Transcript India
India Ghandhian Democracy The Ghandhian model of development: a decentralized economy based on small industries, a reorientation of production in terms of criteria besides prosperity only, a possible decentralized defense industry, and hence a particularly Indian route to development Once, he deplored the pathetic contentment of the masses. In raising the conscious, India is now characterized as restless to share the fortune of development Mehta’s Philosophy - A Western model of development is incompatible to India - Development must come from within (indigenous development) - Neither liberal democracy (excessive individualism) nor communism (excessive statism) are compatible with much of the developing world - The crisis in Indian politics is due to the fact that the constitution and political system are not based on the institutional and cultural heritage of Indian society, he rejects the notion that there is a single and universal pattern of development - Formulated a system of theory called ‘integral pluralism’, which is grounded in the reality of Indian culture, history and civilization. Integral Pluralism: An Indian Theory 1) A multidimensional conception of man- constructed of four social wholes a) the objective b) the subjective c) the ethical d) the spiritual 2) A multidimensional view of society (different jobs, different people, but going in the same direction), Mehta speaks here of Oceanic circles (spheres of influence). 3) Point 1 and point 2 logically work together through the development of wholes. This means that each sector of society should have autonomy or swaraj within an overall system of harmony (the parts strengthen the whole) 4) Therefore, development consists in strengthening the wholes of society: economics, politics, ethics and religions; as well as the individuals. VS. Robert Packenham (1973): That all good things go together, that science, technology, industry and democracy are part of a seamless web Th e Ru l i n g Pa r t y o f In d i a (BJP) Chronology of the BJP Bharatiya Jana Sangh: 1951 - 1977 Janata Party: 1977 - 1979 Bharatiya Janata Party: 1980 1) A party that idealizes a just and moral order in India (phenomenon of the last decade). Preceding this new consciousness, Ghandi’s assertion to end poverty, illiteracy and disparity were the leading issues. The BJP has uncovered a line of elitist priorities, which are one indicator of development. 2) A party that has fought for a just and moral order to offset the Congressional monopoly (a dominate party). The BJP has been formative in introducing a new mindset- the new Hindu nationalist movements called Hindutva (Suraksha is necessary to maintain the ‘sons of the soil’). - What makes this party unique is the junction of Ghandhian theory and Integral Pluralism, with a nationalistic characteristic. The belief being: that while Indians reclaim Bharat and Swadeshi (country and pride), they will prove their credibility on the world scene. Indian issues and conflicts Issues - Regional disparity (i.e. Kerala 90% literacy; Assam 20%)--> wide variations of the education policy - Poverty (20% live in a state of absolute poverty) --> black market, narcotics, corruption - Land: occupied by China; Berubari, Haji Pir and a portion of Kachch relinquished to Pakistan, Tin Bigha to Bangladesh (Hindutva) Regional Conflict - Punjab: Sikh discrimination; Khalistan: Sikh discrimination - Kashmir: Jammu (occupied Kashmir)- Azad (free Kashmir) a) The cause of two full scale wars. The ongoing issue is fraught with misunderstanding and accidents b) A perpetuating conflict, as the costs have so far been tolerable (200 Indian soldiers die every year). Moreover, a bilateral agreement does not seem possible. UN Involvement UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), responsible since 1949 for patrolling the cease-fire line in Kashmir UN India-Pakistan Observation Mission (UNIPOM), established to patrol the border between India and Pakistan during and immediately after the 1965 war. India has been and enthusiastic supporter of the peacekeeping philosophy India outranked (1970’s) all other states in the size of total forces that had served in peacekeeping missions An Altered Perception Indians sheltered Jewish people who faced Roman persecution, the Zoroastrians who fled the Islamic sword and who are the proud Parsi community today, and the Tibetan Buddhists who today face the communist secularism: persecution of religion. India even gave the Muslim minority gifts such as separate personal laws, special status to the only Muslim majority state -- Kashmir, and other rights that are even unheard of in the United States of America. Islamic law was given precedence over the national law in instances that came under Muslim personal law. The Constitution was changed when the courts, in the Shah Bano case, ruled that a secular nation must have one law, not separate religious laws. Islamic religious and educational institutions were given a policy of non- interference India’s Economy India is the seventh largest and second most populous country in the world. A new spirit of economic freedom is now stirring in the country, bringing sweeping changes in its wake. A series of ambitious economic reforms aimed at deregulating the country and stimulating foreign investment has moved India firmly into the front ranks of the rapidly growing Asia Pacific region and unleashed the latent strengths of a complex and rapidly changing nation. - India's process of economic reform is firmly rooted in a political consensus that spans her diverse political parties. India's democracy is a known and stable factor (for nearly half a century). Importantly, India has no fundamental conflict between its political and economic systems. Its political institutions have fostered an open society with strong collective and individual rights and an environment supportive of free economic enterprise. - India's exports growth between February and April this year was the highest in Asia at 5.8 per cent, a review of foreign trade trends has said. The country's imports during the period slid by a similar margin - However, India’s per capita of $1, 422, still remains problematic (Kenya, Uganda) http://www.meadev.gov.in/news/clippings/19990807/ie.htm Economic Predictions - Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) has predicted that India will be the next economic miracle in Asia, terming the country as the "stealth" miracle economy of the past half-decade. - One major driver of this economic growth is likely to be software exports. According to CSFB chief regional economist P K Basu, software exports will soon be capable of funding a much higher level of imports and by 2005, annual software exports should be over $35 billion, which is equal to India's total exports this year, thus reducing the external financing constraints over this period. - In its latest economic research article released last week, CSFB has raised its five-year GDP growth forecast for India to 7.5 per cent. While its current fiscal year's growth forecast remains unchanged, the forecast for 2000-01 has been raised to 7.3 per cent. Why? It is becoming increasingly evident to foreign investors that one can make money in India Birth Rate (1981-97) Infant Mortality (1981-97) Death Rate (1981-97)