This is India!

We are proud of being the largest democracy in the world. It is universally accepted fact that democracy is a long-term asset and we are ahead of China at least in this regard. However, sometimes it can have serious implications too which are not in favor of the nation’s long-term goal.

The judiciary system is the savior and the police system is the guardian of democracy. In the past six decades, their performance has not been satisfactory. We take more than 25 years to decide (even undecided) whether someone can be held accountable for a serious crime or not. Sometimes the nation has to bear the cost of the “rule of law”. The committees formed submit their report after a long time that the accused are they are on their last breathing (sometimes dead) and the victims have forgotten or are trying to forget the trauma of the incident. However, they are not allowed to forget the memory either.


The recent verdict on SPS Rathore and the latest case of police officers harassing two sisters in Chhattarpur (M.P)- are just the tip of the iceberg. Over 70% of the population in India still lives in rural areas and we can think of the number of these kinds of incidents, which remain unreported. History teaches us how our police system could have been important to tackle with the unfavorable situations and the shape of the nation would have been far better than now.



We can manage to be the super power as well as super poor. We have a large number ofbillionaires and on the other hand, more than 40% of the population (a third of global poor) falls below the International Poverty Line. The Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) of India is increasing. Our performance is very poor in terms of Human Development Index (HDI). Here, we can massacre the people who follow the religion we hate without any much difficulty. Though, we are a Socialist, Democratic and Secular nation, but all these can happen only in India.

In a democracy, there are so many tools for our rights though their uses are not and cannot be properly defined. Here, we can go on strike even when we have the responsibility of running the nation. Here, even lawyers, doctors, road-railway and airline employees; everyone has the right to go on strike without considering the consequences neither in their favor nor in the country’s. Only in India, a handful of unsatisfied extremists can challenge central and state security agencies. They kill security personnel, they destroy our infrastructure (though primitive), they kill people and above all, they make law for the people in a sovereign country. No better example can be given to show that we are a democratic country.

Our politicians can leave everything on some committees to find out the cause of all incidents, the committees ultimately come with some crap, but repeatedly same type of incidents can occur only in India. Instead of securing the future, they try to take advantage politically out of every situation. Every accountable-minister always blames others for the incident. They declare the compensation amount in such a lordly manner that every paisa of the amount comes from their wealth and the kin of the deceased are eagerly waiting for that. There is serious lack of co-ordination among center and the states and even various departments of the state. However, it is our heritage and we will carry it proudly to the generations.

Even after so many complications, we can be the potential next super power. We have laws to tackle with almost all kind of situations; they are just decorating the nation on papers and we never bother to follow them because we know that there is another way. We need a foolproof system with zero tolerance for the break in laws. Our elected leaders should be given more power with more accountability. Until then, we have to go with someone, who said, “I have to believe that God exists because only God can run India for such a long period.”

The Female Factor

This will represent lesser than 3% of the women masses. The participation of a mere group of elite women in the polity does not promise the success of democracy.

It is “The International Women’s Day” today to celebrate economic, political, and social achievements of women around the world. India too seems to be seriously concerned for something epochal this time. However, the government is struggling to have an all-party consensus to go further with the long awaited “Women’s Reservation Bill”.

Looking at the male dominated history, one of our great scriptures starts with the verse, which can be translated as

The primary duty of women is enjoined to be service one’s husband.

This view for the women has changed around the world, significantly in India over the ages. The status of women has been improving unprecedentedly. However, it is still dismal which is manifested by surveys’ statistics.

The success of 33% women reservation in Panchayat Raj Institutions and then in all local elected bodies, paved the way for the same in the Parliament and State Assemblies too. Though, this has been in demand since independence and for more than a decade as a bill. But, because of lack of political integrity, consensus and co-ordination it was stuck under files. Now when it seems to clear all the hurdles this time, there are so many problems, which should be taken care with the reservation.

In a democratic country like India, where women comprise of 48% (2001 consensus)-the development of the nation hinges on the women. Statistics say still 72% population lives in rural area, of which 49% are women. The authorities who are supposed to discourage the dowry system are involved in the de facto “Gift from Bride”. Girl child is considered a great responsibility (precisely ‘load’) to the family. In rural areas, people want to be load-free as soon as possible whereas the intellectual urban area people do not even bother to take the load at all.

“State of the World’s Children 2009” of UNICEF reports that 47% of Indian girls aged 20-24 were married before the legal age of 18, with 56% in rural areas. “World economic forum 2009 Report” puts India in the Global Gender Disparity at 114 out of 134 countries. It also alarms with the worsening sex ratio in 0-6 age group.

The urban women are advancing at par with the men because of the facilities available and the evolved mindset of the people. However, the status of rural women seems to have no significant improvement. They do not get the basic facilities for education. Even the so called “literacy rate” of women in rural areas is much disappointing. A woman is not socially independent to use the present 33% reservation in the local bodies, which is enjoyed by her husband on her name.

It is only the iceberg of the problems, Indian women have. In these circumstances, if reservation without working for the their upliftment is given, this will represent lesser than 3% of the women masses. The participation of a mere group of elite women in the polity does not promise the success of democracy. Proper planning in infrastructure, education, health and security are some of the most needed elements, which can improve the status of women in India and can bring happiness to them to participate in the nation development.

Another Holiday?

We cannot approach the vision to be a developed nation until people from every corner, society and status are able to share the progress of the nation.

India is celebrating its 60 years of being republic from the British dominion. Our ancestors’ struggle, sacrifice and prudence paved the path to the modern India. One may have so many questions, which are mostly unanswered. Are we successful to achieve the nation of their dreams?

Is this kind of celebration provides opportunity to ponder the prevailing problems and analyze our achievements or just an occasion to have a feeling of being in a democratic country where we are free spirits to do whatever we like? For people like us isn’t it another holiday to play a match with friends or to go for a movie with your girlfriend?

For a country like India, with so much diversity-languages, religion, caste, sub-caste, ethnicity, color, economic status; our constitution was the biggest achievement so far for us. It is the supreme law of the nation setting a benchmark for the fundamental political principle, powers and duties of the government and fundamental rights, directive principles and duties of the citizens. Everything is so prudently framed and eclectically compiled that it guaranteed the future of India. Timely amendments made the constitution more suitable and stronger for the new age.

During these 60 years, our progress is unprecedented. We are no more a country of Max Muller of snacks and jungles; Indian mind is now accepted and respected everywhere. We can be proud of being with every kind of people in our country. One side we have world famous Businessmen, scientists, technocrats, engineers, doctors, and on the other side hungry people, slum dwellers, child labors, exploited people, are there (diversity??). The nation’s progress can be seen in the urban lives only and the rural life is still untouched. We have corruption at each and every level, sometimes I wonder is the nation being run or sab kuch bhagwan bharose chal raha hai?

We cannot approach the developed nation vision until people from every corner, society and status are able to share the progress of the nation. Still we have miles to go; our progress should not be on others’ but with the aspirations of all the people together. This Republic Day provides the opportunity to have a thought to make a difference. So what did you do today other than playing a game or watching a movie?