does that mean India is successful ?

Well success has different interpretations. For me India breaking out of the shackles and becoming a free economy is success, that we are the fastest growing economies in the World is success, that we have become an important factor in the IT revolution is success, that some of the richest people are Indians is success, that we have had the most beautiful women in the Miss World and Universe competitions is success, that we are moving towards an unmanned mission to the moon is success. I could keep going on and on and yet there would still be many more things we need to do.

Well, i would like to get your(my readers) views as well on India's achievements, challenges, priority etc..

What does it mean to be independent ? What does it mean to us? As Indians. As a nation. As a rising economic power in the world. In an increasingly global economy. And culture. What have we done right? And what, has gone horribly wrong? And what are the lessons learnt?

Post your valuable comments here. Heres' a video to give you some inspiration..