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The Importance of India

127 points by kolchinski 6y ago

praveen9920 6y ago
This is true in the case of manufacturing based economy, which world is currently now majored in. But with knowledge driven economy coming into picture, Having a huge population has any advantage? First world countries certainly have head start in this case, who are already attracting best brains from across world ( universities and companies) So, India will retain the importance only if it can sustain current brain drain which means huge investment in younger generation.
- knolax 6y ago
  Most of the "knowledge driven economy" is bullshit imo. They're busywork that allows societies that already have a lot of wealth to distribute it to their middle and upper class. People like HFTs don't create nearly the same amount value as their income justifies.
  - praveen9920 6y ago
    It's interesting to note that India's 7% gdp is from software and tech related exports. Knowledge driven economy is not a myth in the case is india
    - desikoder 6y ago
      Well, most of that comes by building products from established standards by the west and providing support services. So, the point remains, knowledge based economy, while certainly useful, is not the only way for an economy to grow. Sheer hardwork can be an immense force too, that's what the chinese did over the years and what this article points to as well.
      - praveen9920 6y ago
        My point is that, with the transformation coming, sheer hardwork will lose the relevance. China did it when world still needed humans to do lot of manufacturing which is changing very rapidly. In fact, India's manufacturing sector is not adapting lot of automation just to make sure they can capitalise human effort which may be cheaper now but may not be in future ( just like in China)
    - teatree 6y ago
      Correct, but have you thought about what that 7% serves ? Most of it goes to manage real businesses in US and other countries Chase, Walmart, Maersk etc.
      - praveen9920 6y ago
        Does it really matter whom it serves as long as it improves our economy? BTW what makes you think software is not a real business? It is as essential as manufacturing now. That has been our policy from a while. To further my point, India is still the biggest exporter of beef.
- teatree 6y ago
  Who were the "essential workers" during the lock down, other than medical professionals ? Did people horde Wikipedia articles or toilet paper ? Knowledge driven economy is a possibility in the future. Automation is definitely driving down jobs, but not to the extent we are imagining. Most production of the world is being done in China and other ASEAN countries by its billion+ population.
  - praveen9920 6y ago
    India should be targetting that future rather than past successes of other economies. That is exactly how China became successful by targeting the future needs before 30 years or so. While China is investing a lot in AI and automation everywhere, do you think it make sense for India to invest in brick and mortar manufacturing sector? Now that you raised the question of lockdown. Imagine the similar situation in 20 years in future, do you still expect "essential workers" to risk their lives or rather want some drones/robots(controlled by humans of course) doing the work on ground?
    - teatree 6y ago
      I accept your argument that India should be focusing on the future and not the past. People and govt of India are definitely guilty of that. But please answer my question, where do you want manufacturing to happen in the next 20 years ? India or China ? Regarding AI and Automation, yes, India is definitely falling behind in that race and should invest more. But what percentage of the population will support that ? Will the poor care about food on their plates or AI and Automation ? A democracy is represented by majority not minority. In next 20 years, do you want a world lead by democracies or China ? Please vote with your wallet. Democracy is as much about duties as rights.
      - praveen9920 6y ago
        Manufacturing sector itself is getting transformed by automation and 3d printing and other tech. Which actually increase the efficiency of capital infused to more output, which can help improve economy overall, hence the people. Wherever the manufacturing happens, India should lead that rather than doing it itself. I am all for democracy, but China has proven that democracy may not be needed for economic growth, it is upto people to choose the path rather than something forced on them. I believe in individual liberty than democracy.
BIackSwan 6y ago
I find such broad sweeping projections about population growth, big population numbers = more power, “eclipsing USA” and further conclusions emanating from this kind of line of thinking making zero sense. Nobody has a clue on how population growth is going to be in next 30 yrs for both China and India. Its too dynamic and impossible to forecast, let alone make broad sweeping action items to advocate for.
- bryanlarsen 6y ago
  Population growth over a 30 year period is quite predictable. The rate is very cultural, and cultures change slowly. And it's quite clear that population is a component of world power. Definitely not the only component, and probably not the most important component, but if all else is equal, the larger country will be the more powerful.
typon 6y ago
India being "a counterweight to the rise of authoritarianism in the 21st century" while Modi and BJP are in power. This is so misguided its funny.
- jayp 6y ago
  Wasn’t Modi democratically elected — twice?
  - typon 6y ago
    Exactly! People seem to conflate anti authoritarianism with being pro democracy. It absolutely doesn't have to be the case and India is a great example of it.
  - AnimalMuppet 6y ago
    Yes. So? You can have a democratically-elected authoritarian. The authoritarian part is about how they govern, not how they get to power. (And, perhaps, how they stay in power. Venezuela is a good example of authoritarians, once in power, stacking the deck so that the next election keeps them in power. And as they become more unpopular, they continue to stack the deck farther and farther. I don't know if Modi and BJP are doing that.)
    - TriNetra 6y ago
      The problem is that most of your understanding about Modi government is coming from western media which has repeatedly shown to be inherently bias against India [0] becoming strong. Part of the reason could be that India didn't join western club after Independence contrary to their expectations and chose to remain non-align (though it gravitated more toward USSR). You wouldn't hear that though Modi has won federal elections twice, his party has lost many state elections during the same time. But he hasn't really done anything nefarious that could stop such losses. People has chosen Modi because at this stage, there's no alternative strong figure that can solve many India's problem. YOu'd hear about MOdi removing article 370 from Kashmir, the Citizen bill, but you won't get the details about the real reason of why those are needed to solve the problem India has been facing since independence but no prior gov attempted to implement them (despite agreeing in principles on multiple occasions) just because of vote-politics. 0: https://www.organiser.org/Encyc/2020/5/22/Foreign-Media-and-Fake-News-against-Bharat.html https://www.organiser.org/Encyc/2020/5/22/Foreign-Media-and-...
bzb3 6y ago
>India currently punches below its weight on the world stage due to slow economic development: 30 years ago, its GDP per capita was similar to China’s, but is now 5x lower. However, if India were to enter a period of similarly high growth over the next 30 years as China has for the past 30, it would quickly become one of the most powerful countries in the world thanks to the scaling factor of its immense population. And if my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a bicycle.
- jeffreyrogers 6y ago
