The idea of India as understood today is quite different from the idea that prevailed at the time of independence, when our forefathers were imagining an Indian nation, freshly out from the shackles of the Raj. 67 years down the line, the idea that helped shape the nation at the time of its birth appears to be fading into the oblivion.
Before we begin discussing on what the idea of India was and how has it changed now, we need to understand the roots of this phrase. Not much is known as to how and where this concept of ‘an idea of India’ developed. But from what is now traceable, we may consider its origins in the letter written by the great poet, Rabindranath Tagore to his friend in the year 1921. Let me quote him here:
“The idea of India is against the intense consciousness of the separateness of one’s own people from others, which inevitably leads to ceaseless conflicts.”
This idea, as can be understood from the thoughts poured down by Tagore in this letter, points towards an India which believes in the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ which inculcates an understanding that the whole world is one family. As such, India ought to be a land inhabited by people who understand that the walls created between men (including women) are seeds that germinate into unsympathetic restless individuals devoid of any cohesive feelings. This is so because in a multi-cultural, multi-religious, ethnically-diverse land like India, where one is so distinct from the other, it takes efforts to break the promiscuous claims of the superiority of one over the other.
Tagore’s idea of India was one of inclusion. He proposed that one needs to welcome change with open arms for the air of development to nurture all. His view was also acknowledged by the old man who lead us to the path of freedom. Gandhi expressed his views in the following words:
“I hope I am as great a believer in free air as the Great Poet. I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all the lands to be blown about by my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.”
I see here the idea of openness inter-mingled with the idea of the sovereignty of the nation which was very fervent in those times when the soil of this great nation was being moulded in the fine hands of these great men.
The idea of India as proposed at the time of independence found voice through the black letters that culminated into the document that was drafted as the guiding light for the times to come. The Constitution of India became the ‘religion’ of the nation to which one and all owed allegiance. People from all walks of life flocked together to ‘create’ the Constitution, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, B. R. Ambedkar, Pandit Nehru, etc. were some of the torch-bearers. The Constituent Assembly studied the Constitutions of as many as 60 nations from where they borrowed many features and amended it to suit the needs of the Indians.
The Preamble to the Constitution became its soul, neatly encompassing within it the ideals which were enumerated within the many carefully articulated provisions of the Constitution. The Preamble was based on the Objectives Resolution moved by Pandit Nehru. This Objectives Resolution was moved in the initial days of the working of the Constituent Assembly and the Preamble was drafted and passed in the end of the process so as to ensure that the ideals enshrined in it were in consonance with the other provisions. And, thus, was drafted the Preamble, which in the words of K. M. Munshi, a member of the Constituent Assembly, was “the horoscope of our sovereign democratic republic”.
It is within the Preamble that we find a summation of all that the Constituent Assembly wished to imbibe in the Constitution. The ideals of sovereignty, democracy, republic, justice, equality, fraternity, and much later of socialism and secularism were contained within the Preamble. An India devoid of these ideals would be an India devoid of its Indian-ness. The Indian society is a plural society where elitist, communal and dictatorial forces find no place. Though there are quite a few reports which would say otherwise but the general masses in India, the ones that form the backbone of the country, do not believe in promoting mischief against the minority. In fact, Pandit Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, stressed on treating the minorities in the same way as that of the majority. India had witnessed the impact of communalism and it had not been an experience to go down well in history. Nehru’s insistence on the maintenance of a nation where all religions were given respect and the state had no official religion so as to ensure a non-partisan approach can be gauged from his words:
“Indeed, fair treatment is not enough; we have to make them feel that they are so treated.”
This voice rose among the clamour of many revenge-seeking refugees who had lost an entire life’s worth in the partition. Although much was lost and not much gained, the people of India have always adhered to the democratic principles and the other ideals of the Constitution. The idea of India has not been completely lost even though it seems to have faded with time. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam has not yet entirely lost its significance.
The nation is striving to develop the potential of the individuals not entirely discarding the voice of its citizens. The rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of India give the citizens the liberty to pursue their passions and develop their potential to the maximum rather than being cajoled by parties with vested interests. The focus in India is on growth and development surpassing the traditional pigeon-holes of caste, class, gender et al.
However, much to our disdain and in a way contradicting our belief of an ideal Indian nation are the following instances:
- Corruption: Both from top down and bottom up. Newspaper Reports quote that the black economy in India now amounts to 75% of the Gross Domestic Product. Unearthing of scams has become a regular affair of late.
- Communal Violence: Muzzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, etc. are some very recent examples of communal forces getting active. Past incidents of Babri Masjid demolition, Gujarat riots, etc. also continue to remain etched in the memory.
- Poverty: We are also witnessing lack of poverty alleviation much against the claims of the governments of the union and the states.
- Inadequate and Inefficient Resource Allocation: The resource allocation seems to have gone haywire. The benefits given by the government do not reach the intended beneficiaries, and if at all they do, the percentage is very low. This can be understood by the example of government reports pointing to the fact that for every 1 kg of food grains to reach the poor, the government has to purchase 2.4 kg of food grains, indicating heavy pilferage and spillage, much more than the potential of the country to bear.
- Border Disputes: Our territories are matters of dispute with our neighbours although our brave soldiers manage to keep matters in control in the disputed areas.
- Separatist Forces: Tension is also witnessed owing to the separatist forces active in some of the states like Jammu and Kashmir, and Nagaland.
- Crime against Weaker Sections of the Society: Incidents of crime against women and children are on ever high. Dalits are losing their voice when it comes to caste chauvinism. The sex ratio is declining. Abduction, rape and forced religious conversions are some other examples of the menace in the society.
- Crumbling Infrastructure and Lack of Investments: Infrastructure appears to be crumbling. The policies of the government and the aura of uncertainty around them are making it difficult to attract foreign investments.
In such a situation, doomsday does not seem to be very far. Before the idea of India turns into an idea of contradictions, “I hope that some dreamer will spring from amongst you (us) and preach a message of love and therewith overcoming all differences bridge the chasm of passions which has been widening for ages”, if I may quote Tagore to sum up what I began.