I had the good fortune of dialoging with the top leadership in Kerala -- political, administrative, business, and social -- during my visit to the state in early 2005. I met Shri A.K Antony, former Chief Minister; Shri. V. Ramachandran, I.A.S. Vice Chairman, Kerala Planning Commission; T. Balakrishnan,I.A.S. Excise Commissioner, Kerala; Shrimati Lalithambika,I.A.S, former Additional Chief Secretary, Kerala; and Dr. Sridevi, writer and media personality.

My objective was to assess the leadership potential of Kerala state. I found these leaders extremely intelligent, well read, thoughtful, articulate, passionate and fully conversant and concerned with the problems of Kerala. I specifically wanted to know how they would like Kerala to respond to the challenges of globalization, liberalization and privatization in our effort to eliminate unemployment and raise the per capita income of citizens through private entrepreneurial initiatives and investment friendly labour and taxation policies.

I found Sri. Balakrishnan a very clearheaded champion of globalization. According to him globalization was the only way to unleash the vast potential of the Malayalees. "Government has no business to be in business", he said, "its only duty is to protect citizen's life and property". "In Kerala the public distribution system killed agriculture, and labour protection laws killed industry" -- he asserted boldly. China was the richest nation in the world in the 18th century with hundreds of Chinese merchandise ships cruising up to Africa and Europe. By 1830 China became an isolationist nation, the emperor discouraging shipping, causing China's downfall. In another telling example Balakrishnan contrasted the performance of British East India Company, which was private and the French East India company, a government project. The earlier one conquered India and the latter folded up. "Oil money that is the 'oxygen' of Kerala economy is drying up", warned the experienced bureaucrat. Only a grass root movement can alert the people and wake up the government, Shri. Balakrishnan said in conclusion.

Shri A.K.Antony and Shri V.Ramachandran sounded more cautious. Especially with regard to labour laws and whittling down the bloated bureaucracy. According to them, in a conflict of objectives, full employment was more important than wealth creation, though Shri Ramachandran obliquely recommended the Chinese high way via Bengal. Sweeping labour reforms would require democratic consensus which was difficult to come in a fractious polity like in India. They also criticized the decadent western materialistic consumerist impulses that globalization brings in its wake. An ancient culture like India will not and should not take that path, they cautioned. They also pointed out the difference in the population-resource ratio between America and India. Eastern societies with huge populations and meager capital and natural resources will not be able to follow individualistic, competitive and consumerist cultures of the West -- these seasoned public men argued.

I could see the reflection of Gandhi and his concept of a common wealth of self- sufficient village communities in their arguments. At the same time they wanted Kerala to become a middle-income economy of the size of South Korea or Malaysia. I found a glaring contradiction in that position.. Shri. Antony and Ramachandran were extremely concerned with the deterioration and confusion in the field of education. Kerala can come up only through a radical reform in education by breaking the nexus between teachers unions, student unions, political parties and selfish management causing a strangulating gridlock and appalling fall in educational standards. "Educational degrees of Kerala Universities and examination boards are worthless", said Shri Ramachandran.
But the irony of the analysis was that both the stalwarts could not offer clear policy choices for solving the burning problems of Kerala.
Smt Lalithambika came across as very practical, down to earth in her comments and emphasized the importance of self employment and entrepreneurship. She talked about mind-set change, from a job seeker to a job creator.

I found that these officers have wonderful ideas, but are crippled by a system of colonial, patriarchal culture where individual initiatives stifle.
An individual is assessed by his/her acts not by words. By that criterion some of these bureaucrats seem split personalities, incapable of harmonised thought-speech-action.
In Dr. Sridevi, a firebrand leader, I found the reason for Kerala's high social index. She sounded well informed, brave, clear and modern in her thinking. She blazed a spectacular trail in her brilliant presentation. I felt that Kerala's social and cultural future was safe in her hands. She talked about the freedom of personal choices in the confines of a family based man-woman relationship; the need for informed personal sacrifices; fortitude in pursuing ones goals; and the importance of a culture of happiness in contingent situations. She impressed herself as the quintessence of Kerala culture and spirituality.

I was consoled to find that Kerala has a slew of well informed, young as well as mature and experienced leadership with vision and empathy, but also disappointed to discover that they lacked courage, daring ambition and that rare fire in the belly to take calculated risk and lead along unchartered territory. This is area where BRFML has to step in -- to train a pack of leaders who will make things happen.