  Yeah, any comparison to China needs to acknowledge that China is largely ethnically homogenous and has an authoritarian government that has relatively consistent goals top-to-bottom. India is nothing like that and I don't see it becoming like that anytime soon.
  - sbmthakur 6y ago
    They are not exactly homegenous when you consider Tibet and other regions which have been coerced into the union.
    - jeffreyrogers 6y ago
      Right, and those are the areas that have the most problems, but they are a small part of China as a whole. India is made up of a bunch of such places.
  - naravara 6y ago
    > China is largely ethnically homogenous This is a fiction that was created by Chinese nationalists [1] [2] [3] over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries. "Dialects" between provinces can be very different and mutually unintelligible verbally. In many other contexts they would have been considered different languages, but since the imperial bureaucracy and the Chinese writing system helped maintain a sense of unity in spite of it we don't. All this isn't to say Han identity is any less real than any other identity. The idea of "ethnic identity" is fundamentally constructed and imaginary across the board. That's also why it's not a great explanatory factor for much of anything. These categories aren't primordial, they're usually reflective of the very thing for which you're trying to use it as an explanation. [1] https://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/chinesestudies/2016/09/23/8632/ https://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/chinesestudies/2016/09/23/863... [2] https://www.jstor.org/stable/20025378?seq=1 https://www.jstor.org/stable/20025378?seq=1 [3] https://escholarship.org/uc/item/07s1h1rf https://escholarship.org/uc/item/07s1h1rf
person_of_color 6y ago
It's wishful thinking to believe India can compete with China on the world stage. China can pivot on a dime, whereas you can flatter an Indian by describing their country as "organized chaos". Comparing the responses to COVID-19 should be indicative. As somewhat of an metric, I'll let you look up the smallest semiconductor node India can produce natively.
- jmeister 6y ago
  Why is this downvoted? OP is blunt but makes great points.
  - teatree 6y ago
    Authoritarianism is great in aggregates, but only those who have faced the horror know its problems, as individuals. China is doing very well today and we have a lot to learn from them, but what happens when they reach the top and dominate ? What values will guide them ? What keeps those in power in check ? Do you see what's happening in South China sea ? COVID-19 spread because voices were suppressed in the beginning and a lack of free media. If anything it should be an example of the danger suppression of free speech to the whole world. Why was the WHO president/vice president so afraid of speaking against China ? Why are basket ball players and NBA afraid of speaking out against China but openly criticize their own president ?
lappet 6y ago
The population factor is a very interesting observation. I think this is missing India's point of view of the situation. India has always been wary of being very close to the US or other Western powers because of history. During the Cold War India was closer to the Russians. If the US wants to improve relations with India, it needs to recognize that India will likely remain independent (another pole in a multi-polar world)
sand_castles 6y ago
Demographics is not destiny, if it were true, Pakistan would be more powerful than Russia. How you organize your society matters much more, Japan/SK has fraction of the global population, and somehow maintain their economic importance. India has all the problems of a democracy without much of the benefit. It's more likely that India becomes a CCP style country than stays a democracy. If India was so great it's smaller immediate neighbor wouldn't be so hostile towards it, and friendly to CCP. CCP was able to organize G77, so they have the numbers on their side, it's just that poor people don't have a voice, China is providing hard power to the masses of humanity against the interests of G7. It's a major shift in world power, whether G7 likes it or not. I am no fan of CCP, nor is CCP a fan of how they do things ! but its the world we live in, where the state department can just overthrow the govt of a major country if it likes, you need the use of hard power to survive.
- TriNetra 6y ago
  China has made big short-term gains because of an authoritarian rule. But, for a sustained growth, like that of USA, you need an open, democratic society which allows people to express their newly find voice. As people gain wealth, exposure and education, they gain new intellectual capabilities. This capability can be used for innovation but that requires people don't have undue pressure - they feel free to express their ideas and thoughts. If you're in constant battle with your own people/government, lot of energy is wasted that could otherwise be used to do more important things that can take you and yoru nation further.
  - SJetKaran 6y ago
    Related: Yasheng Huang: Does democracy stifle economic growth? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR-uWwvpn5c&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR-uWwvpn5c&feature=youtu.be
- 0x8BADF00D 6y ago
  > How you organize your society matters much more, Japan/SK has fraction of the global population, and somehow maintain their economic importance. They maintain their importance by being creditor nations, i.e. they are productive and save. > India has all the problems of a democracy without much of the benefit. It's more likely that India becomes a CCP style country than stays a democracy. There is a fundamental distrust of power structures in India. This is due to multiple waves of colonization by foreign powers, first by the Mughals and second by the British East India Company. India is likely to be a liberal democracy far longer than the United States. It’s current fascination with populism doesn’t necessarily lead to authoritarianism. Rather it is giving a voice to the most disenfranchised in a country, typically those who are now economically obsoleted by automation. > If India was so great it's smaller immediate neighbor wouldn't be so hostile towards it, and friendly to CCP. That is due to political history and infighting between secular and religious figures in India’s independence movement.
peisistratos 6y ago
Then Nigeria and Bangladesh have a significant advantage over Japan, Germany, France and the UK.
- rayiner 6y ago
  Insofar as they’re not trending toward population extinction, yes.
wtmt 6y ago
> If China rises to heights of power that eclipse the US completely, only India may be strong enough to speak for liberal democracy. With recent history in mind, I doubt the emphasized part. India is not actually a beacon of a liberal or a constitutional democracy, as has been shown in the last six years by the party in power in the central government. If anything, India is regressing and ignoring constitutional protections while also becoming more protectionist and closed to other countries. Mass surveillance, rights being curbed, an authoritarian state that requires citizens to submit to its orders (without legal backing) and other factors are serious concerns that shouldn’t be ignored by outsiders.
- mycodebreaks 6y ago
  Society in India has been getting more progressive over the years. Compare any decade with previous decade and see the difference. It's a trait and gift of democracy, people with access to information adapt themselves to be compatible with modern ideas. There'll always be two sides like in any other countries, but balance is easily achievable.
- ramshanker 6y ago
  Your doubt is typical Indian opposition viewpoint right now. They are so just for the sake of opposition.
  - throwaway384629 6y ago
    And your doubt is typical Indian government viewpoint right now.
ankitkumar98 6y ago
Having a huge population doesn't help much. I am from India and I can say that the current state of the country is not good. There are some good initiatives such as the Digital India initiative and some good advancements on the Fintech scene but the country is not in the best state right now. At least, not positioned for remarkable growth like China had in the past few decades.
