The Republic is stronger
As India celebrated the adoption of its Constitution for the 64th time on Saturday, some introspection on the state of the Republic is inevitable. New Indian President and veteran politician Pranab Mukherjee did the same.
A few years ago, I landed in the tiny airport of Nadi, Fiji, and was being driven to my hotel by an Indian-origin taxi driver. He asked me a simple question: “Desh (mulk) ka kya samachar (khabar) hai?”
So, what was I going to tell him about this vast, diverse, divided, unequal, multilingual, beautiful, frustrating country from where his ancestors must have migrated more than a hundred years ago? What was the news I could give him?
In the end, my response: “Sab kuch theek hai.”
Looking back, what should I have told this man? Should I have told him about the abysmal failure of all mainstream political parties and leaders to provide Indians the basic nutrition, water, electricity and health services necessary for survival?
Should I have told him that those responsible for keeping people in poverty be charged with cognizable crimes?
Should I have told him that in the rush to acquire material wealth, inequalities had attained a tsunami-status that threatened to sweep the poor into the sea?
Should I have told him that India spends hundreds of crores of rupees on building the latest missiles and weapons systems, but can’t deal with the fallout of a cyclone or resettle those displaced by a dam project?
Should I have told him that the mainstream Indian media is dominated by the drive to rake in the money; people and issues be damned?
Should I have told him that millions of Indians believe that the only way of getting a job done is by bribing someone?
Should I have told him that India and Pakistan haven’t been able to settle their differences and move ahead on the path of adulthood that would allow for both their peoples to life in a spirit of friendship?
Well, there was a lot I could have told him then and a lot I could tell him now. It would appear that I was economical with the truth when giving the easy answer.
But I should have also him that India does have a set of people who want change and who want their government to deliver basic services to people cutting across caste and religion.
And, most of all, would want to tell him that the rape-and-murder of a young medical student in Delhi on December 16 had set off a movement for gender equality that could really empower Indian women.
That the crowds demanding change were good for Indian democracy and lent added muscle to the Republic.
That a commission of inquiry asked to suggest ways and means to improve women’s security had come out with a report in one month.
That this meant some Indians could deliver and work together on an issue that directly affects about 50 per cent of the country’s population.
That the push for good governance will continue.
And, that new means of communication will allow more assemblies like the ones we saw in Delhi and other cities in December and can happen again to push pressure on our rulers.
That to be re-elected you must do a little something for the electorate.
It would be a mixed answer to the question posed by the Fijian of Indian-origin.
That’s the news for him and me.
Amit Baruah is an independent, Delhi-based journalist. He is the author of Dateline Islamabad and reported for The Hindu newspaper from Pakistan.
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group
Yes, You asked the right questions. There are many many such kind of questions that needs to be answered in India. We just can’t sit and think that everything is working fine here. We need more people like you to ask questions , which eventually result in more healthy democracy and more welfare to the society. We just can’t romance all the time that India is still a working and largest democracy in the world
Essentially this article is to keep fooling the Pakistani masses that everything in India is failing and that Pakistan governance is therefore justified by its own massive failures. Keep fooling Pakistan..
I agree with the analysis that the article lacks originality and fails to inspire any meaningful thought process. However, from the barrage of negative comments for the author including personal attacks from our indian friends shows how intolerable they are like us here in pakistan to any kind of criticism…something which will keep both nations tied down to the pits they are in for years to come I am afraid.
people in pakistan only compare themselves with india .india in a certain category ranked 3 and pakistan 4th .taliaaa we are not far below than indians.india having 1.2 billion population still manage to grow at the rate of 6% per annum.pakistani media should show to their people how a country which was once part of pakistan is going to be the next SUPERPOWER in 30 YEARS.
India is an ample example for true development. Our money, Our people efforts build India for tomorrow. There is a change of attitude by Politicians in a positive direction compared to the past.
In India there is a huge need of infrastructure improvement, It has been a hamper for foreign investment in India.
I don’t really understand what the point of the article was since this is a Pakistani Newspaper.
If you had written it in an Indian Newspaper, you would have awakened a few blokes who usually don’t give a thought to the poor masses.
Who are you trying to awaken here? Aren’t contributing to the Right-WIng, Islamist narrative in Pakistan which paints India as bad, corrupt and generally a bad country with bad people?
“A few years ago, I landed in the tiny airport of Nadi, Fiji, and was being driven to my hotel by an Indian-origin taxi driver” .
imagine your pathetic sense
And, most of all, would want to tell him that the rape-and-murder of a young medical student in Delhi on December 16 had set off a movement for gender equality that could really empower Indian women.
