India Celebrates 75 Years of Independence - Essay by Dr. Rao Nanduri

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INDIA CELEBRATES 75 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE
Dr. RAO NANDURI

“In heaven there is no fear.” Katha Upanishad
May India and all her neighbors, near and far, live without fear in earthly heaven.

Everyone everywhere should celebrate India's 75th Anniversary of Independence, because of her past and present contributions, and the promise and potential of future contributions to world civilization and progress.

India's civilization and culture are the result of endless questions, big and small, and her responses to them. Today independent India's questions are: What was ancient India like? Was it ever united despite its bewildering diversity? How did Indian civilization survive for thousands of years while all others perished? What are independent India's problems? Can India survive its modern problems? What is its future? What is its place in today's world and the world of tomorrow? How will India shape and be shaped by the world?

The following essay tries to answer the above questions, and gives reasons why everyone, everywhere, should celebrate India and her future in the world's progress. I am in perpetual wonder of India- (a name given by Alexander)- Bharatvarsh, my Matrubhumi (motherland)-whose survival capabilities had no previous guide in history but devised her own and survived. Taking the cue from A.L. Basham's classic The Wonder That Was India, it might be convenient and fruitful to consider India under three headings: 1. THE WONDER THAT WAS INDIA; 2. THE WONDER THAT IS INDIA; and 3. THE WONDER THAT WILL BE INDIA.

1. THE WONDER THAT WAS INDIA

Writing in 1954, barely seven years after India's independence in 1947, about the glory of ancient India and her future, Basham observed: “Our overall impression is that in no other part of the ancient world were the relations of man and man, and of man and the state, so fair and humane. In no other early civilization were slaves so few in number, and in no other law book are their rights so well protected as in the Arthasastra. No other ancient law giver proclaimed such noble ideals of fair play in battle as did Manu. To us the most striking feature of ancient Indian civilization is its humanity.”

Not only was India spiritual home and civilizational and cultural inspiration for South Asia and China, but she also conferred some practical “blessings” on the world at large, such as rice, cotton, the sugar cane, many spices, the domestic fowl, the game of chess, and, most important of all, the decimal system of numeral notation. India gave to the world more than she took. “Today, there are few Indians, whatever their creed, who do not look back with pride on their ancient culture.,” says Basham.

Confident that Hindu civilization will continue, Basham observed presciently:
“Politically and economically, India faces many problems of great difficulty, and no one can forecast her future with any certainty. But it is safe to predict that whatever that future may be, the Indians of coming generations will not be unconvincing and self-conscious copies of Europeans, but will be men rooted in their own traditions, and aware of the continuity of their culture.”

To Basham ancient India's outstanding feature was its humanity. I am inclined to add two more features: its “universality (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam)” and the individual's total freedom to seek their own Ultimate Truth or Reality.

As Radhakrishnan noted: the Upanishads, which are neither dogma nor theology, “Influenced Greek philosophy, Judaism and early Christianity, and they bring a vital message for modern man as well.” We will do well to remember this. The latest scholarship is making clear ancient India's major contribution to Greek thought, and the West's debt to India. Thomas McEvilley, in his monumental work The Shape of Ancient Thought, discussing the profound Upanishadic, Jain and Buddhist influences on ancient Greeks says:

“Upanishadic influences on the pre-Socratics seem likely to have included monistic solutions to the Problem of One and the Many, the doctrine of the transformation of the elements into one another, at least the ethical aspect of the reincarnation doctrine associated with it, and elements or aspects of the doctrine of the cosmic cycle, at the same time Jain influences were entering Greece through the
Orphic community. Since the ideas in question remained fundamental elements of Greek thought for a thousand years, it is time to acknowledge that one of the major strains of Greek thoughts was Indian-influenced-that it might even be called the Indianized or Greek-Indian lineage.”

Was ancient India united? Historian Vincent Smith had no doubt. “The differences among the sects of the Hindus are more or less on the surface, and the Hindus as such remain a distinct cultural unit, with a common history, a common literature, and a common civilization. India beyond all doubt possesses a deep underlying fundamental unity, far more profound than that produced either by geographical isolation or by political superiority. That unity transcends the innumerable diversities of blood, colour, language, dress, manners, and sect.”

Ancient India was the knowledge-center of the world so much so that Max Mueller could say “...we can learn from them (Hindus) lessons that we can learn from no where else.” Indian gods, heroes, epics, Sanskrit, customs, practices, and philosophies are living and thriving under different names in many lands even today.

Willy Durant summed it up: Ancient India was the world's GURUDEV.

