Tomorrow or on 8/15/2013, India would be commemorating 66 years of passing of the landmark and perhaps epochal event of her liberation from British rule on 15th August 1947.
Some of the thoughts that would engage me in retrospection and introspection would be:
Are 66 years a long enough time for India to come a long way from the state it inherited from British Imperialism and has India really come a long way in progress and ready to take off for more?.
If Economics or economic measurements are not to be accepted as meaningful or reliable barometers of maturity and development of a country, what does the current state of politics, society and institutions tell us about the quality of our progress?
We may have had great GDP growth rates in the last 2 decades since the inflection point of the Balance of payments crisis of 1990 and the subsequent 'liberalization' era, but if that did not make any real dent in the extent and breadth of poverty with close to 70% of the population living in some type of poor,low and unsatisfactory living conditions, that does not really help. The metrics around poverty line, poverty reduction and its many debates tell us very little about the quality and natures of the supposed poverty reduction.
How close are we today to addressing in an enduring way, some of the most basic problems of our people as:
What is the state of our institutions today as compared to what they were in the early years of the Independence?. By institutions and systemic framework I am referring to:
Can our politicians of today be compared in stature and vision to the leader of the Independence era?. This point is not being made entirely under the influence of nostalgia or emotion. If we make some comparisons, we may say that Rajiv Gandhi was a preferable political representative to his autocratic mother Indira Gandhi, who had a longer stint as a Prime Minister. The BJP coalition under AB Vajpayee may have done better things for the country than the post Nehru Congress dynastic governments of the Gandhi family. The non-Gandhi government of PV Narasimha Rao did for a while seem like a breath fresh from the tyranny of the Gandhi family monopoly on power.
But still the question remains whether the politicians of today inspire the confidence and hope that the Independence era leaders whether of the Congress, Swatantra, Lohaite or Jana Sangh variety did in those days. It seems doubtful that corruption in the early days of Independence would have been as monstrous and egregious as it is in these times of today. In the heydays of the Independence euphoria, it would have been unthinkable to imagine or predict that our politics would degenerate to such an extent as to beget a rogues gallery of politicians and ministers with such horrifying and shocking venality and disdain for democracy and rule of law as:
It does not seem like the little progress that we have had so far can console for so much that we have lost and losing to the voracious appetite of dirty and cynical politics.
I would love to know what others seem to think of our journey of 66 years on the 'tryst with destiny'. There will be slivers and rays of light and hope that I missed out on and like to be reminded.
Some of the thoughts that would engage me in retrospection and introspection would be:
Are 66 years a long enough time for India to come a long way from the state it inherited from British Imperialism and has India really come a long way in progress and ready to take off for more?.
If Economics or economic measurements are not to be accepted as meaningful or reliable barometers of maturity and development of a country, what does the current state of politics, society and institutions tell us about the quality of our progress?
We may have had great GDP growth rates in the last 2 decades since the inflection point of the Balance of payments crisis of 1990 and the subsequent 'liberalization' era, but if that did not make any real dent in the extent and breadth of poverty with close to 70% of the population living in some type of poor,low and unsatisfactory living conditions, that does not really help. The metrics around poverty line, poverty reduction and its many debates tell us very little about the quality and natures of the supposed poverty reduction.
How close are we today to addressing in an enduring way, some of the most basic problems of our people as:
- Drinking water and its safety
- Sanitation facilities ( which is a luxury even in metro cities)
- General Hygiene and cleanliness
- Health care and access to primary and advanced care
- Clean river and water sources
- Exploitation of women and weaker sections of society
- Income and Wealth inequality (for being an apparently socialist state)
- Existence of Casteism and feudalism in large swathes of the country
- Environmental pollution and ecological degradation (For its comparatively lower level and degree of industrialization and urbanization, India seems to have much higher pollution than developed societies)
What is the state of our institutions today as compared to what they were in the early years of the Independence?. By institutions and systemic framework I am referring to:
- Judiciary and courts (Are these delivering justice in a timely manner and aiding the enforcement of law?)
