By Dr. Bikkar Singh Lalli
“ Republic Day celebrations in 2018 would be remembered through the ages, because the government for the first time in India’s history would host leaders of 10 ASEAN countries as chief guests on January 26,” (Prime Minister Modi).
On January 26, The Republic of India, world’smost populous democracy, rich in ethnic diversity, with over 1.35 billion people speaking hundreds of languages, will be celebrating its 69th secular birth. Hopefully, on that day of joyous celebrations, caste, creed or religion, for people of India, will not matter at all. The patriotic fervor of the Indian people, on that day, will bring the whole country together even in her embedded diversity. It was January 26 of 1950 when the constitution of India came into force and India attained a sovereign status.
The Indian Constitution is a living document that genuinely and faithfully manifests the “Sovereign Will” of the people. “The founding principles of India’s democracy that Ambedkar helped enshrine are even more far-reaching than America’s in their guarantee of equal rights and absolute prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. But high-minded legislation in India is rarely accompanied by a necessary change in hearts and minds. The institution of caste, the social group to which Indians belong by birth, remains the most formidable obstacle to an egalitarian ethos”(New York Times).
The vastness of the country and a large population with diversity compelled the makers to provide for the protection and promotion of interest of different regions and groups in India. A principle of positive discrimination, or affirmative action, in compensation for the past injuries inflicted upon the very poorest and lowest in the social order – especially those excluded from the system of castes, the “untouchables” – was introduced in the form of policy of reservation of government job and educational places for members of these groups. Thus, the constitution genuinely reflects the sentiment expressed by Mahamad Iqbal: MazhabNahiSikhataaapasmeinbairrakhna; Hindi Hai Hum Watan Hai Hindustan Hamara.
Even though India is a bright spot of the global economy, it is facing some horrendous challenges posed by climate change, child poverty and malnutrition, corruption, religious intolerance, and exponentially increasing population. India is seriously lagging behind in education-both qualitatively and quantitatively. For over 10 million street children there is no schooling and no home. They are either rag pickers or engaged in other hazardous jobs, and for them the word ‘secular democracy’ is “hopelessly meaningless”. It is estimated that there are 80-100 million children out of schools,and hundreds of thousands on “missing children” list, who are trapped in endless cycle of exploitation. Moreover, India has the dubious distinction of having the largest number of child workers in the world. They need protection, loving homes and good education.
Climate change presents a very serious concern for India. India is home to 13 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world. Its major rivers are degraded, silted and dead; and it has one of the highest global figures for respiratory and water-borne diseases.Global warming caused by global climate change is the single-most important challenge humanity is facing today. Climate change is a far bigger threat to humanity’s survival than terrorism. Terrorists can kill only in hundreds or in thousands. Global warming will kill in millions. The “Paris Agreement” on Climate change is a step for the survival of this planet, and India must diligently honor its terms.”Every third child in Delhi has impaired lungs while air pollution causes 30 per cent of all premature deaths in the country,”According to the statistics cited in the report, more than 1.73 million new cancer cases were likely to be recorded each year by 2020 with air pollution, tobacco, alcohol and diet change being the “primary triggers. Moreover, India has the second highest number of obese children in the world after China, according to a study which found that 14.4 million kids in the country have excess weight.
To confront these challenges PM Modi has to win the support other parties and Indian masses using persuasive reasoning. He must try to reach collective consensus, on issues of national concern. Mr. Modi, during 2014 election campaign made a commitment to eradicate corruption. So far not much has been done in this direction. In the last two years, India’s consumer confidence has plummeted, construction has slowed, the fixed investment rate has fallen, many factories have shut down and unemployment has gone up.The output from the textile industry, a huge employer in Gujrat and once a healthy exporter, has been cut nearly in half, prompting layoffs and despair. Unlike many of the other big economies that turn on exports — such as China’s, Japan’s or Germany’s — India is not nearly as industrialized.Still, the economy here is far from failing. The stock market continues to soar, major rail, road and port projects are unfolding across the country, and foreign investors poured $25.4 billion into India from April to September, up 17 percent from the period in 2016..The government, a few days ago, predicted that the country’s gross domestic product would grow by 6.5 percent in the 2017-18 financial year. While that is the lowest number the country has seen in four years, India’s economy is one that most countries would love to have.
“Let us hope that the joyous Republic Day celebrations generate a feeling of sympathy and brotherhood between the different Indian races. And that feeling grows and deepens and draws together the vast distant parts of the country and binds all races, all creeds and nationalities in one golden chain of brotherly love and affection”, (Surendranath Banerjee).
Dr. Bikkar Singh Lalli is a Surrey-based writer and educationist.
