The first I heard of the 21st Century was about a quarter of century ago when the-then Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi said – "Here I come, the bare foot prime minister marching into the 21st century. I remember asking my dad, what 21st century meant. Like always, he answered me in a way that made me understand what exactly it was that the scion of the Gandhi family meant. Unfortunately, Rajiv Gandi did not make it to the 21st century. I am sure had he been there he would have been amazed to see where Indians have marched (not barefoot I might add!). Many of them, like us, have marched into foreign countries, making a life for ourselves and taking our national pride with us. This essay is being written as a mark of that national pride that still lingers with us.

We have witnessed India go from just another developing nation to a force to reckon with in the 21st century. We have watched as India and Indians have come to dictate the policies of major nations. We have seen what was once deemed as a major setback for India’s development – our population – become one of the reason’s for our advancement. As the purchasing power of our populace has grown stronger, so has the market for outside companies who vie with each other to get a fair share of this burgeoning market. This has led to an increase interest into India’s psyche and culture and in turn allowed Indians make their mark internationally with their talent, intelligence, art, engineering and more. It would be no exaggeration to say that today the Indian consumer and supplier both are the king’s of the world and continue to make rapid inroads into the world’s best economies.

Technologically, India is way ahead of any country in terms of making an impact. Whenever a major project is sanctioned by any company in any nation – be it be the United States of America or Great Britain, chances are it will be worked on by people from India. No wonder we have politicians in these countries making a hue and cry over this ‘jobs’ drain. Therein lies India’s strength – the power to take over the world with its unlimited man power and the equally unlimited brain power of its citizens.

Yes we will take over the world. Not by force but by our culture of making an impact not with violence but with our innate strength and brilliance. A lesson we have learnt from the father of our Nation – Mahatma Gandhi who continues to make the same impact in the 21st century as he did when he exhorted the nation to move ahead together as one people. Yes we have challenges to overcome but in our diversity lies our strength. No other country has this advantage that we enjoy. So let’s march through the 21st century as one people and conquer it!