Shaping India as a Nation

Politics is the art of ruling. Modern democratic institutions, their interpretation, application and practice are the brainchild of the British, who incorporated and introduced the same to all those areas where they had an influence either through colonization and / or respect through their master brilliance and creative mind.

It was easier for them to inject democratic values, institutions and make their writ run large and free in all the countries which were subjugated by them militarily, and  which took a reasonably long time to come out of their colonial yoke.

                                                           

While getting to understand and putting into practice the art of democratic governance was a difficult affair to many fledgling nations, after becoming free, given varied reasons ranging from political, socio-economic, cultural and religious parameters, India proved to be an exception, by having a smooth transition from colonization to democratic adaptation and governance were concerned. Throwing away the pangs of partition way behind, India started governing itself rather very comfortably on the democratic platform, and has carved a niche for itself as being reverentially called as the “ :World’s Largest Democracy “, a coveted name and position, which is being eulogized by friendly countries and envied by fretting nations..

The credit for evolving India as a single nation should prima facie go to the British, who achieved the same through sustained and steadfast colonization, spread over a couple of centuries. What was a messy conglomeration of divisive and warring states during the initial stages of English advent into the country, was slowly formulated into a single entity. It should be said that without entertaining any bias, every Indian should first and foremost thank the British for making us a single nation, by structure rather, than by spirit. ( which is unfortunately lacking, to this day ). Leaving alone personal prejudices, this could not have happened but for the British spreading their tentacles to every nook and corner and effectively subjugating and colonizing us. If not, we would have ever so many Angas, Vangas and Kalingas on all directions, with each group fighting with the other, as a Kartavyam.

Rather ultra nationalists may lunge at me for giving undue credit to the British as they are accused of introducing the concept of “ divide and rule “, thereby pitching one group of people against another, on religious, regional and linguistic lines. May be true to some extent, as what was tried as a crude via media to prolong their rule in India, eventually paved the way for its partition. But we should shamefully accept that the same yardstick is being put to use with all force by our politicians towards fostering their political career and aspirations, so as to cling to power.

But, it should be dispassionately accepted that but for the British, India would not have attained a decent united shape – as a first step. After partition, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India, played a pivotal, dynamic role in uniting ever so many principalities into the Indian Political Map, to whom all laurels are due.  But for his vision and determination, Bharata Varsha would not have assimilated ever so many linguistic regions into one and attained its present geographical shape.

We have stood the test of time, vagaries of nature, hostile intentions, aggressive postures of neighbouring nations, corrupt governance, bureaucracy, political upheavals, and still emerged relatively unscathed, charting a continued sustenance. The fact that Indian talent is recognized and sought after all over the world, more particularly in the developed West goes to prove our prowess. That Indian brains have been harnessed towards achieving dynamic scientific advances, pioneering space research among the league of developing nations,  mastering the nuances of software technology are tell tale examples of our vitality. 

With vibrating  young  manpower and  clear, conscious governance, India will emerge as a superpower in the future, the symptoms are seen assiduously at present.

Jai Hind.

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