India @Freedom75: The Good,The Bad and The Ugly

India will be celebrating 75 years of Independence on 15th August 2022. India's struggle for independence can be called more of an evolution than a revolution. The journey of this beautiful nation from 1947 till now has been a roller coaster of a ride with many successes, failures and ugly sides to it.

The Good:

1.Vibrant constitutional democracy: The democratic system that India adopted at independence with a constitution drafted under the leadership of Dr.Ambedkar has stood the test of time.Many other countries which got newly independent in the beginning of 20th century have not been able to establish mature democracies.They have fallen back to military rules and autocracies.While the inherent democratic and tolerant nature of Indian public has nurtured the Indian democracy,even when it was threatened few times by autocratic governments.

2.Indian diaspora: The educated elites and middle classes,who got settled in US,Canada,Gulf,UK and other European countries have formed a formidable strength of India.They hold key positions like CEOs of tech giants like Google,Microsoft,Twitter,Adobe to name a few.There are many who are secretaries and to be presidents and prime ministers.They form soft power of India.Remittances sent back home  by them are keeping our balance sheet stable.

3.Stable economy: India has passed through major financial crises of the world unwaveringly. Though it faced major crisis in 1991,it used it as an opportunity to liberalise our economy and came out of it successfully.It never faced the disastrous currency crisis like that of Zimbabwe(2007-08),Yugoslavia(1992-94),Venezuela(2017-18) and Srilanka(currently).Astute financial management under the leadership of RBI,with responsible government actions like FRBM Act,formation of MPC(Monetary Policy Committee) etc have helped India.To its credit India has never invoked financial emergency provision under Article 360.

4.Success in space and IT: Indian success story cannot be complete without the remarkable achievements of ISRO under the visionary leadership of Vikram Sarabhai,Satish Dhawan,Abdul Kalam, Nambi Narayanan etc.India could reach mars in its first attempt at a cost less than that of a Hollywood sci-fi films like interstellar. Chandrayaan missions have enhanced human knowledge on Moon and geology. It has mastered PSLV on commercial level and has achieved significant progress in cryogenic engines too.

The rise of India as IT centre with its epicentre at Bengaluru has been an interesting story.Dubbed as Silicon Valley of India,Bengaluru has been a centre of innovation with many startups like Zomato,Ola,Swiggy,Oyo etc mushrooming from there and changing lives of ordinary man.

5.Unity in Diversity and Pacifist foreign policy: With the great traditions of Buddha,Ashoka inherent in this land,India has always strived to maintain Peace.India is a nation,unparalleled in world in the extent of its diversities in language,culture,caste and creed,but yet held together simply by an idea,The idea of India.The brotherhood and bonhomies among different religions and castes are a day to day story,as against few more publicised riots and conflicts.

With respect to foreign policy India has always strived to promote world peace.Being architect of Non Aligned Movement,it has stayed clear of US-USSR Cold War.It has always maintained non-aggression and non-expansionist policy true to its Panchasheel principles.It has has always dealt in a diplomatic and mature way to the constant aggressions by Pakistan and China.

 

The Bad.

 1.Poor health and education system: India is ranked at 130s out of 180 countries consistently in Human Development Index. This is due to poor quality of health and education system.India spends less than one percent of its GDP on public health system.It scores poorly on Maternal and infant mortality,though we have made significant improvements.

2.Poor nurturing of Innovation and Research: Indian universities hardly feature in World’s Top 500 university list.The academic and industry collaboration is poor.Not a single notable innovative pathbreaking tech giant like Google,Microsoft,SpaceX has born out of India.

Though the same Indian origin youths are spearheading these kind of projects in foreign lands.This reflects on poor nurturing and promotion of innovation.

 3.Unemployed youths-Demographic dividend turning into disaster: India has entered the Demographic dividend window in 2005-06 and will remain there till 2055-56.It is defined by working age ratio of more than 150% and dependency ration of less than or equals to 66%.India has poorly capitalised on this in the last 15-20 years.If it doesn’t take concrete effective measures,paying mere lip service will convert this dividend into demographic disaster.The disconnect between industry demand and skill training of youths has resulted in high levels of unemployment among youths.

