Idea of India And Idea for India from the world: Series 1 – Democratic, Socialist, Republic, Secular India

Series 1 – Democratic, Socialist, Republic, Secular India

India as a nation has rich history and has lots of Ideas of its own. As time progressed, influence from outside India significantly shaped our destiny too. Neither can we stay in a cocoon shielded from external influence nor stay complacent not influencing outsiders. So we need to take the best of original Ideas of India and from external world which are Ideas for India. Ideas of India have come from its own vedic ages, saints, writers, philosophers, scientists, political leaders. Ideas for India come from the external world, eastern and western countries.

India has a glorious past. We are nation proud of thousands of years of civilization, the basic tenets of which still intact largely. It has an envious record of keeping the tradition, culture, castes, gods, language, diversity in life style, bio-diversity everything if not completely intact at least protected to a large extent. Comparatively, large civilizations of couple of millenniums before are non-existent today.  For example, Mayan, Egyptian, Mesopotamian etc., didn’t survive the onslaught of colonization, invasion, trade, religious conversion, state & kingdom expansion etc.,

India’s geographical boundary however has shrunk. The ideological Bharath, which is that of human liberty, dignity, cultural diversity, is also annihilated in those parts which are separated out as separate countries like Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tibet, Bangladesh, Burma etc., India had invasions almost continuously from 600AD incessantly from Turks, Mangols, Mughals, Europeans etc., It has shaped its destiny so far. Now as an independent India we need to look forward with more confidence, strength & openness.

Democracy:

The subjugation under British was there for 200 years. The concept of democracy is a very good Idea for India they left behind. Although in the society, philosophy, religion, we are rich in democratic tradition, it was not so in the political & administrative system.  Now it is very well implemented in that sphere too. The democracy has allowed change of regime smoothly and successfully so far. Almost in every Indian state, we see a different leadership every decade coming ground up almost from the masses, not restricted to any major dynasty or family. In the center however we still have the remnants of the British Raj in the Nehru-Gandhi family in high influence since Independence for 7 decades. And its influence is also fast depleting now, giving strength to a lot of diverse leadership coming from across the country from the masses. We may have to show patience & resilience.

The participation in the democracy is significantly improving, especially in the last decade. It certainly is due to improving literacy and awareness. For example, in the recent Tripura state elections, it made a record 93% voting. In a hilly state population spread thinly, ensuring voter enumeration, keeping it up-to-date, ensuring booth access within 5KMs of very voting adult, ensuring smooth fearless voting, it requires a whole lot of administration capability, political will, most importantly peoples will to come together.

In the recently held elections in Chattisgarh, MP, etc., we had peaceful 50+% voting in Maoist affected areas. Even in the urban population with rapid changes of urban space and population, we have recorded upwards 70% voting. Our Election commission deserves a Noble peace prize for these impeccable records!

Counterview of Democracy:

Democracy is here to stay for long in India. And Indians are going to protect and honor it.  The drawback is that the elections are costly and long drawn. Even those who are doing good and getting reelected for multiple times need the people endorsement at a large cost to the exchequer. It also costs them personally. Hence a politician who wins an election tries to earn money through illegal means during his ruling tenure. Some make it in a hurry as they are not sure to get re-elected. Thus begin the viscous corruption cycle.

In a country like Bahrain for example, where Monarchy is followed, there is no corruption and 0% income tax for the common man. Because the ruler is monarch and everything is his. So he need not be greedy. But the monarchy is a gamble. The country is lucky till a generation of good ruler exists. Power is a commodity and it corrupts the individual having it. Even if in one generation the ruler is good, in most cases, the next generation gets corrupt, contemptuous of power. A regime change in a Monarchy is bloody, costly, affects the entire nation’s resources, stability, credibility. It is too costly to afford. So in comparison, Democracy well-kept is healthy and right remedy for ruling.

Communist regimes experimentation in the world has almost hit the dust, although the parties and ideologies still exist. But the regime experimentation is almost over.  

The autocracy or dictatorship is never good for any country.

Anarchy is just a fancy term for civil unrest against the regime. It cannot be a regime by itself.

Socialist Republic

At the time of getting independence, India had some 500+ princely states. Yet they belonged to the concept of Bharath in cultural, traditional means. People moved around, traded, lived across these princely states freely with openness & no hindrance. It is a very important idea for peace, prosperity, cooperation, regional independence and self-reliance. Socialist India means, all people are treated equal irrespective of their region, language, caste, religion etc., Socialist India is very much an Idea of India.

