On August 15, 2017, India celebrated its 70th year of independence from British Rule in India. India has history of over 5000 years, but the journey of 70 years in a nation as big as India does hold a much significance. When the Prime Minister gave a call of New India from the Red Fort, each Indian realized what we have achieved in last 70 years and how much we have grown and become a successful nation.
Not only number changed on the calendar, but the life of each individual has changed. However, the operative question remains, has politics in India changed and evolved into something called unbiased, non-corrupt, progressive, forward-thinking with the nation-first approach?
Well, if we can define the concept of New India from the perspective of aspirations of today’s India, we can certainly speak of the evolution of Indian polity in last 70 years. Indian politics in the 1940s was more or less about Mahatma Gandhi. However, the seeds of real politicking were sawn in the 50s by Jawaharlal Nehru and his party, Congress.
On the other hand, Communist Parties were spreading through their regressive and violent means of acquiring powers in parts of India. Political murders, political kidnapping, draconian laws in the states and at the center, protectionist economic policies, unanswerable bureaucracy, and corruption at the highest level marred Indian prospects of matching the global footsteps and growth momentum.
Despite the fact that roots of democracy in India have been deeply rooted, India witnessed the darkest days of abandoning the basic constitutional rights during the emergency imposed by the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. Hindu-Muslim riots for political purposes was another feature that kept Indian society divided and diverted from social and economic goals. Divisive political agendas, spying on and barring opposition leaders, and horse-trading were vertues Indian politics was known for.
However, it is said that crisis is the mother of change. Thanks to the successive governments failing at addressing economic issues in India, India became a nation of baggers in 1991, which was remained only with a foreign exchange of 3 weeks. This economic catastrophe opened up the growth rates for India. India to sustain its economy was forced to open up its economy, which ultimately changed the nature of the politics in India. From geographical supremacy to economic supremacy-Indian politics saw the change in the means, ends, and aims.
As people became more aware of political activities by politicians in India, enforced political class to be more thoughtful about the development agenda than a political slugfest. However, caste-based reservation is still a nuisance, India has been vehement in recent years to get rid of this social malice as well.
Recent years have seen a complete change in Indian politics – from political murders to bipartisan support for India’s stand on many international issues. Besides, Indian politics have become more youth and development based rather than politics of hatred, caste, and class.