- ankitkumar98 6y ago
  Also, Participation of women in the economy is super low. This needs to be improved.
- virattara 6y ago
  > Having a huge population doesn't help much. The article highlights this by saying "India currently punches below its weight on the world stage" and it's true if we go by the numbers. Also, if we go by the numbers the country is in the best state ever compared to its past. Modernization in manufacturing or agriculture will surely increase the country's output which I believe should be the target of governance.
ezVoodoo 6y ago
But India is still a Semi Slavery society. The untouchables, anyone? The Hindu caste/social grouping system tells millions of people that they are contaminated and their fate is doomed upon birth. This is the most powerful racist/slavery/brain-washing machine that the human being has ever made, no? It is so hard to believe such brutal system still exist in human society. Yet, the country enforcing this claims to be the best friend of the west. Well, actually if you think about the BLM moment in western countries, it starts to make some sense...
- ezVoodoo 6y ago
  We hope to see a Dalits Lives Matter(DLM) movement in India TODAY. That is, if this country cares human rights and equality at all.
  - together_us 6y ago
    To be fair, groups like that exist and work closely within the political spectrum for influence, not just in protest and agitation as in BLM. There have been several Dalit leaders and non-Dalit leaders for backward class upliftment.
- fakeyguy 6y ago
  for all practical purposes this doesn't exist any more. It's jsut that western media focuses on it a lot.
- ra7 6y ago
  Is this a meme? Have you actually spent time in India? Caste based discrimination is illegal, so the country isn't "enforcing" any of it. In fact, there are several measures to counteract discrimination (like reservations, which is a whole other topic). This just seems like a poor, uneducated opinion for the likes of HN.
  - vijaybritto 6y ago
    Woah dude. This is so funny. A low caste guy was shot dead last week for entering a temple. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/17-year-old-dalit-boy-shot-dead-in-up-by-4-upper-caste-youths-over-temple-entry-97252 https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/17-year-old-dalit-b... A man was made to drink urine for loving a girl from upper caste. https://www.thelede.in/governance/2020/05/22/in-caste-crime-dalit-boy-beaten-forced-to-drink-urine https://www.thelede.in/governance/2020/05/22/in-caste-crime-... Why are you doing a 'not all men', 'i have black friends' thing here? Anyone can google for these things and figure out the truth. If you're a brahmin then please stop talking for the victims of your very own system. Discrimination is illegal so it went away? Reservations don't counter discrimination. They're for representation.
strooper 6y ago
Capitalism is driving the world, and it is setting the policies as per necessity, different ones in different countries. The west has stopped exporting democracy around the world since the cold war was won. Many countries have democratically elected government turned to autocratic/authoritarian regime. Oh, "populism" is the new best friend of the rising powers.
deleted 6y ago
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sohamsankaran 6y ago
I think there is no alternative but for the west to tie itself closely to India if they want liberal democracy to prevail. India is deeply flawed, but has a deep and abiding affinity for democracy, and a polity that is sophisticated about things like strategic split-ticket voting to prevent too much power being concentrated in one political party. As such, it frustrates me that Western countries don't help us consolidate our position in international affairs, including by allowing us to officially be a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and supporting our bid to be on the UN Security Council. If you're interested in how India's history informs our politics, economy, and foreign relations today, take a look at Today in Indian History, a newsletter which my brother and I recently launched. Four times a week, we lay out the context and consequences of an event in India's past that happened on that date. Link below: https://honestyisbest.com/today-in-indian-history/ https://honestyisbest.com/today-in-indian-history/
- sameerds 6y ago
  This looks interesting, but I could not find an RSS feed for the site. Could you please add one, I would definitely prefer that over subscribing to an email newsletter!
  - sohamsankaran 6y ago
    Sadly we're not likely to support an RSS feed for Today in Indian History for a little while, but if you sign up via email we'll definitely let you know when we add one.
  - benrapscallion 6y ago
    Use kill-the-newsletter.com to turn the emails into RSS feeds, since the author is unwilling to add them.
    - sohamsankaran 6y ago
      I endorse this as a temporary solution, thanks for the suggestion!
AsyncAwait 6y ago
India's been leaning right for a while from what I've seen, I'd rather the EU decouple itself from U.S. foreign policy and be an independent, serious counterbalance to China, India, Russia and the U.S. But I suspect the possibility of that happening is rather slim, sadly.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
seemslegit 6y ago
Country of 1.3 billion people immensely grateful to a valley wantrapaneur for recognizing its importance.
pearjuice 6y ago
I don't rate India. Their legal framework is very weak, corrupt nation, hygiene problems and massive overpopulated dense cities.
gdsdfe 6y ago
> If China rises to heights of power that eclipse the US completely, only India may be strong enough to speak for liberal democracy right, both countries are systemically killing, displacing and putting muslims in imprisonment camps
- oliTwist23 6y ago
  Oh pls!! Trolling just for the sake of trolling, you can do it on Twitter. Those imprisonments if at all happened, have a validity and supreme courts are very good to handle any issues like that.
  - gdsdfe 6y ago
    How is this trolling? Millions are affected across China and India, people are dying on a daily basis ... But yeah I get it they have no purchase power and they're not white not Christian so who gives a shit
op03 6y ago
India is like a thousand different things heading in a thousand different directions. And those vectors change from day to day. There is no control in such a system. Only an illusion of control. Its as good as looking at two hurricanes and saying well this hurricane is heading towards us, so we better "support" the other one and maybe cool shit will happen. It makes an engaging story though.
- sbmthakur 6y ago
  > India is like a thousand different things heading in a thousand different directions. The Republic of India more than 70 years old. And India is not the only democracy with a multitude of cultures.
ianmobbs 6y ago
Implying we need India to "defeat" China then going on to list all the reasons Chinese citizens are doing better than Indian citizens seems to completely invalidate your argument.
csours 6y ago
If someone recognized that they had some level of prejudice against persons from India, what would you advise they do. To be clear, I have friends of Indian descent, and I value them, but I also work with people from India and I'm afraid I find them more annoying than not.
- dqpb 6y ago
  I think it depends on what annoys you. I find myself annoyed by any kind of cultural tick. Phrases, mannerisms, cliches, tropes, all bother me to the extent that they are common and pervasive (in any culture). But by far I see this the worste in youths. Highschoolers and undergrads are so painfully unoriginal. But, that's life. Better to focus your attention on people who you find unique and impressive than to worry about people who are still finding themselves.
  - phillipcarter 6y ago
