Give an account of the successes and failures of the country during the sixty two years of its
Independence.
Answers
Deepening Democracy: When India stepped forward for democracy giving right to vote to all Indians, west was skeptical about it and “Illiterates running Parliament” (literacy rate at in 1951 stood at meager 18.3 percent ) was a major joke of the time. But, the same illiterate voter has shocked the world showing their natural tendency for democracy. From 54 political parties in the 1951 general election, India had moved up to 464 in the 2014 general election. Another achievement that barely gets mentioned is that India has been able to keep out the military from the democratic process.
2. Economy: India's Gross National Income (GNI) at constant prices has increased more than 35 times from Rs.2.92 lakh crore in 1950-51 to Rs.105.28 lakh crore 2014-15. Similarly, the per capita income at current prices has risen from a paltry Rs.274 In 1950-51 to a decent Rs.88,533 in 2014-15. Foodgrain production grew from 50.8 million tonnes in 1950-51 to an estimated 264.77 million tonnes in 2014-15 that indicates more than a five-fold increase and the fact that India is food secure for the time being. Today India being seventh in the world by and the by (PPP) is a key player in the world economy.
3. Self-reliance: When Indira inherited weak and troubled economy, we were looking for help from US and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to face drought induced food crisis. At the time, Indo-US relations were straining due to Indira's criticism of the American bombing campaign in Vietnam, and because of President 's policy of withholding food grain shipments to coerce Indian support for the war. With we could achieve self-sufficiency in the agriculture sector. With the advent of Green Revolution we not only became self-reliant but also able to export many produce to different countries. Introduction of modern machinery, hybrid seeds etc has also contributed to the progress in this sector.
4. Military Power: The advantage of war of 1962 was that India seriously changed its stand from peace loving country to “Peace with Power”. The defense budgets were increased and the military might was increased along with advanced trainings and warheads. With strength of over 1.3 million active personnel, it is world's 3rd largest military force. India’s 2015 budget for defense puts it at 6th place in the countries’ military expenditures. Strategic impact was that India started putting its opinions at world forum more firmly.
5. Technology-
a. Telecom Revolution: provides the big picture of the market india provides in this sector and the advancement made by this country from pigeons being used for communication to cutting edge smartphones.
b. Space Technology: Mangalyan, Chandrayan and recently launched ASTROSTAT space observatory, need I say more on India’s space exploration successes.
6. Communal and Social Harmony- I am not sure if this has been a failure or an achievement. India got independence draft with a sub clause of partition based on religion. Violence post-independence, mass migration (UNHCR estimates 14 million Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims were displaced during the partition; it was the largest mass migration in human history) and cities being flooded with refugees, marred the celebration of this independence. India sacrificed Gandhi and survived that volatile condition immediately after partition. I am not sure to call it a failure or a success but India’s history on communal harmony has been marked by several incidents of violence like Godhra, Babri, 1984 Sikh riots, and many reported and unreported incidents on violence based on caste, religion or ethnicity (special mention to MNS and Shiva Sena’s movements of cleansing Mumbai) shaking it up. But, then there is this India which speaks in unison on the issues of national interest. Defense forces, Judiciary, Bureaucracy and all other branches of this healthy democracy work tirelessly to make it truly “Incredible India” without any reference to religion/caste/ethnicity. I will say it’s a success to build a nation whose diversity is not defined by just religions practiced or languages spoken. There is one saying in Hindi I would like to quote “kos kos pe badle paani, chaar kos pe vaani” which roughly translates to “on every mile the taste of water changes and on every four miles the language”. Those who think that we are not faring well on this front should check the history of USA, which is exemplified as the best democracy in the world, on this front. But still we need a lot of improvement in this area. Reports of killings based on caste and religion pop up time to time, and we have to work for a level to achieve where not even a single human being is killed just because of his birth related identities of caste/religion.