Meenakshi Bhagat. Well said. Yes for years India since Independence was caught up in a kind of time warp. Not that we did not heave good economists and financial planners. In fact the earlier PM. Manmohan Singh is to be considered as one of the best economist. But alas, the right man in the wrong party, he never got the freedom to work independently. Secondly it requires some guts to take on some bold steps which will free the economy from the clutches of black marketeers, havala racketeers, builders who not only hike real estate prices to such levels that the common man cannot even imagine buying a small house in the major metro cities. When the people of the country voted in a huge majority in 2014 for the BJP, they did not not just to have a new party, but purely out of the belief that the government will do something. And Mr. Modi did just that. Starting from a range of measures which will benefit the below poverty line population this move of demonitization will have a slow and steady effect which will help the middle class who for years were suffering between the extreme have's and have not's. Yes it will be some amount of suffering. But as they say, NO PAIN, NO GAIN. I anticipate more of such after shocks in the economy which will only streamline our entire thought process of how we deal with our finance. Mr. Modi will make the maximum use of technology and transform India into a land of milk and honey like those of yore. Along with it if we citizens not only support him, but also rigorously participate in the Swaccha Bharat Abhiyan, India will be seen by all foreign visitors to be at par with their countries. I am sure the Government will re-invest the amounts recovered in the form of black money to fund infrastructure projects and make a new India. And yes, as you have correctly pointed out, they should focus of removing the huge eduational loans taken by middle class and poor students and also provide a sturdy medical benefits, especially to children till their education is over and senior citizens above 60. more  

Meenakshi beti, the statement about India from Foreign nationals, was what one heard in the early part of 20th century when we were under the British Babus. They squeezed us Indians and exploited our natural wealth , precious stones . They made us export raw materials and made us import the finished ones one from England. When the Industrial revolutions was going on we were under various European power in different periods and zones and couldn't participate. The India British actually made the fragmented kingdoms to unite into one large nation " India " under the stewardship of Mahathma Gandhiji and other freedom fighters . That is history . Being a tour organizer for the foreign visitors to India I know the first hand information of the opinion, rather the esteem they hold on Indians. The Americans have never forgotten Swamy Vivekanada whose lecture on Parliament of the World's Religions (1893) at Chicago when he was just 31 years of age .Later on Swamy Chinmayananda , late former President Dr. S.Radhakrishnan . So they believe that Indians are philosophers and spiritual people . People from South Africa and Black countries recognize Indians as Mahathma Gandhi's country . Then the late former President Abdul Kalam who dedicated himself to the satellite research and nuclear energy . A good percentage of Americans and and many westerners follow yoga and the principles of good health ,emotions and spirituality , peace . Mathematics Wizard Sir Ramanujam , Sir C.V.Raman and the list goes on and on . SO INDIA AND INDIANS HAVE MADE A NICHE FOR ITSELF . Since we missed the Industrial revolution the 60 to 80 years from 1760 we had a lot to catch up. We can be rest assured that we are racing towards that and fast enough . We are making rapid progress in the I.T. field and not far behind nuclear power . Now we have become a role model for the countries in Asia and Africa that they need our expertise in Drilling , Coach building , Dam construction and so on . Yet our currency is week against U.S. & Australian $ , The British pound and the Eupean Euro as of now. Preserve the currency position of today and look where it will be after 5 years. The first step is Demonetizing of the high value notes. -- Jai Hind. more  

Hello! Meenakshi Bhagat , You called it an excursion ! Let me add not an excursion into futile philosophizing but certainly a right step in right direction to catalyse Governance in the Country in the Winter session of the Year-ending. I tell you the value of India in 2016 has risen steeply because in her recent visit to India , Excellency Theresa May @ PM of England , has said that India is now a leading power in the World ! I assume you missed to watch / hear her on your TV saying so but I heard her with rapt attention on my Sony Wega TV . Therefore , the image of India transformed from poor to leading power admitted by a Nation from whom we fought and won our Freedom for self-rule . That's I call , the beauty of her Visit to India . I salute Theresa May of England and unforget her visit . Also , I would like to tell you that now-a-days , America which is the only military and economic super-power in this World extensively refers to middle class people in America as the economically down-trodden because America failed to convert military power into economic power within America whereas India is a step ahead of America by more primary spending on Indian Economy for a secondary military prowess next to Economic power . The next step in the process , you wish to hear , is Cashless Economy , according to me, going to arrive in the own words of our Finance Minister , H.E. Arun Jaitley . Awaiting the same eagerly looking forward . Thereafter , Japan's Bullet Train will come . Before that , Smart Cities are designed and planned to take place . more