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYAuR5bkIlQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYAuR5bkIlQ
    - dqpb 6y ago
      All I'm saying is this - I've worked with people across many ethnic/cultural groups. If I can draw any stereotype, it's that the most unique, intelligent, and competent people are those in their 40s.
- notRobot 6y ago
  It's good that you recognise your bias. Most, if not all people have biases. Few recognise them. Even fewer are willing to fix them. So kudos to you. The best way to work on such feelings is with a professional such as a therapist. I'd like to remind you that there doesn't need to be anything wrong with a person to be able to benefit from seeing a therapist. Seeing a (good) therapist can, and in almost all cases will make someone a better person because you get a (more or less) objective outside view that makes you question and explore your emotions, why you feel the way you feel, and help you figure out what you can do to change for the better. That said, IMO, you could start here: Firstly, you must realise (you very probably already know this, maybe you just haven't given it much thought) that there are all kinds of people from all countries, in all kinds of demographics. Secondly, it's import to ask yourself what is it about most Indians that you find annoying? Is it their attitude? Is it their accent? Is it their culture? Don't be ashamed if you find that your reasoning doesn't make sense or isn't completely rational. Feelings often aren't. That's okay. Once you know what it is that you don't like about Indians, pay attention to it next time you feel annoyed by Indians. Are they really doing something that should annoy you? Or is it a false perception of yours? Recognising biases and catching yourself in the act goes a long way towards overcoming said biases. You should also try to find like-minded individuals, or individuals that you look up to from the demographic in question and spend time with them. That'll help you realise that there are likable and admirable people within the group too, and help dismiss your biases against them. This article has some good advice too: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-practice/201508/6-ways-overcome-your-biases-good https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-practice/201508/6... I wish you the best of luck.
aparsons 6y ago
India is what one calls a paperweight superpower. They like to think they’re a superpower, meddle in regional affairs, yet get bullied by China and Pakistan on the regular.
- known 6y ago
  India is a paradox https://archive.vn/bS2fL https://archive.vn/bS2fL
ripvanwinkle 6y ago
Speaking as an Indian There is a presumption in that article that population numbers are all that matters. There's a lot more that needs to be analyzed - for example the natural resources available and the productivity and availability of education and healthcare for the population. To be clear, I believe there is plenty of opportunity as well as risk for India. The article seems to gloss over the risks For example India's biggest threat might actually be its depleting ground water https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/why-india-does-not-have-enough-water-to-drink-1557669-2019-06-28 https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/why-india-does-not-hav... https://gpm.nasa.gov/education/videos/indias-disappearing-water https://gpm.nasa.gov/education/videos/indias-disappearing-wa...
- fmajid 6y ago
  Protecting India's water supply is why India took over Kashmir, and why the Chinese presence in Ladakh and bordering Arunachal Pradesh is so dangerous for India, as those two areas are the source for half of India's water supply. India must shed Nehru's outdated non-aligned stance (as if China's 1962 treachery hadn't discredited it already) and ally with the US and Japan on equal terms to contain China. India should also invest massively in solar-powered desalination technology to lessen its dependance on river systems that will be disrupted by climate change even without Chinese mischief.
centrist 6y ago
I am taking a note of how some privileged individuals possibly from rich western countries or elite Indians conforming to a political ideology here are mocking and judging a country which has been looted, enslaved and intentionally left illiterate for centuries. India is not perfect. But just to bring things into perspective, the cited "beacon" of liberal democracy, USA, didn't allow women to vote until as recent as a hundred years ago. The civil rights movement is not even a century old. Compared to that India has been independent for less than 72 years. Democracy takes time but results are permanent. Now please take a note all the naysayers: Indians will strive and they will excel without any "great leaps" or "gulags" like they have in last 70 odd years. "Jantantra" or democracy is an integral part of India, and it will not falter in face of systemic racism by the west (and far east) or bullying by likes of China. There was a time when a whole bunch of people thought that democracy will never work in India or even worse, India as country will not exist because of its extreme diversity. The British even believed Indians are incapable to "govern themselves". But fast forward to present - they all have been proved wrong. Democracy is slow, but that is the only and the universally accepted way forward for a diverse country like India.
- iliekcomputers 6y ago
  If you read the history books, people in the West have been predicting the death of India's democracy ever since Independence. It hasn't happened, our democracy is as strong as it's ever been, with a much higher voter turnout than most western nations. We also have a myriad of political parties in power in different states, from communism in Kerala to right wing governance for years in Gujarat. The US, in comparison, has very low voter turnout even for their presidential elections and extremely popular candidates like Bernie Sanders can't even fight the election, because apparently, a true democracy doesn't allow you to choose from more than 2 choices. India has its flaws, but all countries do. Doomsayers will keep predicting death, while the people working towards betterment know the flaws and will try to fix stuff instead. I'd have expected HN to have more of the second view, and I'm pretty disappointed to see that that's not the case.
- centrist 6y ago
  It's almost funny how an apparent Chinese (sympathizer?) (check the activity) user below calls India a "semi Slavery society" with zero context about the country and even tries to hijack the present BLM in almost propaganda like move. Now, facts. Upon independence, India's constitution was written by the constituent assembly presided over by an "untouchable". This constitution abolished discrimination on basis of caste, and as an affirmative action reserved seats in educational institutions and jobs in all state sponsored educational and public institutions. This reservation system has rapidly been increasing over the years and now a staggering 60 - 70% of all positions are reserved today. What's more, the current Prime Minister of India and the President of India are from backward castes and scheduled caste respectively, and a majority of political parties and multiple Chief Ministers presently belong to traditionally backward castes. Even election constituencies are reserved, so that there is fixed amount of representation in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha (lower and upper houses) no matter which government is in power. The best any authoritarian regime can do right now is portray as propaganda that India is a "semi slavery society" which has no "liberal" shared values with the democracies in the West so everyone should shun it. It's a standard divide and rule strategy.
known 6y ago
India is Feudalism masquerading as Democracy https://archive.vn/pOmij https://archive.vn/pOmij https://archive.vn/8HKHz https://archive.vn/8HKHz
known 6y ago
"A country is not made of land; a country is made of its people" --Unknown https://archive.vn/bS2fL https://archive.vn/bS2fL

