On the other hand, the ranking of literacy and other social indicators in Uttar Pradesh is dismal. The newly launched economic daily titled "The Mint" has brought out an article titled "Is Uttar Pradesh turning into the new Bihar?". India's most populous state has been faring poorly on political, social and economic indicators, even falling behind Bihar in many of them. Although for years Bihar has been the by word for poor and apathetic governance, the Nitish Kumar administration, even according to his opponents, has worked hard to bring about a turn around.

It is often said that the road to power in Delhi passes through Lucknow and Mulayam Singh Yadav has never concealed his prime ministerial ambitions. If such are the credentials of a future Prime Minister, predicting the country's future needs no crystal grazing. In the knowledge economy of the twenty first century, where information, education and knowledge is power and not muscle power and military power, a Prime Minister like Mulayam Singh schooled in the wrestling pits of U.P. villages will lead India right back to the stone age. And that is a thought to make one shudder.
Shantanu Dutta is a doctor by training and a development professional by vocation. He is an onlooker on events happening in India and the world in the realm of society, politics and the many intangible events that populate our lives.