- The press and media ( Is it less impartial, independent and politically neutral than before?)
- Bureaucracy
- Public sector
- Parliament
- Schools and Universities
Can our politicians of today be compared in stature and vision to the leader of the Independence era?. This point is not being made entirely under the influence of nostalgia or emotion. If we make some comparisons, we may say that Rajiv Gandhi was a preferable political representative to his autocratic mother Indira Gandhi, who had a longer stint as a Prime Minister. The BJP coalition under AB Vajpayee may have done better things for the country than the post Nehru Congress dynastic governments of the Gandhi family. The non-Gandhi government of PV Narasimha Rao did for a while seem like a breath fresh from the tyranny of the Gandhi family monopoly on power.
But still the question remains whether the politicians of today inspire the confidence and hope that the Independence era leaders whether of the Congress, Swatantra, Lohaite or Jana Sangh variety did in those days. It seems doubtful that corruption in the early days of Independence would have been as monstrous and egregious as it is in these times of today. In the heydays of the Independence euphoria, it would have been unthinkable to imagine or predict that our politics would degenerate to such an extent as to beget a rogues gallery of politicians and ministers with such horrifying and shocking venality and disdain for democracy and rule of law as:
- Sharad Pawar
- Laloo Prasad Yadav
- Mulayam Singh Yadav
- OP Chautala
- Suresh Kalmadi
- M Karunanidhi
- MGR
- Jayalalitha
- HKL Bhagat
- A Raja
- Sonia Gandhi
- Mayavati
- Sukh Ram
It does not seem like the little progress that we have had so far can console for so much that we have lost and losing to the voracious appetite of dirty and cynical politics.
I would love to know what others seem to think of our journey of 66 years on the 'tryst with destiny'. There will be slivers and rays of light and hope that I missed out on and like to be reminded.
what's your opinion on the nuclearization of India in 1999?
ReplyDeleteThe move towards developing nuclear capability or deterrence had already begun in the time of Indira Gandhi and I believe we had our first nuclear test in 1974.
DeleteGiven the background of the 2 major Indo-Pak wars, the isolation of India by US backed powers, this would seem a logical outcome of a beleaguered nation's security policy.
In the light of US hypocrisy about nuclear policy (supporting Israel's nuclear program while seeking to embargo others), India's openly coming out on its nuclear program is understandable and justified.
In my opinion, while nuclear capability may be a necessity of security and foreign policy, still we have not made any appreciable progress in the commercial uses of nuclear power. The role of nuclear power in energy policy is still not clearly laid out. This power source being far less polluting and more efficient than fossil fuels should have been taken up more aggressively and constructively. Developing nuclear energy will greatly serve India energy independence goals.
Ranganath,
ReplyDeleteThat is a great post.
The following thread on nirmukta.net touches upon a similar topic. The video in the last post in that thread seems to suggest that democracy in India is doing rather well in spite of all its defects.
http://nirmukta.net/Thread-15th-August-1947-Good-news-for-all-Indians?highlight=1947
Hi Capt.
DeleteGood to see your response here. I did glimpse thru Arvind's post on that thread link. I am yet to watch that video. There are 2 ways of looking at what is happening in Indian democracy now.
Surely democracy in India has not weakened in the precipitous way it has happened and happening in the USA (NSA leaks, Manning trial, Police state like crackdowns as in Boston, institutional bankrupting of worker heavy states like MI & OH). Indian democracy has shown a lot of vibrancy and expression of public protest sentiment.
But the other way of looking at India that may betray some despondency is that the grip of plutocracy among the ruling classes has only got stronger. The mis-governance at both the institutional and corporate level has gotten much worse. The remedies and redressals are just not happening.
The growth and the participation of the middle class in public movements is an encouraging sign surely. But is it enough to bring about the social and political awakening that is sorely needed for substantive progress and development?.