127 points by kolchinski 6y ago

This is true in the case of manufacturing based economy, which world is currently now majored in. But with knowledge driven economy coming into picture, Having a huge population has any advantage? First world countries certainly have head start in this case, who are already attracting best brains from across world ( universities and companies) So, India will retain the importance only if it can sustain current brain drain which means huge investment in younger generation.

knolax 6y ago
Most of the "knowledge driven economy" is bullshit imo. They're busywork that allows societies that already have a lot of wealth to distribute it to their middle and upper class. People like HFTs don't create nearly the same amount value as their income justifies.
- praveen9920 6y ago
  It's interesting to note that India's 7% gdp is from software and tech related exports. Knowledge driven economy is not a myth in the case is india
  - desikoder 6y ago
    Well, most of that comes by building products from established standards by the west and providing support services. So, the point remains, knowledge based economy, while certainly useful, is not the only way for an economy to grow. Sheer hardwork can be an immense force too, that's what the chinese did over the years and what this article points to as well.
    - praveen9920 6y ago
      My point is that, with the transformation coming, sheer hardwork will lose the relevance. China did it when world still needed humans to do lot of manufacturing which is changing very rapidly. In fact, India's manufacturing sector is not adapting lot of automation just to make sure they can capitalise human effort which may be cheaper now but may not be in future ( just like in China)
  - teatree 6y ago
    Correct, but have you thought about what that 7% serves ? Most of it goes to manage real businesses in US and other countries Chase, Walmart, Maersk etc.
    - praveen9920 6y ago
      Does it really matter whom it serves as long as it improves our economy? BTW what makes you think software is not a real business? It is as essential as manufacturing now. That has been our policy from a while. To further my point, India is still the biggest exporter of beef.
teatree 6y ago
Who were the "essential workers" during the lock down, other than medical professionals ? Did people horde Wikipedia articles or toilet paper ? Knowledge driven economy is a possibility in the future. Automation is definitely driving down jobs, but not to the extent we are imagining. Most production of the world is being done in China and other ASEAN countries by its billion+ population.
- praveen9920 6y ago
  India should be targetting that future rather than past successes of other economies. That is exactly how China became successful by targeting the future needs before 30 years or so. While China is investing a lot in AI and automation everywhere, do you think it make sense for India to invest in brick and mortar manufacturing sector? Now that you raised the question of lockdown. Imagine the similar situation in 20 years in future, do you still expect "essential workers" to risk their lives or rather want some drones/robots(controlled by humans of course) doing the work on ground?
  - teatree 6y ago
    I accept your argument that India should be focusing on the future and not the past. People and govt of India are definitely guilty of that. But please answer my question, where do you want manufacturing to happen in the next 20 years ? India or China ? Regarding AI and Automation, yes, India is definitely falling behind in that race and should invest more. But what percentage of the population will support that ? Will the poor care about food on their plates or AI and Automation ? A democracy is represented by majority not minority. In next 20 years, do you want a world lead by democracies or China ? Please vote with your wallet. Democracy is as much about duties as rights.
    - praveen9920 6y ago
      Manufacturing sector itself is getting transformed by automation and 3d printing and other tech. Which actually increase the efficiency of capital infused to more output, which can help improve economy overall, hence the people. Wherever the manufacturing happens, India should lead that rather than doing it itself. I am all for democracy, but China has proven that democracy may not be needed for economic growth, it is upto people to choose the path rather than something forced on them. I believe in individual liberty than democracy.

BIackSwan 6y ago

I find such broad sweeping projections about population growth, big population numbers = more power, “eclipsing USA” and further conclusions emanating from this kind of line of thinking making zero sense. Nobody has a clue on how population growth is going to be in next 30 yrs for both China and India. Its too dynamic and impossible to forecast, let alone make broad sweeping action items to advocate for.

bryanlarsen 6y ago
Population growth over a 30 year period is quite predictable. The rate is very cultural, and cultures change slowly. And it's quite clear that population is a component of world power. Definitely not the only component, and probably not the most important component, but if all else is equal, the larger country will be the more powerful.

typon 6y ago

India being "a counterweight to the rise of authoritarianism in the 21st century" while Modi and BJP are in power. This is so misguided its funny.

jayp 6y ago
Wasn’t Modi democratically elected — twice?
- typon 6y ago
  Exactly! People seem to conflate anti authoritarianism with being pro democracy. It absolutely doesn't have to be the case and India is a great example of it.
- AnimalMuppet 6y ago
  Yes. So? You can have a democratically-elected authoritarian. The authoritarian part is about how they govern, not how they get to power. (And, perhaps, how they stay in power. Venezuela is a good example of authoritarians, once in power, stacking the deck so that the next election keeps them in power. And as they become more unpopular, they continue to stack the deck farther and farther. I don't know if Modi and BJP are doing that.)
  - TriNetra 6y ago
    The problem is that most of your understanding about Modi government is coming from western media which has repeatedly shown to be inherently bias against India [0] becoming strong. Part of the reason could be that India didn't join western club after Independence contrary to their expectations and chose to remain non-align (though it gravitated more toward USSR). You wouldn't hear that though Modi has won federal elections twice, his party has lost many state elections during the same time. But he hasn't really done anything nefarious that could stop such losses. People has chosen Modi because at this stage, there's no alternative strong figure that can solve many India's problem. YOu'd hear about MOdi removing article 370 from Kashmir, the Citizen bill, but you won't get the details about the real reason of why those are needed to solve the problem India has been facing since independence but no prior gov attempted to implement them (despite agreeing in principles on multiple occasions) just because of vote-politics. 0: https://www.organiser.org/Encyc/2020/5/22/Foreign-Media-and-Fake-News-against-Bharat.html https://www.organiser.org/Encyc/2020/5/22/Foreign-Media-and-...

bzb3 6y ago

>India currently punches below its weight on the world stage due to slow economic development: 30 years ago, its GDP per capita was similar to China’s, but is now 5x lower. However, if India were to enter a period of similarly high growth over the next 30 years as China has for the past 30, it would quickly become one of the most powerful countries in the world thanks to the scaling factor of its immense population. And if my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a bicycle.