The rape incident took place in Dec,12.And you were in Fiji a few years ago.Ha Ha Ha…Keep fooling Pak…
I agree with Satish’s answer below – but that is an ideal situation to be in and yes India needs to work towards it. Education upto class 12 should be made compulsory – the Govt needs to work on this. Baruah is trying to sell his piece and earn forex – lets not be too harsh on him – he has to continue to make his living.
I see only Indians commenting here ….Great job DAWN #Respect…You are more famous in India than in our own Pakistan
Indians are more in population, are more literate ,own more computers & internet penetration is deeper compared to any other country in south asia.hence more hits from India.
Amit, These problems & issues have been written about endlessly, both by Indians as well as non-Indians. Your article is an old cliche, and throws no light or nor it is original. What you should have articulated rather what, how, when, who should do to remedy those issues. Your article lacks originality and smacks of being snobbish.
I have started believing after reading one after the other Amit’s article that Amit is mentally sick. If you agree, please like this response…
who is this man?People are all the same all over the world,give them power,they will misuse it irrespective of religion or country.All one needs is a foolproof system that cannot be eroded.Un fortunately in India politicians managed to corrupt a system made by the stalwarts like Dr.Ambedkar to suit their needs.It is not an easy thing to be democratic country but India is a succesful democraqtic country mainly due to the common man who knows when to change the top.It may be a bit difficult to understand for people in a country where words of a military man or former cricketer get printed in the front page.
This is an extremely shallow article and reaffirms my impression about Mr. Baruah as a pseudo-intellectual. The comments posted by the readers appear to be much more sensible than author’s meaningless ranting about India and the issues related to her. India is huge and so are its problems. But, crying about inequality and asking for equal distribution of wealth without generating it, is simply a farce, which we as Indians endured for more than four decades, where, the so called numerous “socialist” governments promised Indian masses of the “roti, kapra our makaan”, stifling the entrepreneurship of people of India. There is a golden rule, you cannot distribute something which you don’t have.
In the early nineties, all that the Indian govt. did was to allow Indian people to earn their own bread! And that was a miracle! It not only allowed tens of millions of Indians to pull themselves out of poverty and become as much rich as any European citizen, but, it also made the Govt.of India dirt rich, allowing the so called “pro-poor” politicians to indulge in corruption, not just in millions, but in billions! Our dear author, tragically or ironically, belongs to the same caste known in India as “Jholawallas”, the bleeding heart pro-poor anti-bourgeois, with a cotton Kurta and Jhola (bag) over their shoulders, well known for discussing poor of India over a bottle of scotch (in older times it was vodka!) while sitting in a star hotel (of course the bill would be payed by a bourgeois).
Whatever progress that India has achieved so far, is not because of the government, but, despite of the government. The biggest achievement of India is its amazing people, who, despite all odds, retain the capability to bounce back. Mr. Baruha should’ve told this stark truth to the Fijian taxi driver!
AMIT did you take that Taxi Driver to your hotel room? Did you tip him? If yes how much? Or were you so lost in the problems of the nation you forgot to be a good human being and do your share of helping another human being. Think Positive. Your worring wont help no one!
Show me a perfect diamond, I’ll show you a perfect country.
Mr Amit,
ur negative points about India are well known to everyone.u guys are always interested to publish this type of articles. i want a article from u —”The development of India, before and after independent -a comparative study”. CAN U DO THIS?
whatever happens, the Republic is still stronger
I always like to see outstanding issues because thats why I go to work to resolve those issues. Not to celebrate parties about work accomplished. So this article makes sense to me but for others they might fill it as a negative article. But well good news is accomplishments, bad news is your new challenges. I like to look for new challenges.
So the face of India has changed little. But will its changing and moving in right direction which is good news. Things will still take time to complete. Unless there is progressive thinking things will not change. Younge people need to unseat those old politicians. Have a retirement age of 65 for politicians. If in all other jobs people get retirement, samething should happen in Politics also. It will make more then 2/3rd of our parliamentarians out of job and see how things start changing from there.
just look at the no of indians commenting on a pakistani website on an indian reporters views.I guess no one listens to their voices in India.I hope the pakistanis are reading and provide some reassuring comments.
Humorous comment
I guess there are just too many Indians for the number of Indian news papers we have! Alternatively, the internet bandwidths are too high that allows them to surf all over the place!!
And me, an Indian who travels all over the place, currently in the US, has no bandwidth problem either!!!
Cheers!