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By:

Dr. Kishore Paknikar

29 January 2025 at 2:43:00 pm

India Cannot Run on ‘Indian Time’

From late meetings to delayed projects, India’s casual attitude to punctuality carries an invisible national cost. AI generated image My earlier article on the W2K problem argued that our working weeks are limited and should not be wasted casually. This article takes that idea further and looks at a larger social habit: the culture of not valuing time seriously. Timekeeping began with shadows, stars, sundials and water clocks. Today, however, a second is defined with extraordinary precision...

India Cannot Run on ‘Indian Time’

From late meetings to delayed projects, India’s casual attitude to punctuality carries an invisible national cost. AI generated image My earlier article on the W2K problem argued that our working weeks are limited and should not be wasted casually. This article takes that idea further and looks at a larger social habit: the culture of not valuing time seriously. Timekeeping began with shadows, stars, sundials and water clocks. Today, however, a second is defined with extraordinary precision as exactly 9,192,631,770 vibrations of cesium-133 atoms. Atomic clocks support GPS, banking, mobile networks, aviation, scientific research, and digital communication. Humanity can now measure time with astonishing accuracy, yet many societies, including ours, continue to treat appointments and schedules casually. Most people look at a clock to know the time, but a wiser person looks at a clock to understand how an organized society works. Modern life depends on millions of people following shared timings. A country runs not just on high infrastructure and cutting-edge technology, but on people honouring schedules and commitments. Importance of Time Human societies understood the importance of time long before wristwatches and smartphones appeared. Ancient cultures carefully tracked seasons, stars and planetary movements. India, too, had developed highly advanced systems of astronomy and calendars. The observatories of Jantar Mantar show how seriously time and astronomy were once studied in our country. Ancient Indian texts like the ‘Surya Siddhanta’ described remarkably sophisticated systems of time measurement, ranging from large cosmic cycles down to tiny fractions of time. Indian thought treated time not simply as a practical necessity, but as a powerful cosmic principle. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna famously declares, “I am Time.” Ancient Indian traditions also attached great importance to the timing of rituals, agriculture, astronomy, and daily life. A civilization that once organized prayers, temple rituals, agriculture, and astronomy around carefully observed timings now treats delay with surprising casualness. Mechanical clocks transformed the world. The Industrial Revolution succeeded not only because of machines, but because people learned to work according to disciplined schedules. Even today, economies depend on coordinated functioning between millions of people and institutions. The real challenge today is creating a social culture that values punctuality. This is where we often fail. We have normalized a phrase called “Indian Time,” which usually means that announced timings are not expected to be followed seriously. A program scheduled for 10 a.m. may begin much later because the chief guest is “on the way,” organizers are “waiting for a few more people,” or preparations are still incomplete. The audience waits patiently because everyone expects a delay, and slowly, delay becomes accepted social behaviour. This habit affects everyday life in countless invisible ways. Weddings begin late because guests expect delays. Public functions start behind schedule because organizers assume people will not arrive on time. Important meetings are postponed because some participants are “just reaching.” Television debates begin late, conferences run behind schedule, and official events stretch endlessly. Over time, people stop feeling guilty about wasting the time of others. Delays become normal, and punctuality begins to look unusual. But delay is never harmless. If twenty people wait fifteen minutes for a delayed meeting, five human hours are lost. When this happens repeatedly across offices, hospitals, courts, conferences and public institutions, the national loss becomes enormous. Government data show that delays in large infrastructure projects have led to cost overruns running into several lakh crore rupees. Delay is therefore not a small inconvenience. It is an invisible economic burden created by poor time discipline. Long-term Consequences The consequences go far beyond economics. As delays become routine, people stop trusting schedules. Institutions lose credibility, and daily life becomes filled with unnecessary buffers and uncertainty. Gradually, lower expectations become acceptable. People begin leaving early for simple appointments because they no longer trust traffic, systems or announced timings. In the long run, society starts spending more energy managing uncertainty than improving efficiency. Science itself teaches us the importance of time. Albert Einstein showed that time is deeply connected with motion, gravity and space. Yet despite such scientific understanding, everyday behaviour often remains careless about punctuality. Relativity may explain the universe, but it cannot justify arriving thirty minutes late for a meeting. India presents an interesting contradiction. We produce world-class software, and scientific talent for highly time-sensitive global systems, yet in everyday public life, we often tolerate delays very easily. We dream in nanoseconds while functioning in “roughly half an hour.” Countries known for efficiency did not become efficient accidentally. Japan’s railway system is admired not only because of technology, but because punctuality is treated seriously. Switzerland is respected worldwide because keeping time is considered part of basic civic behaviour and consideration for others. This issue goes far beyond punctuality. Valuing time is ultimately about valuing fellow human beings. When patients wait endlessly in hospitals, when public programmes begin late, when files move slowly through offices, and when conferences continue without purpose, people receive a silent message that their time is not very valuable. Technology alone cannot solve this problem. The deeper issue lies in habits that society has slowly stopped questioning. There is a pressing for the negative phrase ‘Indian Time’ to disappear from our vocabulary because it turns indiscipline into identity. India does not need a cultural excuse for delay. A country aspiring to lead in science, manufacturing, technology and innovation cannot function on elastic schedules. As Benjamin Franklin wisely observed, “Lost time is never found again.” Time is not merely passing around us. We are passing through it. Every great civilization learned how to measure time. The successful ones also learned how to value it. (The writer is an ANRF Prime Minister Professor at COEP Technological University, Pune, and former Director of the Agharkar Research Institute, Pune. Views personal.)

