The Fletcher School

Having recently concluded his 53rd visit to India, Professor Emeritus of International Law at the Fletcher School Robert F. Meagher highlighted many of the opportunities and challenges that face the South Asian nation in his presentation, "The Current Situation in India" on Monday, 15 November 2004. He stressed the importance of India in international affairs given its size (half of the United States) and dense population which is soon to surpass China's. If they are able to sustain their projected 7-9 percent growth per annum, Professor Meagher argued that by 2040 India and China will be the dominant world economies.

Nonetheless, he dampened the rhetoric of analysts who focus on the outsourcing of U.S. jobs to India. He stressed that the positive effects of hiring skilled people in India did not necessarily trickle down to the majority of the population, thereby only increasing the disparity between rich and poor. Exacerbating this trend is the relatively high cost of imported books and other products in India. Furthermore, Professor Meagher indicated that the impact of this outsourcing on the United States is far less than is currently reported with less than 5 percent of U.S. business being affected. He also viewed the phenomenon as a normal supply and demand cycle for cheaper labor, mentioning the evolution of the Boston area from being a textile capital to its current state.

Meagher also highlighted the obstacles of such tremendous growth in India: namely, the high cost of basic items, lack of clean water, as well as cultural issues such as language. With over 14 national languages and multiple dialects, people in different states of India are unable to communicate with each other. These obstacles, he argued, are further compounded by other North-South cultural divides within the nation as well as the Muslim-Hindu conflicts.

Another challenge mentioned by Meagher is the need to improve women's rights in India. The continuation of the practice of providing dowry's in arranged marriages, though illegal, was highlighted in the presentation. At issue, is the practice of demanding higher dowry's following the wedding, placing families in dire circumstances. Also mentioned is the phenomenon of bride-burning which still exists though far less than before.

Scarcity of water was also stressed as a major issue that needs to be addressed. At worst, it has lead to conflicts over river ownership in India. At best, this challenge has lead to burgeoning projects on rain collection mechanisms to address the tremendous demands for water by such a large population.

However, Professor Meagher emphasized the dangers of applying western solutions to non-western problems. "You have to be an Indian in India; you can't be an American in India." He also indicated that to truly appreciate what this country had to offer, a minimum stay of one month would be necessary. Having lived in 83 countries, Meagher stated that as a foreigner, " You must learn what /they /[in the host country] think is important. If you're not willing to learn what people think, you must live their life."

Professor Meagher was on the Fletcher faculty as a legal expert in the school's Development Studies program from 1967 until his retirement in 1992. He received both a Fullbright fellowship and a Fullbright scholarship to India, published a number of articles on India, lectured extensively on and in India, led a group of investors as the legal advisor to the Business Council for International Understanding's India Committee and assisted the chairman of the India Interest Group in meetings with the central and state governments. Professor Meagher is currently the Legal Advisor to the India Interest Group and a consultant on International Economic Law.

Article by Itamara Lochard, PhD Candidate