The Indian struggle for freedom has always been looked at as one of the most complicated aspects of modern world history. The rhetoric of Indian leaders during the Indian independence movement, evolved over the years starting from the early instances of Sepoy Mutiny for English historians or the “First War for Indian independence” for Indian scholars. The early kings and princes stirred up the emotions of the natives to fight for justice, and of course, this included the idea of saving their princely states.
The rhetorical aspect of the Indian Independence Movement started with the onset of the English colony from 1857, but it was in the early 1900’s that the revolutionary movement of the Indian natives started, with the fiery rhetoric of revolutionaries such as Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad etc. This idea also moved into Bengal with the likes of Khudiram Bose, and revolutionary organizations such as the Ghadar Party, Hindustan Socialist Republic Association and the Anushilan Samiti in Bengal. The idea of the rhetoric was picking up the pace in the country; much to the displeasure of its colonizers.
India was waking up from a millennium of feudal stranglehold to a fight for self-determination. This idea sowed the seeds for a common nation-state identity. Eminent leaders like Gandhi also emerged on the scene post the first world war at the same time. Ideas of young guns like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose gave people the strength to continue with the struggle for independence successfully. Although Gandhi Ji’s ideology was different from that of Netaji’s, the diversity of the leaders and their rhetoric brought in a new vigour to the freedom movement in India.
In the post-independent India, the fight is still on for a different kind of freedom: freedom from poverty and many other issues. Nehruvian Socialism which focused on establishing an egalitarian society needs to make a comeback. There may be many critics of Nehru’s ideas and of his going soft on many international issues, but the first Prime Minister surely had the best interests of the nation in his mind even if they seemed elitist to a few. After all, policy-making in Independent India started here.
The historical aspect of India which I have presented here is done only to draw attention towards India’s current problems. Many issues have been identified, but unfortunately, the structural deficiency of the country to tackle them is a major challenge. India probably can be equated to have the problem of 4Ps – Population, Poverty, Pollution and Pakistan. And on top of that, an additional issue of 3Cs – corruption, caste system and China.
India was an idea built on diverse cultures, communities, languages and beliefs. A country which was inconceivable for many like Churchill, who once remarked, “India is no more a single country than the equator”. India claims to be the fastest growing economy in the world. However, even a person without the knowledge of an economist can figure out that a country with a population like ours should not get carried away by 7-8% growth rate. As this ‘growth’ does not reach most of the population.
India ranks low in terms of per capita income, quality education at primary level, and the health sector. The transition of Modern India has been a miracle and the country still faces the age-old problems with its new cover of ‘republic’ even after many centuries and generations of understanding the culture, habits and customs ranging from the time of a rich vedic civilization to the colonial era and 71 years post independence.
India has seen the blood of many who have tried to conquer or defend it. As we delve into the context of independent India, we can say that the understanding of India, had only seeped in when the European colonial powers had set foot on our land. Keeping in line with the thoughts of Shashi Tharoor, India today is a decadent civilisation which had peaked much earlier.
As noted economists, Jean Drèze and Amartya Sen abjectly point out- India, which once had paid its labourers at par with the western counterparts, was pushed back to the wall by the colonial powers. The might of technology and the dispute of the feudal systems, allowed East India Company to dominate the majority of the subcontinent.
We can criticise India’s 71 years as a democracy, but it has still earned admiration from the western world for maintaining its democratic values. Dictatorship too has helped many countries to surge forward. But, India has rejected authoritarian regimes like that of China, with its leader Xi Jinping, who ironically advocates the idea of cooperation and competition!
India despite all the odds, has managed to build up a parliamentary democracy. Indian leaders have carried forward Nehru’s legacy and have maintained the outlook of India’s democracy in their unique styles. Lal Bahadur Shastri, in his short lifespan, tried to build India from grassroots level. His slogan – “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan” (Hail soldiers, Hail farmers, Hail Scientists) encouraged the soldiers and farmers when the nation was reeling under the effect of 1965 India-Pakistan war.
Soon after his death, when China had taken advantage of Nehru’s policies came Indira Gandhi. She had the gumption to bring India out of the clutches of poverty, a dream that had seeped in the last few years of India. India had been dealing with the effects of partition, caste system and of course her “friendly” neighbours: Pakistan and China.
Indira Gandhi was the need of the hour. With her unique style of charismatic authoritarianism, she reclaimed India’s lost glory by liberating East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) from the clutches of West Pakistan. But, it was also her rather drastic steps which had given India the first taste of the unenviable Emergency. Her son, Rajiv Gandhi took the helm of India with a landslide victory after his mother’s assassination.
Indira Gandhi was not only a victim of her strong policies but also of the age-old problem of communalism in India. Her younger son Rajiv Gandhi was the youngest Prime Minister to be elected during the period. He had the vision to bring in technology, an impediment for developing countries like India. But, his vision was also halted halfway as he too was assassinated.
The cause of his assassination was the involvement of Indian peacekeeping forces in Srilanka, where the Tamilian population was being exterminated by the supposedly true natives- the Sinhalese people. From the beginning of its foreign policy, India has maintained an image of being a benevolent diplomatic power. With the emergence of globalisation, the Indian economy was liberalised under Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao and the then Finance Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
India has played a significant role in the global economy since then. The country now emerged in multilateral forms and established strategic partnerships with other counties, in the midst of improving the GDP, economic policy liberalisation and the onset of a consumer economy. The consumer became the king with the removal of the notorious license raj which ruled till the 90s.
Even though India lost the mid 90s to coalition governments, the emergence of PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee brought in crucial change after decades of Congress dominating Indian politics. However, the BJP government had been too eager with its pro-capitalistic “Shining India” campaign, which was not received well. Congress government which lasted from 2004- 2014 was replaced again by the BJP after Congress’ fair share of corruption.
At present, the issues of lynching by Hindu radical groups supposedly for beef consumption, women safety, economic offenders tearing away the Indian banking system along with Indian e-commerce boom are taking centre stage in the country. Amidst all of which our current Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi, has traversed the world with quite a panache.
India has now become assertive in its policies both internally and externally. There have been many benefits despite the flaws but, these benefits are nowhere near the promised: “acche din“. India is now a member of G-20, BRICS (peer emerging countries group), Shanghai Cooperation Organization and important strategic partners with European Union, ASEAN and OECD.
India has also built excellent relations with many countries. Despite the dismal performance on social indicators on an overall scale, it has also brought in schemes such as Digital India, Make in India. Although these schemes are yet to show its full effect, they are a step forward to meet the demand for jobs, food and shelter.
The previously mentioned problem of 4Ps and 3Cs, which encompass both external as well as internal dynamics, should be taken seriously. As we keep listening to patriotic songs, movies and the Prime Minister’s speech from the Red Fort every Independence Day, we must not forget to hope for the wheels of fortune to turn us in the direction of our lost glory and prosperity again.