Talking democracy

India is always proud of its democracy versus China's authoritarian government. But NTPC Chairman and Managing Director Arup Roy Choudhury envies the latter for the simplicity of its governance, if nothing else. At a recent inter-governmental meeting power, the chairman of a Chinese power major bluntly told him, "Without being a democracy, we discuss our company matters with our party and once it is cleared, there is no looking back. But for your country, the problem is you discuss, discuss and keep on discussing, rather than implementing it." Foreign criticism is always irritating but Choudhury acknowledged that his Chinese counterpart's taunt was "worth listening to".