2. THE WONDER THAT IS INDIA

“We are all one. Only egos, beliefs, and fears separate us.” Nicholas Tesla

What should we celebrate in 2022 about India? While many of the decolonized countries became authoritarian or theocratic or communist countries, India not only survived as a united and democratic country with strong institutions but also became an inspiration and a model for many other countries. This is her greatest accomplishment. That is the Wonder That is India.

Let us list her notable accomplishments in political, economic, and social spheres:
1. India peacefully integrated 554 states into a union under Sardar Patel and V.P. Menon (a feat unparalleled in world history);
2. Reorganized the States and achieved linguistic peace;
3. Discarding unproductive economic models, adopted liberal democratic-market economic model, catapulting India to the third largest economy, eliminating balance of payments problems (in 1991 she was on the brink of bankruptcy), creating a formidable middle class, and adopting a rupee payment system for international trade;
4. Absorbed and managed the world's largest migration of nine million refugees from Bangladesh (a feat, again, unparalleled in world history-something human rights activists should note);
5. Introduced Aadhaar
6. Brought in Demonetization to control corruption; Enacted GST, and a host of other economic and social programs to reduce inequalities.
7. Handled covid pandemic enviably and became “pharmacy” to the world;
8. Enacted Triple Talaq and helped Muslim women;
9. Abrogated Article 370.

These are a few. These accomplishments were despite facing recurring major challenges. For example, on the 25th anniversary of Independence, Indira Gandhi noted the challenges India faced: relations with Pakistan, communalism (“greatest menace”), provincialism or regionalism, poverty, unemployment, and superior attitudes based on caste and privilege. These challenges are still with us in varying degrees. She warned that “Extremism can never induce moderation, it strengthens opposite extremism,” and stressed that “National integration is the very condition of our national survival.” She also noted with satisfaction that India achieved greater political cohesion, maturity, and self-confidence. Her views about freedom and admonition about its use or misuse are as relevant today as they were then, considering the protests and violence and disregard of other's rights today whether it is in Parliament or elsewhere. She quoted approvingly “Freedom is not the right to do as one likes but the liberty to do as one ought,” and explained: “Freedom is that which helps us to break out of the confines of fear and hate, of chauvinism and obscurantism and of the shackles of dead habit. Freedom is the atmosphere which enables each individual to grow to his full height. This is the freedom for which we must strive.”

Recently, historian Ramachandra Guha noted that India's social conflicts run along four major axes of caste, class, language, and religion. In addition, the partition issues have cast a long shadow over demography, economics, culture, religion, law, international relations, and party politics. He assessed independent India as follows: “The forces that divide India are many. But there are also forces that have kept India together, that have helped transcend or contain the cleavages of class and culture that-so far-at least-have nullified those many predictions that India would not stay united and not stay democratic. These moderating influences are less visible.” These influences are individuals, institutions, and the “the spirit of India” as Indira Gandhi observed. This is the Wonder That is India.

Bimal Jalan, an ex-Governor of India's Reserve Bank, and a prolific writer, over the decades, on the challenges and successes of independent India, is very optimistic about India's future. He catalogues India's political, economic, and social challenges: political corruption and political opportunism, the tyranny of smaller regional parties, individuals “defecting” to other parties, judicial reforms (provide timely, not delayed justice), improving parliament's functioning, Center-State administrative reforms, criminals in politics, Public Distribution System, and Decentralized Health Care System. He points out the corrosive effects of corruption in politics and government. “Empirical research shows that for every rupee of monetary gain to the corrupt, the aggregate loss to society could be as high as three or four rupees.” The damaging effects of the corruption multiplier-not only in terms of income distribution, but also on productivity, delays in completion of public projects, inflation, and effectiveness of fiscal policies, should be eliminated by ensuring transparency in decision-making process and full disclosure of decisions taken by ministers to implement macroeconomic policies. He concludes: “Very few developing countries are as well equipped as India to take advantage of the fundamental changes that have occurred in production technologies, international trade, capital movement and employment of skilled manpower.” Economic fundamentals are the best in thirty years. He is confident about India's future: “India's participative and democratic system will ensure the collective cooperation needed to make the economy stronger, and its politics more people-oriented.”

Since 2014, the majoritarian government of Modi has addressed the issues of corruption, ease of doing business, transparency, efficiency, and accelerated development on several fronts. The rich domestic and global dividends of Modi's leadership (he has his detractors), and the continuing rise of India as a world power with great hard and soft power, are clear to any unbiased observer. How Modi will use, in the years to come, his majoritarian government to solve the decades-long domestic problems while at the same time enhancing India's global standing remains to be seen. The record suggests that we could see some confident and courageous moves. More about Modi's governance later.

In less than 75 years of independence, India is playing a crucial role in global political and economic affairs. THIS IS THE WONDER THAT IS INDIA.

