India at 75

At the stroke of the midnight hour on 15 August 1947 India woke to ‘life and freedom’ after two centuries of subjugation and humiliation. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru noted on that momentous occasion, “A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.” For 75 long years India has strived to achieve its promise and its record would say it has achieved these “not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially.” 

In 1947 India was wretchedly poor. Two centuries of colonial occupation had destroyed what was before the second largest economy in the world. During this period manufacturing centres were destroyed, and the old village system was dismantled. India was reduced to being an agricultural colony of Britain to supply raw material. At the time of independence literacy was at 12% and the country had witnessed no less than 12 major famines that killed tens of millions of people during two centuries of colonial rule. 

The days of famines and abject poverty are now behind. India today is the fifth largest economy by nominal GDP, the third largest by Purchasing Power Parity and an economic powerhouse. It has achieved an average GDP growth of 6-7% in the last 20 years while the period 2013-2018 showed exceptionally high, double-digit growth. India’s technological achievements are equally impressive and it is no doubt a major political power in the regional and international arena. 

Yet, India’s greatest achievement, its most valuable contribution and what should be its utmost pride, is its continuous pluralistic democracy. It is arguably the most unlikely triumph of the ideal of pluralism and democracy in human history. As one of the most diverse countries in the world, speaking 120 languages amongst more than 2,000 ethnic groups, representing all major religions, the centrifugal forces of seemingly insurmountable divisions were naturally enormous. Despite numerous separatist movements, both violent and non-violent, that sprung up in the last eight decades, the fact that India has remained territorially united is a testament to the democratic space it provides to its multitude of different peoples.

This was not a matter of chance but a deliberate design of the founding fathers of the nation. India’s “diversity dividend” is a result of its pluralist approach since its inception, cemented in its republican constitution in 1950. Due to these farsighted policies, India remained a democracy throughout its post-independent history while many African and Asian countries descended into anarchy through authoritarianism, militarism, corruption, and internal strife after independence.

The very qualities that won India so many admirers around the world, are now under grave threat. Hindu nationalism has raised its ugly head. Whether tacitly offered patronage by powerful sections of the polity or not, these forces of division are affecting the very fabric of India and threatening its unity. Recently the Government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, revoked article 370 of the constitution that granted a Special Autonomous Status to the Muslim majority state of Jammu and Kashmir. Hindu nationalism which is encouraged by authorities and carried out with impunity, has reached new levels and the intimidation and oppression of Muslims have become particularly pervasive. It is as if the very foundations that made India great are being destroyed from within.

India’s greatness lies in its ability to aspire a higher ideal. As premier Nehru said on peace, freedom and prosperity, “Those dreams are for India, but they are also for the world, for all the nations and peoples are too closely knit together today.” As a direct and passive beneficiary of India’s bloody independence struggle and as Asia’s oldest continuous democracy, it should be the fervent hope of all Sri Lankans that India’s soul continues to find utterance in all its democratic, united and pluralistic glory.