Imran Khan’s Fall from Grace

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

Imran Khan’s Fall from Grace

Imran Khan, once hailed as Pakistan’s most charismatic and resilient leader now finds himself in a position unprecedented for a man of his stature.

The former Prime Minister of Pakistan, once known for his unyielding spirit and fierce determination, now shows signs of strain. Imprisoned and facing numerous charges, Khan appears to be a shadow of the leader who once inspired millions.

Khan’s recent meeting with journalists revealed a man who is a shell of his former self. Once confident and commanding, his body now shows a sense of unease and agitation. Those who met him describe a waning spirit, a stark change for a leader once known for his steadfastness in adversity.

The journalists described Khan as a man who is aware that his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is losing its once-iron grip on the nation’s imagination―a realisation that visibly shook him.

The PTI, once a magnet for massive crowds and inspired loyalty among its supporters, is now struggling. The much-hyped rally scheduled for August 22 in Islamabad, was embarrassingly cancelled due to a lack of public interest. Khan, in a bid to save face, claimed that the rally was called off to avoid potential violence. In a sign of growing desperation, Khan rescheduled the rally for September 8 and directed his party leaders to overcome any obstacles. This defiant stance is typical of Khan’s confrontational style, and his public directives highlight his insecurity about his party’s ability to mobilise support.

While Khan outwardly appears calm and composed, the multiple cases against him and his time in jail have left him isolated and struggling with loneliness. Even in this difficult situation, he remains in the headlines, thanks to his uncanny ability to stay in the public’s eye. Khan recently made headlines by applying for the University of Oxford Chancellorship, a move initially dismissed as a rumor but confirmed by his spokesman, Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari. As an Oxford alumnus, Khan would be the first Asian to take the role. Many see this bid as a strategic play to leverage his international profile against Pakistan’s establishment, a move that has kept him prominently in the media spotlight.

The political landscape in Pakistan is deeply divided. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, in his second term, has failed to address critical issues including unemployment, soaring inflation, and deteriorating law and order. His administration’s inability to deliver on its promises has only deepened the public’s disillusionment, leading to growing nostalgia for Khan’s past leadership.

Shahbaz Sharif’s government is a source of frustration for the Pakistani people and a cause for concern for the country’s military. Historically, the military has shaped Pakistan’s political trajectory, stepping in when civilian governments falter. The military reportedly is growing uneasy about the government’s performance especially Sharif’s inability to stabilize the country and mend relationships with key neighbors, particularly India. Additionally, its deteriorating ties with Afghanistan and Iran have left Pakistan increasingly isolated. Even China, Pakistan’s longstanding ally, has expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s policies, a worrying sign given the importance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to the country’s economic future.

It is within this context of political turmoil and international isolation that Imran Khan remains a potent force. Despite his legal troubles and the challenges facing his party, Khan’s popularity endures. For millions of Pakistanis, his tenure as Prime Minister is seen as a time of relative stability and hope, a stark contrast to the current administration’s ineptitude. This perception has kept Khan’s political base intact, even as his party faces an uphill battle in the coming months.

However, Khan’s ability to navigate the current political landscape is far from guaranteed. The PTI’s diminishing support, coupled with the increasing pressure from the establishment, raises questions about Khan’s long-term strategy. His recent moves, including the application for the Oxford Chancellorship, suggest a leader willing to explore unconventional avenues to maintain his relevance. But whether these tactics will translate into a successful political comeback remains to be seen.

Pakistan’s political future is more uncertain than ever. Imran Khan’s journey from cricketing legend to political maverick has been extraordinary. Still, as he faces the toughest challenge of his career, the question remains: Can he once again defy the odds and reclaim his place at the helm of Pakistani politics, or is this the beginning of the end for a once unstoppable leader?

Khan’s story is a testament to the complexities of power and the unpredictable nature of political life in Pakistan. His rise, driven by charisma, populism, and a genuine desire for change, now faces the realities of personal and political challenges, raising the possibility that his time may be running out.

Imran Khan is a beacon of hope for his supporters, and a polarizing figure for detractors, whose ambitions have often clouded his judgment. As the nation watches, the world is left to wonder: What will Imran Khan’s next move be? And more importantly, what does it mean for the future of Pakistan? The coming months will be critical not only for Imran Khan but for Pakistan as a whole. The decisions made during this period will shape the country’s trajectory for years. Whether Khan emerges victorious or is consigned to the annals of history as a fallen leader, one thing is certain: The story of Imran Khan is far from over.

(The writer is a senior jounalist based in Islamabad. Views personal)

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