Has hard work really beaten Harvard?

The GDP figures released by the Central government strategically (UP elections are still underway) say a different story from the actual hardship suffered by the economy after 86% of the currency was suddenly banned.

“The numbers seem too good to be true,” is the opinion of many. The CSO data indicates the pace of private consumption doubled to 10.1% in the third quarter of 2016, which coincided with the demonetisation move, which had rendered a majority of Indians penniless.

PM loses no time to cash in on GDP

The PM did not lose any chance to mock his opponents (especially the Harvard economist and Nobel laureate, Amartya Sen who has been extremely critical) to say that “hard work is more powerful than Harvard.”

He went on to say that people had already voted for BJP in the first 5 phases and now they will give surplus votes in the remaining 2 phases, as gift and bonus- similar to the chillies and coriander leaves that the vegetable seller gives as bonus.

Common man does not understand GDP figures

The common man does not understand GDP figures nor do many of us. The opposition Congress however called the GDP figures “highly suspect”and said that it will “dent India’s image as a credible economy.”

All that the poor know is that November and December were terrible months of 2016, when life came to a standstill as everyone of them was rendered a pauper. Especially the fruit and vegetable-sellers had no buyers for weeks and saw their produce rot in front of their eyes.The queues outside banks and the people who died waiting there, the jobs lost and the ensuing hunger lingers on. But as Amartya Sen said the poor continue to believe that their suffering will help bring back black money as they like the idea of the rich class suffering due to demonetisation-hence will give Modi the benefit of doubt.

Our leaders know that public memory is short and people are ready to believe again. After all it is election time.

-UDAAN