jeffreyrogers 6y ago
Yeah, any comparison to China needs to acknowledge that China is largely ethnically homogenous and has an authoritarian government that has relatively consistent goals top-to-bottom. India is nothing like that and I don't see it becoming like that anytime soon.
- sbmthakur 6y ago
  They are not exactly homegenous when you consider Tibet and other regions which have been coerced into the union.
  - jeffreyrogers 6y ago
    Right, and those are the areas that have the most problems, but they are a small part of China as a whole. India is made up of a bunch of such places.
- naravara 6y ago
  > China is largely ethnically homogenous This is a fiction that was created by Chinese nationalists [1] [2] [3] over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries. "Dialects" between provinces can be very different and mutually unintelligible verbally. In many other contexts they would have been considered different languages, but since the imperial bureaucracy and the Chinese writing system helped maintain a sense of unity in spite of it we don't. All this isn't to say Han identity is any less real than any other identity. The idea of "ethnic identity" is fundamentally constructed and imaginary across the board. That's also why it's not a great explanatory factor for much of anything. These categories aren't primordial, they're usually reflective of the very thing for which you're trying to use it as an explanation. [1] https://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/chinesestudies/2016/09/23/8632/ https://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/chinesestudies/2016/09/23/863... [2] https://www.jstor.org/stable/20025378?seq=1 https://www.jstor.org/stable/20025378?seq=1 [3] https://escholarship.org/uc/item/07s1h1rf https://escholarship.org/uc/item/07s1h1rf

person_of_color 6y ago

It's wishful thinking to believe India can compete with China on the world stage. China can pivot on a dime, whereas you can flatter an Indian by describing their country as "organized chaos". Comparing the responses to COVID-19 should be indicative. As somewhat of an metric, I'll let you look up the smallest semiconductor node India can produce natively.

jmeister 6y ago
Why is this downvoted? OP is blunt but makes great points.
- teatree 6y ago
  Authoritarianism is great in aggregates, but only those who have faced the horror know its problems, as individuals. China is doing very well today and we have a lot to learn from them, but what happens when they reach the top and dominate ? What values will guide them ? What keeps those in power in check ? Do you see what's happening in South China sea ? COVID-19 spread because voices were suppressed in the beginning and a lack of free media. If anything it should be an example of the danger suppression of free speech to the whole world. Why was the WHO president/vice president so afraid of speaking against China ? Why are basket ball players and NBA afraid of speaking out against China but openly criticize their own president ?

lappet 6y ago

The population factor is a very interesting observation. I think this is missing India's point of view of the situation. India has always been wary of being very close to the US or other Western powers because of history. During the Cold War India was closer to the Russians. If the US wants to improve relations with India, it needs to recognize that India will likely remain independent (another pole in a multi-polar world)

sand_castles 6y ago

Demographics is not destiny, if it were true, Pakistan would be more powerful than Russia. How you organize your society matters much more, Japan/SK has fraction of the global population, and somehow maintain their economic importance. India has all the problems of a democracy without much of the benefit. It's more likely that India becomes a CCP style country than stays a democracy. If India was so great it's smaller immediate neighbor wouldn't be so hostile towards it, and friendly to CCP. CCP was able to organize G77, so they have the numbers on their side, it's just that poor people don't have a voice, China is providing hard power to the masses of humanity against the interests of G7. It's a major shift in world power, whether G7 likes it or not. I am no fan of CCP, nor is CCP a fan of how they do things ! but its the world we live in, where the state department can just overthrow the govt of a major country if it likes, you need the use of hard power to survive.

TriNetra 6y ago
China has made big short-term gains because of an authoritarian rule. But, for a sustained growth, like that of USA, you need an open, democratic society which allows people to express their newly find voice. As people gain wealth, exposure and education, they gain new intellectual capabilities. This capability can be used for innovation but that requires people don't have undue pressure - they feel free to express their ideas and thoughts. If you're in constant battle with your own people/government, lot of energy is wasted that could otherwise be used to do more important things that can take you and yoru nation further.
- SJetKaran 6y ago
  Related: Yasheng Huang: Does democracy stifle economic growth? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR-uWwvpn5c&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR-uWwvpn5c&feature=youtu.be
0x8BADF00D 6y ago
> How you organize your society matters much more, Japan/SK has fraction of the global population, and somehow maintain their economic importance. They maintain their importance by being creditor nations, i.e. they are productive and save. > India has all the problems of a democracy without much of the benefit. It's more likely that India becomes a CCP style country than stays a democracy. There is a fundamental distrust of power structures in India. This is due to multiple waves of colonization by foreign powers, first by the Mughals and second by the British East India Company. India is likely to be a liberal democracy far longer than the United States. It’s current fascination with populism doesn’t necessarily lead to authoritarianism. Rather it is giving a voice to the most disenfranchised in a country, typically those who are now economically obsoleted by automation. > If India was so great it's smaller immediate neighbor wouldn't be so hostile towards it, and friendly to CCP. That is due to political history and infighting between secular and religious figures in India’s independence movement.

peisistratos 6y ago

Then Nigeria and Bangladesh have a significant advantage over Japan, Germany, France and the UK.

rayiner 6y ago
Insofar as they’re not trending toward population extinction, yes.

wtmt 6y ago

> If China rises to heights of power that eclipse the US completely, only India may be strong enough to speak for liberal democracy. With recent history in mind, I doubt the emphasized part. India is not actually a beacon of a liberal or a constitutional democracy, as has been shown in the last six years by the party in power in the central government. If anything, India is regressing and ignoring constitutional protections while also becoming more protectionist and closed to other countries. Mass surveillance, rights being curbed, an authoritarian state that requires citizens to submit to its orders (without legal backing) and other factors are serious concerns that shouldn’t be ignored by outsiders.

mycodebreaks 6y ago
Society in India has been getting more progressive over the years. Compare any decade with previous decade and see the difference. It's a trait and gift of democracy, people with access to information adapt themselves to be compatible with modern ideas. There'll always be two sides like in any other countries, but balance is easily achievable.
ramshanker 6y ago
Your doubt is typical Indian opposition viewpoint right now. They are so just for the sake of opposition.
- throwaway384629 6y ago
  And your doubt is typical Indian government viewpoint right now.

ankitkumar98 6y ago

Having a huge population doesn't help much. I am from India and I can say that the current state of the country is not good. There are some good initiatives such as the Digital India initiative and some good advancements on the Fintech scene but the country is not in the best state right now. At least, not positioned for remarkable growth like China had in the past few decades.

