Two things: in terms of public perception, by and large, people only look at the GDP. So us being half of India (whereas in 1990 we were at 66%) is understandable, but also not good. Factor in we should have been able to maintain pace with India being so much smaller, is doubly not good. But to still be behind Pakistan - even with their negative growth rate, is also not good.
But in the really meaningful areas, we are beating them both on almost all indices - as attested to by Amartya Sen also. But public perception, which largely dictates foreign interest and intervention will generally not see that.
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Cricket cannot live with the mistaken belief that people want to see big hits. People like to see goals, but no one is talking of moving the goalposts a metre wider either side. (Harsha Bhogle)
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