Seminar Series: Abstract

Changes in Contemporary Indian Politics
Prof. Gopa Kumar

India's tryst with democracy has been phenomenal- as the largest and one of the biggest democaracies in the world, it has come a long way since independence in 1947. Much to the dismay of pessimsits, this complex democarcy has shown its strength more as an electoral democracy and shaping its democratic institutions for socio-economic change.The federal arrangement is not just a mechanism for dividing the powers among the national, state and local governements.The settlement of 1140 million people in 28 states and 6 Union Territories ( besides New Delhi as the NCT ), speaking 22 offical languages and numerous sub-languages and dialets, has been a gigantic exericse. It has adopted a parliamentary model close to British type but with little more powers to the elected President of the Republic. Every State has the similar governmental and legislative arrangement with a Governor and a Cabinet headed by a Chief Minister, although in realitiy, the Centre enjoys more powers, both constitutionally and politically.The country started with a one-party dominant system, called the ' Congress System " by many scholars .But over the peroid , it has moved towards a multi party system with a coalition arrangement. During the last six decades, the country had 15 national elections to the Parilament and more than 250 elections to the State Assemblies.Today, most of the states elect different parties just like every state has typical and complex socio- political features.Coalition politics has come to stay both in the States and the Centre , despite the Congress party's relatively good performance at the recent national poll.The recent electoral mandate was in favour for a stable government at the Centre .The people rejected the pro-Hindu BJP led alliance and the challenge raised from the tiny Third Front consisted of Left and regional parties.
There are numerous issues focussing on India today.It has aligned to globalization at a time when more than 35 % of the people are living below poverty line.It has of course a big middle class which will be numerically more than USA, Canada , Australia and Mexico put together.It is considered as one of the most promising industrial nations of the world, although 64 % of the people are still earning their subsistence from agriculture which brings back only 24 % of the national income.It has a relatively high number of scientists , engineers, IT professional and teachers which can contribute to the skilled man power for the nation.Its demographic dividend is extraordinary high with an average age of 26 years for the population . Since 1991, India achieved an average growth of 6.5 % .Nevertheless, its challenges are huge. Unemployment, poor education , health and housing needed for a large number of poor people, development of infrastructure, implementation of land reforms, effective use of decentralization at the rural level, development of manufacturing and industries across the country are all crucial challenges. There are other issues like communalism, terrorism, vulnerable borders close to Pakistan , China and Bangla Desh etc besides the Sri Lankan issue which has some ramifications in India.
One of the major challenges that face the new Government would be to implement social and economic development in such a form that the concerns of the lower classes are adequately addressed.The country needs an inclusive development and growth and much to the dismay of the large number of people ,this is not easy to achieve .Reactions against this has come in the form of struggles either from the organised middle castes and lower castes or from the desperate radical organisations , led by the Maoists groups in states like Bihar Uttar Pradesh,Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh,etc. Religious militancy, terrorism and its linkages with international groups are other problems that need significant attention.A stable and democratic Pakistan is required for India's interests, too. Although much problems are not raised from China in the recent past, the emergence of China as a major military and economic power is to be noted with caution. Again, Sri Lanka had to settle the ethnic problem by empowering the poor Tamils but this may take a longer time and their plight is a sensitive issue in Tamil Nadu, to say the least.
India has been recognised as a defacto- nuclear power by the international community.India wanted to utilse nuclear energy for developmental purposes.But this has not been properly appreciated in other countries especially Australia , which was objecting India's clearence from NSG for a waiver to acquire nulcear energy. It is true that a failing state like Pakistan may utilise its smuggled nuclear energy for arms building but it cannot be compared with a powerful democracy like India.India is building excellent relations with the western world, particularly with USA and Europen Union.India is both a market and a producer of global needs.Its special hold over Information Technology, Bio-Technolgy , Pharmaceuticals are demonstrated to the global community.Altogether, the country has both challenges and prospects and therefore it is in a crucial turning point.The Indian leadership has to prove that it can come up to the expectations of the people.