ankitkumar98 6y ago
Also, Participation of women in the economy is super low. This needs to be improved.
virattara 6y ago
> Having a huge population doesn't help much. The article highlights this by saying "India currently punches below its weight on the world stage" and it's true if we go by the numbers. Also, if we go by the numbers the country is in the best state ever compared to its past. Modernization in manufacturing or agriculture will surely increase the country's output which I believe should be the target of governance.

ezVoodoo 6y ago

But India is still a Semi Slavery society. The untouchables, anyone? The Hindu caste/social grouping system tells millions of people that they are contaminated and their fate is doomed upon birth. This is the most powerful racist/slavery/brain-washing machine that the human being has ever made, no? It is so hard to believe such brutal system still exist in human society. Yet, the country enforcing this claims to be the best friend of the west. Well, actually if you think about the BLM moment in western countries, it starts to make some sense...

ezVoodoo 6y ago
We hope to see a Dalits Lives Matter(DLM) movement in India TODAY. That is, if this country cares human rights and equality at all.
- together_us 6y ago
  To be fair, groups like that exist and work closely within the political spectrum for influence, not just in protest and agitation as in BLM. There have been several Dalit leaders and non-Dalit leaders for backward class upliftment.
fakeyguy 6y ago
for all practical purposes this doesn't exist any more. It's jsut that western media focuses on it a lot.
ra7 6y ago
Is this a meme? Have you actually spent time in India? Caste based discrimination is illegal, so the country isn't "enforcing" any of it. In fact, there are several measures to counteract discrimination (like reservations, which is a whole other topic). This just seems like a poor, uneducated opinion for the likes of HN.
- vijaybritto 6y ago
  Woah dude. This is so funny. A low caste guy was shot dead last week for entering a temple. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/17-year-old-dalit-boy-shot-dead-in-up-by-4-upper-caste-youths-over-temple-entry-97252 https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/17-year-old-dalit-b... A man was made to drink urine for loving a girl from upper caste. https://www.thelede.in/governance/2020/05/22/in-caste-crime-dalit-boy-beaten-forced-to-drink-urine https://www.thelede.in/governance/2020/05/22/in-caste-crime-... Why are you doing a 'not all men', 'i have black friends' thing here? Anyone can google for these things and figure out the truth. If you're a brahmin then please stop talking for the victims of your very own system. Discrimination is illegal so it went away? Reservations don't counter discrimination. They're for representation.

strooper 6y ago

Capitalism is driving the world, and it is setting the policies as per necessity, different ones in different countries. The west has stopped exporting democracy around the world since the cold war was won. Many countries have democratically elected government turned to autocratic/authoritarian regime. Oh, "populism" is the new best friend of the rising powers.

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sohamsankaran 6y ago

I think there is no alternative but for the west to tie itself closely to India if they want liberal democracy to prevail. India is deeply flawed, but has a deep and abiding affinity for democracy, and a polity that is sophisticated about things like strategic split-ticket voting to prevent too much power being concentrated in one political party. As such, it frustrates me that Western countries don't help us consolidate our position in international affairs, including by allowing us to officially be a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and supporting our bid to be on the UN Security Council. If you're interested in how India's history informs our politics, economy, and foreign relations today, take a look at Today in Indian History, a newsletter which my brother and I recently launched. Four times a week, we lay out the context and consequences of an event in India's past that happened on that date. Link below: https://honestyisbest.com/today-in-indian-history/ https://honestyisbest.com/today-in-indian-history/

sameerds 6y ago
This looks interesting, but I could not find an RSS feed for the site. Could you please add one, I would definitely prefer that over subscribing to an email newsletter!
- sohamsankaran 6y ago
  Sadly we're not likely to support an RSS feed for Today in Indian History for a little while, but if you sign up via email we'll definitely let you know when we add one.
- benrapscallion 6y ago
  Use kill-the-newsletter.com to turn the emails into RSS feeds, since the author is unwilling to add them.
  - sohamsankaran 6y ago
    I endorse this as a temporary solution, thanks for the suggestion!

AsyncAwait 6y ago

India's been leaning right for a while from what I've seen, I'd rather the EU decouple itself from U.S. foreign policy and be an independent, serious counterbalance to China, India, Russia and the U.S. But I suspect the possibility of that happening is rather slim, sadly.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]

seemslegit 6y ago

Country of 1.3 billion people immensely grateful to a valley wantrapaneur for recognizing its importance.

pearjuice 6y ago

I don't rate India. Their legal framework is very weak, corrupt nation, hygiene problems and massive overpopulated dense cities.

gdsdfe 6y ago

> If China rises to heights of power that eclipse the US completely, only India may be strong enough to speak for liberal democracy right, both countries are systemically killing, displacing and putting muslims in imprisonment camps

oliTwist23 6y ago
Oh pls!! Trolling just for the sake of trolling, you can do it on Twitter. Those imprisonments if at all happened, have a validity and supreme courts are very good to handle any issues like that.
- gdsdfe 6y ago
  How is this trolling? Millions are affected across China and India, people are dying on a daily basis ... But yeah I get it they have no purchase power and they're not white not Christian so who gives a shit

op03 6y ago

India is like a thousand different things heading in a thousand different directions. And those vectors change from day to day. There is no control in such a system. Only an illusion of control. Its as good as looking at two hurricanes and saying well this hurricane is heading towards us, so we better "support" the other one and maybe cool shit will happen. It makes an engaging story though.

sbmthakur 6y ago
> India is like a thousand different things heading in a thousand different directions. The Republic of India more than 70 years old. And India is not the only democracy with a multitude of cultures.

ianmobbs 6y ago

Implying we need India to "defeat" China then going on to list all the reasons Chinese citizens are doing better than Indian citizens seems to completely invalidate your argument.

csours 6y ago

If someone recognized that they had some level of prejudice against persons from India, what would you advise they do. To be clear, I have friends of Indian descent, and I value them, but I also work with people from India and I'm afraid I find them more annoying than not.