3. THE WONDER THAT WILL BE INDIA

“The mind is the source of all bondage, and also the source of all liberation." -Taitriya Upanishad

“If your hate could be turned into electricity, it could light up the whole world.” -Nicholas Tesla

How will we use our mind? Will we choose to hate or love to build our societies?
What kind of society will India build for the future?

The present came out of the past, and the future will come out of the present.
Independent India's progress has been retarded significantly by the following: letting Kashmir become an issue; letting weak Pakistan close the power differential; not understanding China adequately; not judging power equations in world politics correctly; delaying decisions on nuclear weapons; not being aggressive to pursue a seat as a permanent member of the Security Council; and not grasping opportunities in economic development. In addition, the challenges of communalism, regionalism, land reforms, etc., as alluded to earlier, have been a drag on India moving forward at a rapid pace. To be sure, there were great achievements (1971 Bangladesh war, absorption of nine million refugees, economic reforms from 1991 onwards, and the 2005 Nuclear Deal, etc.) too.

Hundreds of books about “visions of future India” have been written. All of them agree with S. Jaishankar: “It is our ability to rise to domestic challenges that will determine India's place in the world.” India must remain a strong democratic polity, a pluralistic rule-based society, cherishing values of liberty, equality, and fraternity, built on her ancient civilizational values and heritage.

Kapoor, outlining the ecological, political, economic, and social futures for India, suggests a “fundamental departure from current approaches, mindsets and institutions.” His India of 2047 would be built around the ideas of dispersed urbanization, with small towns as development and skilling hubs, innovative mechanisms for financing, public authorities at multiple levels to regulate the use of land and water empowering Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) or Urban Local Governments (ULGs) for decentralized governance, innovation in sustainable resource use and solutions for urban areas to create 'regenerative' and smart cities, and low carbon pathways. This future will be based on extensive use of renewable energy, minimal waste regeneration, provision of decent housing to all citizens and resilience to disasters. The challenge for leaders is to take along all constituents of
population to achieve this vision. Like Guha, Kapoor notes the contradictions and complementarities that abound in the relations of caste, class, gender, age, ethnicity, ability, geography, kinship, demographics, sexuality, and in the interplay of tradition and modernity. Embracing and strengthening multi-linguistic and multicultural identity will enable India to meet her challenges.

For Kapoor, then, a vision of future India would include ecological sustainability, socio-economic justice and equity, the exploration of a more accountable and deep democracy, and the celebration of diversity of various kinds, without allowing diversity to degrade into divisiveness.

Here is the vision of India in 2100 according to a woman. She talks of a civilization based on five crucial intersecting spheres:
1. Direct political democracy in which all people have the right, capacity and forums to take part in decision-making;
2. Economic democracy in which the means of production and the forms of consumption are publicly controlled (public here meaning not the state but collectivity of peoples), local self-reliance takes precedence over large scale economic relations, and relations of caring and sharing are brought back centre-stage in place of monetary or commodified ones;
3. Social justice which strives towards equity and mutual respect among various sections of people as also the abolition of divisive categories like caste;
4. Culture and knowledge diversity in which all forms of knowing and being are respected;
5. And all these built on a base of ecological sustainability, resilience and wisdom that includes rebuilding a relationship of respect and oneness with the rest of nature.

In his book, Move: The Forces Uprooting Us, Parag Khanna presents a vision of the future world and its relevance to India. He argues that geography and mobility is destiny. World's population moves towards resources and stability. Seismic global events- wars, genocides, revolutions, and pandemics- have accelerated mobility of populations. Geography is destiny because location and resources determine our fate. “Demography is destiny” because population and age structure are the most important factors. India's large youth population is a great asset. “Mobility is destiny.” “Mass migrations are inevitable, and more than ever, they are necessary...Mobility is the lens through which to view our future civilization.” Human migrations will be shaped by demographics, politics, economics, technology, and climate. Countries gaining youths today may well thrive tomorrow. “Fresh water location is key to future human settlements. You run from heat and the sea to fresh water...The most attractive places to go to will be those that have: robust demographics, stable politics, prospering economies, and environmental stability.” And of course, fresh water. Canadians and Russians need not move! Most important, connectivity, not geography, is our destiny says Parag.

Supply chains and infrastructure have become as important as national borders. He suggests that “smart states practice a shrewd multi-alignment of being friendly with all great powers at the same time to extract maximum benefits without committing to deep alliances,” a foreign policy that India now follows. The future of the world lies in cooperation and collaboration, while competing for authority, among groups such as governments, corporations, civic groups, and others. It lies in connectivity of every kind. Parag calls it “Connectography.”

