Tippani on Bharat

This post is a little different from the rest, focusing on facts and opinions I have formed on the route India has taken post independence. It's ironic that I found the time and interest to get into this after I shifted base to France for a short stint. Guess diversity reinforces national identity.

I'll keep this short.

Things India got right:

Linguistic pluralism (Look down south to find failed examples where one linguistic group gained dominance, read Sri Lanka)

Federal structure (My vote goes against simultaneous elections doing the news rounds these days)

Democracy and universal suffrage (Despite doubts about competency of our uneducated masses - one person one vote)

Things India could improve upon:

Religious harmony (Communal division got a push in the 80's. Dark era - riots, Blue Star, rise of fascism and terrorism)

Anti - Insurgency (The roots of insurgency lie in the unfair and improperly planned displacement of our tribals)

The alarmingly increasing gap between the have's and the have-not's. (communism was never the answer, increasing opportunities through skilling and providing financial, social, political support could potentially be)

Dignity of labour (70 years post independence, we still struggle with latent concepts of discrimination)

A sense of respect and pride in our nation (I think standing up for the national anthem should come from within, it's unfortunate that it has to be enforced and sadder still that people find it cumbersome and imposing)

Last but not the least, gender equality (India has miles to go, but at least we are in the right direction)

Things the world could improve upon:

Attributing the threats to world peace to a specific diaspora/religion. There is a need to recognize the concept of fundamentalism and to keep in mind examples across faiths since time immemorial of excesses committed in the name of religion. It's an ideology, a malaise that exists across and can be promoted across any faith at any point of time. There is a need for sanity, peace and tolerance to prevail.

Takeaways this afternoon

Making mistakes is not only acceptable, but the definition of progress. However, repetition of those mistakes is out and out foolish. And if you can learn from other people's mistakes, better still.
In this context, learn from the faults made by leaders of our past and leaders of the present in our fellow nations.