Editorial One
In ‘Oxford History of India,’ its author Vincent Smith speaks about the world’s largest democracy and its underlying fundamental unity.
Describing such unity as “more profound than that produced either by geographical isolation or by political suzerainty.” He said, “That unity transcends the innumerable diversities of blood, colour, language, dress, manners and sect.”
Sir Frederick Whyte said in his book, ‘The Future of East and West,’ that he was awed by the “tremendous diversity in India.” He said that the greatest of all the contradictions in India is that over this diversity is spread a greater unity.
“Such unity is not immediately evident because it failed historically to find expression in any political cohesion to make the country one, but which is so great a reality, and so powerful, that even the Musulman world in India has to confess that it has been deeply affected by coming within its influence.”
Some fundamentals
India’s unity has been tried and tested on several occasions since the country gained independence (August 15, 1947); it comes to the fore strong and pronounced during times of war, and in recent years, during the international cricket season. Indian background and unity were essentially cultural; they were not religious in the narrow sense of the word.
Jawaharlal Nehru, Independent India’s first Prime Minister, said in an essay that Indian culture was not exclusive or intolerant to begin with; it was receptive and adaptable, and long ages of preeminence gave it deep roots and a solidarity, which storms could not shake. It developed an aristocratic attitude, which, secure in its own strength, could afford to be tolerant and broadminded.
“This toleration gave it greater strength and adaptability. There was in it until almost the beginning of the Christian era certain rationalism, something approaching a scientific outlook, which refused to tie itself down to dogmas. True, this culture and rationalism were largely confined to the upper classes, but they percolated down to the masses to some extent. Superstitions and dogmas gradually crept in and many an evil practice.”
Painless adoption
Buddhism was a revolt against these. But the old way of life was still powerful, and it is one of the wonders of history how India succeeded in absorbing Buddhism without any physical conflict. Buddhism, which had spread throughout India and had made progress from Western Asia right across Central Asia to the Far East, gradually faded out of the land of its birth.
According to Pundit Nehru, the forces working for Indian unity are formidable and overwhelming and it is difficult to conceive of any separatist tendency, which can break up this unity. Some of the major Indian princes might represent such a tendency; but they flourish not from their own strength, but because of the support of the British power. When that support goes, they have to surrender to the wishes of their own people, among whom the sentiment of national unity is widespread.”
The NZ Scene
If Pundit Nehru were to visit New Zealand today, he would have cause to worry, for, his fear would see some reality, at least in some sections of the community. It is great that many of our capable people have political ambitions; but in realising those ambitions, some of them do not mind descending to depths of depravity and misconstrue facts, claiming to have political and community support.
There are demands on qualitative participation in the country’s polity. We need political representatives who listen rather than hear, understand rather than appreciate and most important of all, and act in the best interests of the country rather than vested interests.
Community empowerment comes from a variety of sources. Our community is yet to become as intolerant to graft, indiscipline, lethargy and apathy (to mention a few) as many of the other communities.
Integrity, honesty and accountability should be the key factors of our lives.
There is a need to seek orderliness in our affairs, disable our innate ‘crab mentality,’ promote healthy competition, become wealth creators in the true sense and most important of all encourage, motivate, inspire and involve younger members of the community in good governance.
To be self-critical is not to undermine our importance or the pride that we carry as Indians from a great country, but to understand and realise that we are being left behind because of our own inadequacies.
This is not entropy that postulates the absence of energy. As Swami Vivekananda said, “We have muscles of iron, nerves of steel and minds of thunderbolt.”