4.Criminalisation of politics: As per ADR Report,share of MPs with declared criminal and serious criminal cases has increased to 43% and 29% in 2019 Loksabha elections.It clearly shows criminalisation of Indian politics. Law breakers becoming lawmakers has reduced the quality and effectiveness of legislature. Corruption with Poitical-buerocratic nexus has become deeprooted.

 5.Slow economic growth and reforms: Due to slow adaptation of liberalisation reforms,India hasn’t developed as fast as it could.Though China and India were at same level of development in 1940s, India lagged behind,while China emerged as global manufacturing powerhouse.This is mainly because of China liberalising its economy in 1970s while India in 1990s. Import dependence is a big headache for our economy.Indian defence sector has not progressed as that of space science.DRDO hasn’t developed essential defence supplies indigenously. India’s spending of $76 billion in 2021 is third highest in the world as per SIPRI report.It is mainly constituted by defence imports.

 

The Ugly:

1.Emergency of 1977: The national emergency of 1977 has been a threat to our democracy with stifling of fundamental and human rights. Yet Indian public and judiciary strongly protected the democracy by ousting the incumbent government.

2.Communal riots: India witnessed Anti Sikh riots in 1984 and post Godhra riots in 2002.They have been a blot on communal harmony of India.Sporadic communal and caste related violence have tarnished image of India.Ugly caste system and untouchability still persist.Constructive affirmative actions are lacking with only focus on reservations.

3.Corruption, Red Tapism and Business unfriendly environment: Free India has witnessed many major corruption scandals like Bofors,CWG,2G spectrum scam.The coercive corruption(retail corruption) that existed before liberalisation,has given way to more serious collusive corruption(wholesale corruption).Red tapism and policy uncertainty has stifled growth of domestic industries and reduced FDI inflows.

4.Unfriendly neighbours and the Kashmir problem:

India has been always disturbed by Pak and China along its borders resulting in many wars since independence.Defeat in 1962 Indo China war has exposed the hollowness of Indian defence and foreign policy under Nehru. Having learnt it's lessons,India's aggressive approach under Indira Gandhi has taught a clear lesson to Pak in 1971 Indo Pak War,resulting in creation of Bangladesh.Post that,the Pakistan's adoption of terrorism as state policy has incited militancy in Kashmir.Abrogation of Article 370 giving special status to Kashmir has been a landmark,yet controversial decision in post independence history. 

Left wing extremism and naxalism are still posing threat to our internal security. Government's effort to ensure tribal development with dedicated forces to control naxalites under Operation Green Hunt has reduced insurgency along India's Red corridor.

5.Forgotten Half-Women empowerment and safety: The horrific Delhi(Nirbhaya) and Hyderabad(Disha)gang rape incidents have shown that women safety is a myth in a nation,where woman are worshipped as gods.The national outrage that followed has made government to take concrete actions on woman safety.But it won’t change much unless there is a change in public attitude and mentality.India is ranked at a dismal 135 out of 146 countries in World Economic Forums Gender gap report,with worst performance under ‘health and survival’. Female foeticide,Glass ceiling and harassment at workplace are still a reality. Yet women are emerging as champions of their own emancipation by rising to high positions and establishing powerful institutions.

Though many political pundits had predicted doom for this nation,when it got independent in 1947,this nation has proved it wrong.With all its beauties,contradictions and flaws,Independent India has successfully completed 75 years and is going strong. If we work sincerely in building this nation,rather than showing token nationalism,we are on course to become global superpower by 2047,when we will be celebrating centenary of Independence.

The words of Mark Twain a century ago,still hold true:

"This is indeed India!

The land of dreams and romance, of fabulous wealth and fabulous poverty, of splendour and rags, of palaces and hovels, of famine and pestilence, of genii and giants and Aladdin lamps, of tigers and elephants, the cobra and the jungle, the country of hundred nations and a hundred tongues, of a thousand religions and two million gods, cradle of the human race, birthplace of human speech, mother of history, grandmother of legend, great-grandmother of traditions, whose yesterday’s bear date with the mouldering antiquities for the rest of nations-the one sole country under the sun that is endowed with an imperishable interest for alien prince and alien peasant, for lettered and ignorant, wise and fool, rich and poor, bond and free, the one land that all men desire to see, and having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for the shows of all the rest of the world combined.”

 

Happy Independence Day Everyone! Jai Hind!