Is this India’s finest hour?

India is one of the world’s most diverse, vibrant and populous countries. It is home to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam, as well as Sikhism. India is also a centre for trading across its extensive coastline and it produces over 25% of the world’s tea production. The cuisine includes varieties such as tandoori and curries.

Despite its size, the population of India (1.341 billion as of 2017) has managed to create a cohesive country with a strong national identity. The Indian constitution, which was drafted in 1950, defined India as a secular state with no distinction between religions. After gaining independence from Britain in 1947, the country had to deal with issues related to integration and secession from the Union of India whilst also combating insurgencies while continuing democratic procedures.

In 2014 India’s economy surpassed that of China to become the world’s fastest growing economy. It has also been the largest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in 2016. In 2014 the Indian government faced criticism when a section of Haryana state was set on fire and it was revealed that permission to build a wall to stop migrants from entering the state had been denied. This is often referred to as “the killings at Godhra”.

Indian politics today are dominated by an ideological divide between supporters and opponents of the current government. The Bharatiya Janata Party gained power in 2014 and they have since brought about reforms such as changes to taxation, prohibition on certain groups protesting on public land and a rollback on previous pro-minority laws that were introduced under the previous government.

India has come a long way since the time of its independence from Britain, with its problems and challenges similar to those facing many other countries across the world. It has however managed to successfully overcome challenges that may have derailed many other nations, including the restructuring and complete separation of Pakistan. India has demonstrated impressive economic growth whilst maintaining a steady standard of living and human rights for all of its citizens. The nation is witnessing rapid urbanization, but this does not seem to have impacted on India’s cultural diversity: it still remains one of the most important cultural centres in Asia, as well as being home to 23 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Despite these achievements though, significant challenges remain in areas such as public health and education. These are issues that have become more prominent in recent times, with no easy solutions or quick fixes.

India has shown the world that the size of a country does not limit its potential progress or its capacity to survive, recover and grow from conflict. The breadth and ingenuity of its people is evident in India’s architectural achievements, literature, film and music. Despite setbacks such as corruption and religious violence, India has a promising future ahead of it which includes increased trade partnerships with countries across Europe and Asia. India’s achievements should serve as an inspiration to other developing nations on how to maintain unity within cultural diversity and how to overcome poverty whilst maintaining economic prosperity.

Rashid is an undergraduate student at the University of Edinburgh currently studying an MSc in International History and Politics. He has previously studied BA(Hons) Politics and IR at the University of Kent and is interested in foreign policy and how it intertwines with domestic affairs. He has previously written articles on international relations, political theory and military history among other topics.

India’s achievements since its independence from Britain include significant economic growth whilst maintaining a steady standard of living. India also has contributed to many global trends in technology, fashion, food and entertainment that are now commonplace across the globe. India’s culture is one of the oldest continuous cultures that can be traced back to over 3,000 years ago.

India has a diverse and multicultural population, and it is one of the largest exporters of films and television shows in the world. India has a diverse population - about 91% of its 1.326 billion citizens (as of 2017) are Hindus. However, most Indians are also Hindus, with Muslims constituting just 2%. The other sizeable minority groups are Christians and Sikhs. The remaining 8% belong to other religious groups such as Zoroastrians or Buddhists. Hindi is the official language of India, and it is spoken by most Indians. However, English is still an important language often used in business and education.

Despite its size, the population of India (1.341 billion as of 2017) has managed to create a cohesive country with a strong national identity. The Indian constitution, which was drafted in 1950, defined India as a secular state with no distinction between religions. After gaining independence from Britain in 1947, the country had to deal with issues related to integration and secession from the Union of India whilst also combating insurgencies while continuing democratic procedures. In 2014 India’s economy surpassed that of China to become the world’s fastest growing economy. It has also been the largest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in 2016. In 2014 the Indian government faced criticism when a section of Haryana state was set on fire and it was revealed that permission to build a wall to stop migrants from entering the state had been denied. This is often referred to as “the killings at Godhra”.

Indian politics today are dominated by an ideological divide between supporters and opponents of the current government. The Bharatiya Janata Party gained power in 2014 and they have since brought about reforms such as changes to taxation, prohibition on certain groups protesting on public land and a rollback on previous pro-minority laws that were introduced under the previous government.

India has come a long way since the time of its independence from Britain, with its problems and challenges similar to those facing many other countries across the world. It has however managed to successfully overcome challenges that may have derailed many other nations, including the restructuring and complete separation of Pakistan. India has demonstrated impressive economic growth whilst maintaining a steady standard of living and human rights for all of its citizens. The nation is witnessing rapid urbanization, but this does not seem to have impacted on India’s cultural diversity: it still remains one of the most important cultural centres in Asia, as well as being home to 23 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Despite these achievements though, significant challenges remain in areas such as public health and education.

Conclusion

India has an impressive history of achievements and continues to be a worthy member of the family of nations. Despite its size, the population of India (358 million) has managed to create a cohesive country with a strong national identity. The Indian constitution, which was drafted in 1950, defined India as a secular state with no distinction between religions. After gaining independence from Britain in 1947, the country had to deal with issues related to integration and secession from the Union of India whilst also combating insurgencies while continuing democratic procedures.

India’s political climate is often polarized between supporters and opponents of the current government.