India's troubles subside with permission of private enterprise: with its political chaos making headlines, India attempts to rid itself of a bad reputation by easing economic pressures at home.

India has had "bad press" in the past decade, in spite of its technological and cultural achievement, self-sufficience and gradual export importance. In virtually every way, India is realizing its potential as a giant influence on the Pacific Rim and beyond.

This reflects the easing of economic restrictions at home--on foreign investment, for instance--and the opening up of private participation in areas previously the preserve of government or semi-government entities.

Domestic aviation is a prime beneficiary of the thumbs-up to private enterprise, although the results have been patchy to date. A few of the new carriers skimped on essential infrastructure, core marketing and even safety aspects as they rushed their start-up.

Domestic endeavors

While this brought a justifiable outcry, Indians tended toward cynicism; until recently, …