India has had 72 years of political freedom but one question begs asking: Is parliamentary democracy working?
The word 'democracy' is bandied about extensively, but outside of the sloganeering, how far is it really put into practice? Is it now a mere illusion for the people? The illusion of democracy, the act of deception and false comfort - these things are worse than its outright negation. The Indian Constitution, the longest in the world, comprises 397 articles and 12 schedules, which provide the basis for a single citizenship across India.
72 years later, there are still hundreds of struggles still to be waged, countless more to be won. We have witnessed, in our bid for freedom, the agony of partition, a 19 month Emergency imposed in 1975 by Indira Gandhi and decades of communal struggles.
The 3 Cs
Cash, caste and charisma win you elections. Our parliamentary democracy has failed to deliver the basic necessities of life to the majority of its population. And still, we continue to believe that our elections are free and fair.
Unfinished Agenda
Despite its impressive economic growth, India has large challenges to overcome. Wealth at the top has not yet trickled down to the bottom. In 2017, 81% of the population still lived on less than Rs 140 a day. In the same year, only seven percent of Indians graduated high school and nearly 35% of adults were illiterate.
Child labour
Official figures say we have about five million children in the labour maket. The actual numebrs might be four times that! As a nation, we have failed each one of them. The debate on child labour should have been settled with the Constitutional amendment recognising the right to education as a fundamental right.
Destroy the caste system:
And let's do so before it destroys us. This is round two of India's freedom struggle. Equality is fundamental to a democratic landscape and caste isn't just about to disappear, either. Too many political and administrative benefits are derived through caste affiliation. Any one whose thinking is restricted to those terms will resist change, no matter what their academic qualifications might be - even Harvard and Oxford cannot cure you of that.
Let's do away with caste-based reservations! Let scholarships be based on income and merit. Re-fashion the education system. You cannot embrace the 21st century with a 19th century mindset!
Universal healthcare? Please!
Upto 30 percent of Indians don't have access to primary healthcare facilities. About 39 million Indians fall below the poverty line each year, because of out-of-the-pocket healthcare expenses. 70% of Indians spend upto 70% of their income on healthcare and buying pharmaceutical drugs.
One million infants die each year, that's 114 every hour, before they are a month old. Add another million children who die before the age of five. This is a country hat allows 218 children to die every hour of the day.
We have successfully eradicated various epidemics and polio, from our nation. The life expectancy is 68.89 years, a massive leap from 36 years at the time of independence.
People's Empowerment:
As our ancestors fought for independence they imagined a land free of exploitation, oppression and discrimination. Where are we? Tens of thousands of farmers continue to commit suicide, their demand of a secure livelihood from the state still unfulfilled. Women are fighting growing instances of rape and violence.
Youth demand their right to education and to jobs. And the higher education is still wanting in terms of research, our 750 universities still vying for the top 100 global spots.
The middle class wants affordable food, safe water, housing and sanitation.
Macro successes:
Until the mid-1960s, India imported food grains. Today, we are self sufficient in food production and export various grains. We are the largest producers of fresh fruit, milk, pulses and oil seeds, as well as wheat, rice and sugarcane.
India is one of the four largest military powers with nuclear capability today, with a sophisticated missile programme. Our space programme is the envy of the world. We have launched successful lunar and Mars missions, all thanks to ISRO.
Science, it seems, is transforming India.
(The writer is the former Vice Chancellor, Bangalore University)