dqpb 6y ago
I think it depends on what annoys you. I find myself annoyed by any kind of cultural tick. Phrases, mannerisms, cliches, tropes, all bother me to the extent that they are common and pervasive (in any culture). But by far I see this the worste in youths. Highschoolers and undergrads are so painfully unoriginal. But, that's life. Better to focus your attention on people who you find unique and impressive than to worry about people who are still finding themselves.
- phillipcarter 6y ago
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYAuR5bkIlQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYAuR5bkIlQ
  - dqpb 6y ago
    All I'm saying is this - I've worked with people across many ethnic/cultural groups. If I can draw any stereotype, it's that the most unique, intelligent, and competent people are those in their 40s.
notRobot 6y ago
It's good that you recognise your bias. Most, if not all people have biases. Few recognise them. Even fewer are willing to fix them. So kudos to you. The best way to work on such feelings is with a professional such as a therapist. I'd like to remind you that there doesn't need to be anything wrong with a person to be able to benefit from seeing a therapist. Seeing a (good) therapist can, and in almost all cases will make someone a better person because you get a (more or less) objective outside view that makes you question and explore your emotions, why you feel the way you feel, and help you figure out what you can do to change for the better. That said, IMO, you could start here: Firstly, you must realise (you very probably already know this, maybe you just haven't given it much thought) that there are all kinds of people from all countries, in all kinds of demographics. Secondly, it's import to ask yourself what is it about most Indians that you find annoying? Is it their attitude? Is it their accent? Is it their culture? Don't be ashamed if you find that your reasoning doesn't make sense or isn't completely rational. Feelings often aren't. That's okay. Once you know what it is that you don't like about Indians, pay attention to it next time you feel annoyed by Indians. Are they really doing something that should annoy you? Or is it a false perception of yours? Recognising biases and catching yourself in the act goes a long way towards overcoming said biases. You should also try to find like-minded individuals, or individuals that you look up to from the demographic in question and spend time with them. That'll help you realise that there are likable and admirable people within the group too, and help dismiss your biases against them. This article has some good advice too: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-practice/201508/6-ways-overcome-your-biases-good https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-practice/201508/6... I wish you the best of luck.

aparsons 6y ago

India is what one calls a paperweight superpower. They like to think they’re a superpower, meddle in regional affairs, yet get bullied by China and Pakistan on the regular.

known 6y ago
India is a paradox https://archive.vn/bS2fL https://archive.vn/bS2fL

ripvanwinkle 6y ago

Speaking as an Indian There is a presumption in that article that population numbers are all that matters. There's a lot more that needs to be analyzed - for example the natural resources available and the productivity and availability of education and healthcare for the population. To be clear, I believe there is plenty of opportunity as well as risk for India. The article seems to gloss over the risks For example India's biggest threat might actually be its depleting ground water https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/why-india-does-not-have-enough-water-to-drink-1557669-2019-06-28 https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/why-india-does-not-hav... https://gpm.nasa.gov/education/videos/indias-disappearing-water https://gpm.nasa.gov/education/videos/indias-disappearing-wa...

fmajid 6y ago
Protecting India's water supply is why India took over Kashmir, and why the Chinese presence in Ladakh and bordering Arunachal Pradesh is so dangerous for India, as those two areas are the source for half of India's water supply. India must shed Nehru's outdated non-aligned stance (as if China's 1962 treachery hadn't discredited it already) and ally with the US and Japan on equal terms to contain China. India should also invest massively in solar-powered desalination technology to lessen its dependance on river systems that will be disrupted by climate change even without Chinese mischief.

centrist 6y ago

I am taking a note of how some privileged individuals possibly from rich western countries or elite Indians conforming to a political ideology here are mocking and judging a country which has been looted, enslaved and intentionally left illiterate for centuries. India is not perfect. But just to bring things into perspective, the cited "beacon" of liberal democracy, USA, didn't allow women to vote until as recent as a hundred years ago. The civil rights movement is not even a century old. Compared to that India has been independent for less than 72 years. Democracy takes time but results are permanent. Now please take a note all the naysayers: Indians will strive and they will excel without any "great leaps" or "gulags" like they have in last 70 odd years. "Jantantra" or democracy is an integral part of India, and it will not falter in face of systemic racism by the west (and far east) or bullying by likes of China. There was a time when a whole bunch of people thought that democracy will never work in India or even worse, India as country will not exist because of its extreme diversity. The British even believed Indians are incapable to "govern themselves". But fast forward to present - they all have been proved wrong. Democracy is slow, but that is the only and the universally accepted way forward for a diverse country like India.

iliekcomputers 6y ago
If you read the history books, people in the West have been predicting the death of India's democracy ever since Independence. It hasn't happened, our democracy is as strong as it's ever been, with a much higher voter turnout than most western nations. We also have a myriad of political parties in power in different states, from communism in Kerala to right wing governance for years in Gujarat. The US, in comparison, has very low voter turnout even for their presidential elections and extremely popular candidates like Bernie Sanders can't even fight the election, because apparently, a true democracy doesn't allow you to choose from more than 2 choices. India has its flaws, but all countries do. Doomsayers will keep predicting death, while the people working towards betterment know the flaws and will try to fix stuff instead. I'd have expected HN to have more of the second view, and I'm pretty disappointed to see that that's not the case.
centrist 6y ago
It's almost funny how an apparent Chinese (sympathizer?) (check the activity) user below calls India a "semi Slavery society" with zero context about the country and even tries to hijack the present BLM in almost propaganda like move. Now, facts. Upon independence, India's constitution was written by the constituent assembly presided over by an "untouchable". This constitution abolished discrimination on basis of caste, and as an affirmative action reserved seats in educational institutions and jobs in all state sponsored educational and public institutions. This reservation system has rapidly been increasing over the years and now a staggering 60 - 70% of all positions are reserved today. What's more, the current Prime Minister of India and the President of India are from backward castes and scheduled caste respectively, and a majority of political parties and multiple Chief Ministers presently belong to traditionally backward castes. Even election constituencies are reserved, so that there is fixed amount of representation in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha (lower and upper houses) no matter which government is in power. The best any authoritarian regime can do right now is portray as propaganda that India is a "semi slavery society" which has no "liberal" shared values with the democracies in the West so everyone should shun it. It's a standard divide and rule strategy.

known 6y ago

India is Feudalism masquerading as Democracy https://archive.vn/pOmij https://archive.vn/pOmij https://archive.vn/8HKHz https://archive.vn/8HKHz

known 6y ago

"A country is not made of land; a country is made of its people" --Unknown https://archive.vn/bS2fL https://archive.vn/bS2fL