I wasn’t getting sleep yesterday and switched on the TV where I came across “Piers Morgan’s” program on TLC channel over Shanghai. Since I have been there for some months in 2005, it caught my attention and from there till date, Shanghai has further grown by leaps and bounds with only one objective in mind of even a newly born kid straight from mother’s womb to contribute in making China the next superpower.
Shanghai is the gateway of China and the only true capitalist city in a communist country. Each and every component of this hi-tech new Shanghai known as “Pudong” speaks Capitalism. Currently Shanghai has the maximum number of millionaires in the world, Piers while talking to one of the millionaire who was in his early 40s asked “How big do you think you can become?”
He replied “Double Bill Gates”. Piers: “You really think so”
Person replied “I firmly believe and that’s what everyone in Shanghai thinks so”
That’s the confidence of this new age Chinese or Shanghais who are pretty comfortable with English and want to adopt West in every manner or may be want West to adopt them in times to come.
HSBC shifted its huge office just 200 yards away spending some $50 Million in the process only because its logo would now be visible from across the lake and other side of the town. Such is the impact of capitalism. Rolls Royce is always overbooked and people have to wait, that’s the demand of one of the world’s most expensive car. “Prada”, “Zara”, “Gucci” and many other brands on a single street are not just there waiting for customers but are flocked with them. When Piers asked few people why these showrooms are so overcrowded, here was the coherent reply: “Today Shanghai has so much money that everyone wants to show off by buying the most expensive item!”
When I was there in 2005, Shanghai had Jin Mao Towers, World’s 5th tallest building that time and later it constructed the 2nd tallest building in 2004 “Shanghai World Financial Center” and currently work is in progress for the tallest building surpassing “Burj Khalifa” by 2012. No wonder it’s truly known as “City of Skyscrapers”.
With Communism, comes it’s own cons and even being Shanghai there is no exception. People can’t talk politics openly, most of the social networking sites are banned and Arunachal is shown as part of China with that map having no access to outer world. But Communism can grip people so much is shocking from this : Towards the old side of Shanghai “Puxi”, there will be a Chinese symbol put by the government overnight outside few houses which means the habitants have to vacate the house within two weeks for bigger and better buildings. When Piers asked an old guy who was staying there for 20+ years: “Aren’t you feeling bad?”. His reply was “I am but that’s my small contribution in making China the Super power of the world”. Well this response says it all.
When I first got an opportunity to come to this part of the world, most of my dear ones asked me why not US or Europe thinking this Asian neighbor would be nothing but all the good parts of Delhi, Chandigarh with the buzz of Mumbai and IT flavor of Bangalore. But the moment I landed I knew India is to China what Bhutan is to us! Later my Project Manager who had been to London and New York confirmed there is no difference and Shanghai is in fact better as it’s new and much more organized and focused.
Not to the knowledge of many people and countries, every four years after Olympics, China identifies two of its weakest games and want to be a leader in the next Olympics and this term’s sports identified are “Soccer” and “Shooting”, when asked by Piers to one of the Coach answer was again the same “We want to be a super-power on all fronts”.
Hope my friend Varun and all GE buddies will stand testimony to these facts as they are the ones who I know have seen Shanghai.
From the world’s first commercially running Maglev to hosting two of the world’s tallest commercial towers to one of the cities with highest per capita income and with Dollar losing its value, Gold being appreciated and the Bail-out fund still supporting America, this city in particular and China as a nation is sure to become THE NEXT SUPER POWER FOR REAL not so far from now.
