Madhu Kishwar then. Questioning economic liberalization and modern industrialization.
We used to have this debate in my college days. The two major points as I remember, against industrialization were, machines replacing humans, rendering them jobless and increasing poverty and second, the obliteration of cottage or small scale industries.
In this video below, the answer to the question of the 'cycle rickshaw wala's plight' is in the video itself. How many cycle rickshaws are in existence today?
And those small scale, cottage industries that have true intrinsic value are back with a bang. Handloom sarees, hand painted diyas, home made pickles...highly priced, thriving and very fashionable.
Never resist automation, gadgets, modern machinery because they will hurt the poor. These will, over time, only mitigate poverty. And human touch, where it really adds value or creates beauty, will never be replaced by machines.