Modi is the great “Connectographer,” if I may be permitted to coin a term. He is the political Vivekananda, who understands and respects the strengths of ancient India's great civilizational society and is totally dedicated to meet the great challenge of transforming that society into a modern state. The great orator and communicator that he is, he makes his goals and strategies for India very clear to all. To a distant observer, Modi does not seem to be attached to power. He is very dignified, imperturbable (stithapragjna), incorruptible, and is a patient listener trying to understand the other's position. He understands the mood of the nation and its aspirations, potential and possibilities more than any other political party, which is the key to his electoral successes. He is highly disciplined, with steely determination and attention to detail, and can inspire urban and rural India equally, the youth, women, private sector, and government bureaucracy. He endeavours to provide minimum government with maximum governance. His accomplishments are many, his failures very few. His policies and projects span many elections. He is Mr. Fearless. He makes his opponents look diminutive and compels admiration even from them. He is THE only Indian leader who can carry his country, break with the past and settle India's long-standing disputes. India's neighbors should not miss such a rare opportunity, to have and promote lasting peace and prosperity in the region. He is a colossus on the Indian and world stage.

Modi says the biggest problems facing India are communalism, appeasement of minorities and dynastic politics. Her biggest asset, he says is her youth power.

Modi @20, a recent book, lists his accomplishments in Gujarat and as leader of the nation over the last twenty years in government. It is a must read to know the true stature of India today in the world and where she is headed. India's path to future progress is addressed by S. Jayashankar, India's brilliant External Affairs Minister, in his book The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World. Noting that national security and national integrity are the greatest priorities (“Creating a stable balance in Asia is India's foremost priority. It is only a multipolar Asia that can lead to a multipolar world.”) Jaya Shankar highlights India's policy imperatives:
1. Neighborhood First approach (build favorable economic and social linkages);
2. Neighborhood to the East and the West is important;
3. Sea space to the South is to be integrated;
4. Play an important role in ASEAN. “In the 21st century, India's imprint on global consciousness, its civilizational contribution, its geopolitical value and economic performance will be dependent on meeting the domestic challenges, cooperating and collaborating with its neighbourhood, building Asian multipolarity, and building global multipolar institutions that are rule-based.” India is now focussed on the right issues: digitization, urbanization, rural growth, infrastructure, skills etc. He says: “This is a time for us to engage America, manage China, cultivate Europe, reassure Russia, bring Japan into play, draw neighbours in, extend the neighbourhood and expand the traditional constituencies of support.” He is optimistic about India's future.

It is in the very nature of secular democratic governments that their task is never completed, and it is a permanent state of dissatisfaction since new demands will always come from citizens. Economic interests dictate political behavior (e.g., Arab world and Israel, US and Saudi Arabia, Russia and China and Iran). The imperatives of realpolitik compel India to promote convergences and manage divergences in her relations with US, Europe, Russia, China, and the Islamic world, safeguarding her national security, national interest, and national integrity.

We cannot forget terrorism and failing states all around her. India's brain power is powering global economy's largest corporations. India being a democratic polity, a pluralistic society and a market economy also imposes its own limitations on the pace of economic growth and policy choices.

Prime Minister Modi's urgent agenda is to enact judicial reforms for speedy justice, empower the younger generation, create more jobs across the board, connect India by infrastructure projects, promote world-class manufacturing, further simplify governance, reduce the primary role of government in the economy, decentralize democracy to the village level (continue the strategy of PM-CM-DM-VM the last being village motivation, and pursue a foreign policy based on conviction, courage and national pride.

Modi said his greatest priority is empowering the 200-300 million youth of India. In 2023, India is going to be the most populous country in the world, with the largest youth population with matchless brain power. Digital India and Youth India are its future since India will try to replace China as the supply chain capital. And as Shashi Tharoor, in his India: The Future is Now, said to the West:
“...Indians tomorrow will be able to answer your phones, make your airline reservations and pursue your credit card defaulters, but they will also be able to read your MRIs, design your automobiles, write your legal briefs and invent your next gadgets.”

It is not surprising that Parag Khanna concluded that “the world is going brown.”
India is and will continue to be the great positive force for democracy, rule-based institutions, and a great balancing and stabilizing force for global economic growth, multilateral institutions, peace, and harmony. A force for good, for sure. Historians have said that India will be the most important country in the world in the 21st century. India will be respected and liked. Will some future Willy Durant write, again, “India is the world's GURUDEV”?

THAT IS THE WONDER THAT WILL BE INDIA.

Everyone everywhere should celebrate India's 75th Anniversary of Independence.

I like to think humans are not given fragrance like the rose because each one of us can create our own fragrance by the quality of our thoughts and the nobility of our deeds.

[aka]

Wow, Dr. Rao Nanduri, India was wonderful, is wonderful, and will always be wonderful! Bravo!