India on the Cusp of 75

Dr Suresh Mathew Dr Suresh Mathew
16 Aug 2021

As the nation enters the year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of Independence, contrasting pictures come to mind glaringly. The portrayals swing from one extreme to another: from a starving nation that depended on rich countries like the United States for its food materials to a grain-surplus country now; from 82 per cent illiterates to 75 per cent literates; from 20 universities to a nation dotted with over 800 varsities; from a handful of state-owned ordnance factories and other units to a few hundred public sector undertakings that took various sectors to near self-sufficiency; from around 40,000 km of road networks to over 6 million km, which is the second-largest road network in the world. The list of achievements can go on and on beyond the permissible word limit here.  

But this story has another side, not so complimentary or flattering. In the Global Hunger Index 2020 India ranks 94 out 104 countries, behind Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal. According to the OXFAM inequality report 2021, India has the world’s fourth lowest health budget and it spends a measly 1.26% of its GDP on health. 

It registers a poor ranking of 131 among 189 countries in the latest Human Development Index released by the UNDP. In the Happiness Index, it fares no better with 139th rank among 156 nations. In World Peace Index, its position is at 139 among 163. Such dismal rankings of India can be reeled out from many more areas and they remain consistently poor year after year, poking a nose at the grandiose claims of the governments.   

However, what is frightening and ominous is none of the above inglorious grading and ratings put out by world organizations. It is the threat to democracy hanging like a Damocles sword; it is the naked violation of Constitutional provisions and values by the present dispensation; it is the all-out assault on the nation’s soul, on the very idea of India, that has been clearly and succinctly expressed in the Preamble of the Constitution; it is the fascist ideas fast taking roots among the vulnerable people; it is the systematic decimation of citizens’ rights and freedoms; it is the proclivity for authoritarian actions behind the façade of democracy; It is the new concept of majoritarian nationalism that has relegated minorities to the status of second class citizens. 

The present regime bulldozes ahead with ruthless obstinacy, vindicating Babasaheb Ambedkar’s prediction: However good a Constitution may be, it is sure to turn out bad because those who are called to work it, happen to be a bad lot. 

Independent India has never been at the mercy of a government paranoid about its own insecurity as the present one. This has resulted in the State apparatus misusing its powers to invoke such draconian laws like National Security Act, sedition laws and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act so that anyone who dares to dissent ends up behind bars. The sanctum sanctorum of democracy, Parliament, too is witnessing the powers-that-be riding roughshod over Opposition to pass Bills without a modicum of discussion. The Opposition MPs are left helpless, unable to raise the pressing problems of the people. As the country stands on the cusp of 75 years of its independence, every democratic institution of this largest democracy is slowly but steadily decimated, brick by brick. 
 

Recent Posts

Authoritarianism thrives in polarised societies. Trump and Modi, driven by hate-based ideologies, have weaponised governance, eroded democracy, and entrenched division. Their actions, from media contr
apicture Mathew John
31 Mar 2025
"Trump's Search for Popularity through Trade Wars is like the Majoritarian Search for Popularity in India through Trading in Hatred, Anti-minority Slogans and Political Use of Religion: All these Lead
apicture Archbp Thomas Menamparampil
31 Mar 2025
If India truly wishes to emerge as a global leader, it must embrace an educational revolution—one that promotes inquiry over blind faith, innovation over dogma, and inclusion over exclusion. Only thro
apicture A. J. Philip
31 Mar 2025
The Syro-Malabar Church faces deep divisions over liturgical practices, leaving believers disillusioned and factionalism unresolved. True reconciliation demands prioritising mercy, unity, and clarity.
apicture Chacko Thomas
31 Mar 2025
Manipur reveals its breathtaking beauty and the profound suffering of its people amidst ethnic conflict. Displaced families endure hardship with resilience. Peace requires justice, inclusivity, and re
apicture Asha Thayyil
31 Mar 2025
The INDIA coalition emerged to counter rising authoritarianism that targets minorities and undermines democratic values in India. Strengthening this alliance, addressing internal contradictions, and u
apicture Ram Puniyani
31 Mar 2025
Excessive consumption of humorous memes and reels distracts millions, eroding attention spans and productivity. With billions of work hours lost annually, the nation risks lagging in education, innova
apicture Subbiah Sridhar
31 Mar 2025
The time to act is now before the rumbling of the bulldozer becomes the soundtrack of our silence. Before we wake up to find that justice, like the homes it once protected, has been reduced to rubble…
apicture Robert Clements
31 Mar 2025
Fr Xavier Vadakkekara is no more. A personality who inspired scores and mentored many is gone. He lived a life unlike many others. In death, too, he took a different path by donating his body to the A
apicture Marydasan John
24 Mar 2025
I was his collaborator in three of his successful initiatives and a few of his unsuccessful ventures. But to me, Capuchin friar Fr Xavier Vadekekkara was, first, a friend who knew I would understand h
apicture John Dayal
24 Mar 2025