Over the past several decades, Chinese products have reigned supreme during Diwali, the most sought after traditional celebration in India. Chinese firms have nearly enjoyed a monopoly on a number of interesting products that sell like hot cake in India during this festival.
Whether you speak of small blinking lights, also known as 'fairy lights', decorative items or statues, they have all utterly been Chinese products which in vernacular terms in India is often attributed as stuff being , 'Sasta and Tikau' (cheap and dependable). But there's just one problem, cheap it certainly maybe but Chinese products don't last long.
A campaign began a few days ago where a sort of paradign-shifting idea was floated about calling everyone to 'Boycott' Chinese Products. That we must let go of the age-old habit of buying Chinese products especially during this Diwali and start engaging in indigenous options available in India was the mantra of this social media campaign.
While there is no particular social barometer, so to speak, that can strictly align with a particular ongoing view in the market, it can be easily seen that there are 3 prevailing discussion or argument points.
First that clearly, a lot of people in majority are not up for buying the Chinese products, owing to them being of a down-graded quality, often termed as sub-standard products. Secondly, there is a growing support, unprecedented thus far especially in the capital city, that is auguring support and advocacy for Indian products- during Diwali and beyond. This is refreshing to say the least. Then the classicists argue, whether the ban on Chinese products is even possible, even though it's a legitimate cause?
At the moment, there seems to be a huge hue and cry about the nearly possible all out ban on Chinese products this Diwali. Fears are rife amid the trader community having suggested that a Chinese product boycott will severely hit their Diwali sales. While Old Delhi traders agree and respect the sentimentality of the campaign, they fear that theirs could be a blackened Diwali, owing to the huge losses they would have to suffer in the event of non sale of Chinese products otherwise ruling in India. Traders stress that we don't have infrastructure yet in India to make such economically light products.
While in other pressing concerns when they have to speak and must, one sees Indian Polity faltering by keeping mum, somehow it manages to lend chorus at the height of an aggrieved diplomatic affair. So far, state Politicians and especially those in Delhi have urged civilians to boycott the Chinese produce. Strong Anti-China rhetoric have come from BJP national general secretary and Assam's Health, Education and Finance Minister.
Truth be told, India and China happen to be extensively involved in bi-lateral trade ties. Not just now, but since always. At the moment, one sixth of India's imports are Chinese with there being an ascertained value of import-export between India and China at a staggering 4.6 Lakh Crore. Won't this massive trade outlet take a major hit in the face of the Chinese Boycott?
While we are no one to judge or mimic the action of classicists or self-serving economic guru's, India has to take a stern call in order to find out whether it is prepared to unleash a set of alternatives to withstand the situation in the face of Chinese backlash. Also, we have to examine a reality that begs to be taken seriously- there are a handy set of products, typically outside the ambit of Diwali that India has in plenty and which are Swadesi- such as - drugs for medication, laptops and other electrical gadgets that have sound quality and are American made and also, tons of copper, aluminum and cotton.
So it isn't that in the absence of China, India's stocks run dry. But that's a call the Government has to make on which many lives and destinies depend.
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