People may be from different states but belong to one Republic of India. Republic means, the head of the state is elected by the people. We are bound by one constitution, fundamental rights & duties across India. World recognizes India as one country with geographical boundary well-guarded by a mighty military, responsible, reliable government, thriving economy etc., It is represented by one prime minister, one president who is the constitutional head elected through people of the country.

From our history we learn that we did not have one republican state concept. We had several federal kingdoms. The concept of Bharath was there in whichever kingdom you passed through. Language, & tradition, changed every few Kms, along the length and breadth of Bharath, but that cultural oneness was still there. It is there even now like that. The diversity is not only tolerated but encouraged and appreciated.

But the lack of one state, one army cost us a lot in getting looted, invaded, and ruled for many centuries. The one state concept gives us strength, recognition and makes people work with common goal and develop nationalistic feeling and patriotism amongst the people.

The disadvantage and federal state solution:

The concept of one state wrests lot of power in few hands in the center. Decisions taken at the center by few will impact someone in remote place. The decision making body at the center due to external world pressures and compulsions, looks from one angle only as a country representation for the world at large. The connect with the affected region & people will be lost. A coal mining approval in a forest region, A large industrial zone in a river delta are just examples of decisions taken at center without the consideration of the local stakeholders but in the larger interest of the nation. Some locality sacrifices for some developmental benefit elsewhere. The affected people and region are never benefited. They are impoverished.

That is why large states always incline towards some region development at the cost of some other region. For example, in Karnataka the southern Bangalore-Mysore belt is most developed leaving behind the northern parts. Similarly in Andhra the Hyderabad region is highly developed bringing in business interests of all high & mighty in that region leaving behind other regions in backwardness. Centralized decisioning at state centers like Bangalore, Hyderabad favors development in those regions at the cost of other regions. Decentralized decision making is a far cry.

Going back to ancient India way of having several small states is necessary. Smaller states, smaller districts, taluquas ensure equity of development. When some river dam submerges a large number of human habitations for some other region benefit, it is likely to fall across borders of small states. Then the resistance across federal states ensure people displacement & impoverishment of regions are avoided. It will force indigenous solutions to solve and address their own problems than affecting someone else. Tank development, catchment area protection, and community step well development etc., are indigenous solutions for drinking water and irrigation problems. Thus it creates self-reliant, self-governing regions. Thus it also empowers people to have their say, and governance coming nearer to them.

A central government with wide, region specific people’s representation will be strong. Simple decisions to aid one region at the cost of another region will be debated and thwarted. But when a sacrifice for a national interest like Satellite mission, missile testing is undertaken calling for a region’s sacrifice, the people of the region can be reasoned through for that cause and compensated appropriately. The people of the region will be happy to contribute for such cause showing patriotism.

So the inference is we must be Republic of India, with smaller states and more autonomy for them.

Secular India 

The idea of secular is hazy. Ancient India was secular probably. All tribes respected each other and their traditions. Later castes based on people’s profession came into civilization. It separated people, made them intolerant towards each other. Then came religions that separate people by gods they worship.

Today we are secular according to the constitution. Government by secular means, welcome all castes and religious people into all professions & be neutral to their allegiance & appearance. In fact government provides reservation to enable the underprivileged sections of society to get into most professions which are essential to serve their own needs like Medical, Engineering, Education, Politics etc., But ultimately government is also by the people. So secularity has to be implemented and honored by the people. Laws cannot be made for every step of our life. People have to be religious and open. Religious doesn’t mean only god fearing, but following ‘Manava Dharma’: Respect and dignity for all humans.

Government is also lagging behind in being completely secular. For example, some tenets of Sharia law are applicable for Muslims in our country, like a man can have multiple wives in that community, alimony for divorced wife is lenient etc.,. These undermine the women and their rights. Women are half a population and cannot be left behind like secondary citizens. Uniform civil code is a far cry of this nation. The concept of a nation is primarily: people, their dignity, prosperity & happiness. If that is compromised for any section of our nation then we are no good as a nation.

Series 2: In the next series, we’ll look into the economic ideas of India and for India: The comparison of Capital intensive economy and the Labor intensive economy. The free market economy, building large conglomerates, its pros & cons. The labor oriented economic ideas like Cooperative movement, Cottage industries, its pros & cons.