If India has to get better than China, it needs more democracy not less, as some India-China observers suggest.
Anyone who has visited India and China, will tell you that the difference between the two is of a few decades, obviously China is ahead. Even the Prime Minister of India declared in 2005 that he wants to make Mumbai like Shanghai. I hope he meant only physical infrastructure because Mumbai has a history and culture of itself.
The observers also tell you in one word that the reason why India is not able to progress as fast as China is 'democracy', which delays decision making as it allows people to raise objections and demand compensation. I beg to differ. Here I will present evidence that India has far too many dictators and their whims and fancies delays progress and creates chaos.
Dictatorship begins at home:
Like all good practices begin at home, dictatorship in India also begins at home. Usually the male head of the family behaves like a dictator. He would decide things that need to be bought, where to holiday and what the kids career should be.
Like China, in India also one of the surest way to getting ahead in life is to get good education and given the size of the population there is stiff competition for every opportunity. So the kids need to study hard, many hours a day, some kids study 12 hrs a day from the age of 15 or 16. Nothing wrong with that, except that they do it not out of their own drive but because their father wants them to be an Engineer or Doctor. This goes on for many youngsters till they are 24 or 25, only the name of the exam changes.
How does it affect development? As the number of opportunities are limited only a few kids get through, the rest come out of the process after loosing a few years of life. On any given day in India there are millions of youth who are not contributing to the society in any productive manner, but only as consumers of education services. They simply sit at home and study for a exam. All this youth energy if free to contribute the way they think is right can transform the country in a little time, but the dictator will not allow it to happen. Meet any young person in India and the chances are that he/she has spent a year or two appearing for exams.
Another example of 'Dictator Dad', when the young try to marry a person of their choice the 'dictator dad' steps in and takes it upon himself to find a suitable match for his grown up boy/girl. These young people who are sensible enough to elect their own govt and are allowed to vote are not allowed to choose their life partner. The dictators find a solution within the limits of income group, caste, religion, region etc. The youth hardly get a say, they nod. Those who revolt are often murdered and it is called 'Honour Killing'.
Leaders as Dictators:
India has more dictators of mass appeal than all the communist nations combined. Even the leaders of China would envy the political leaders of India. India has a plethora of political parties and the leader of each party is a dictator. Almost all of them are Party President for life time or till they give up the position for their son/daughter or a kin. Their wish is a command for the party cadre. Even their perceived wishes are command enough to come out on the streets to protest. Some of these dictators are literally worshiped by party men everyday. They are placated by naming bridges, flyovers, markets etc after them.
No communist dictator can dream of such a thing. In India's political party, if someone is not happy with the dictator leader, he or she is free to break out and start their own party and become a dictator in it. And they do.
How does it affect development?
The dictators wish is a command for other party men, ministers and even bureaucrats. Hence all the development is concentrated in the few places which the dictators or their men favor, secondly everyone wants to be close to the dictator and keep him/her pleased.
Here are some examples of the dictators effect on development.
Even the aspiring politicians who are supposed to be close to people and understand peoples problems make a bee line to the dictators house to get nominations. So the politicians don't waste time in solving peoples' problems, instead they spend time keeping the dictators happy.
The area most severely affected by the Naxals, is mineral rich but lags far behind the rest of the country, the reason, no politician came from those areas who could find favor with the dictator or be a dictator in himself for his/her constituents.
The dictators, in order to increase their followers distribute favors, from free electricity to a law that requires grains to be packed in jute bags. For a poor and hungry country can let its grains rot in jute bags as the bags, unlike plastic bags, are not weather proof but not displease the dictators. Amartya Sen told you that famines don't occur in democracies, he was right. If India had more democracy, even malnutrition would not occur.
Why Indian dictators delay progress?
Lets comeback to the central point of discussion, the delay in progress. One of the significant ways in which Dictators in India differ from those in China is their decision making time. Indian society being so diverse and stratified, makes it difficult for the dictators to understand whom to favor and how to satisfy so many constituents. The constituents are not opposing each other or revolting against the dictator, they merely ask for their share of the pie. The share is to be decided even before the pie is made. Deciding how to share the pie takes a lot of time that adds up in the time taken to make the pie.
An easy example is the Common Wealth Games (CWG) to be held in Delhi in Oct 2010. Although everyone wants the games to take place, but everyone wants their share of the pie first. Hence the plethora of agencies responsible for the different works. The half baked pie gets created and distributed. Dictators don't make the 'sub-dictators' accountable for the shoddy work done. The work for CWG is far from complete.
Democracy is the solution:
The more democracy increases, the less dictators powers will be. More democracy will result in more people demanding rational decisions. Rational decisions results in rational allocation of resources and more efficiency. Democracy will allow people to ask for accountability. That is the path of development that India must take and as all good things democracy must begin at home.
7 comments:
Parijat Sahai: 03 अगस्त को 10:03 बजे
Interesting point of view! I really liked the paragraph on 'Dictator Dad' where you pointed out the wasted hours of youth. How true! However, the piece about marriage didn't add to the discussion and can be argued in quite a reverse manner (for example, my guess is that arranged marriage is better for the economy than the love marriage! Hence, the dictator dad is good for the economy!!).
I'd like to know your thoughts on how (at a high level) the democracy can be achieved such that these "dictators" cease to exist. That'll make for a good discussion.
Also, I would have liked to read more about China, considering the title of the essay.
Overall, very good points, I must say. These dictators (including some dictator dads) are truly the root to many evils in India.
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Abhinav Bhatnagar :07 अगस्त को
In my view, democracy at high level will be permanently achieved only when there is democracy at home. After Independence, there was democracy at high level, but none at home, so now we must begin with democracy at at home and in personal relationships.
Gave the title of China as people compare India with it, I have little knowledge on things there.
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Ankur Bhatnagar: 07 अगस्त को
It is not necessary that democracy can only grow upwards. It often percolates downwards. In fact, the latter effect is very visible today. Today there is comparatively more equality (less dictatorship) in homes than, say, 30-40 years ago. For example, women have more say now. This didn't happen automatically in families. When the external environment changed (rooted probably in winds blowing from West), so did the internal family environment. You can say the same things about reducing arranged marriages too.
Secondly, I am a little uncomfortable with too abstract conjectures. While all such discussions that we do is anyway theoretical, saying democracy at high level will be permanently achieved only when there is democracy at home makes it even more abstract because it tends to imply that there is no hope for democracy in India until it is established in crores of homes in India. We don't know how or when that will happen. Can't wait for that. There has to be better solutions.
Of course, my different opinion doesn't mean that there shouldn't be democracy at homes!
However, there needs to be more accountability in public services. I think I have some ideas about how that can be achieved. Will post them another time.
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Abhinav Bhatnagar 07 अगस्त को
I do agree that external environment can affect the internal environment, I wouldn't call it percolation downwards.
The more equality in Indian homes, I would attribute it to education and encouragement from within the family/friends to assert their rights.
But more equality is not necessarily more democracy, democracy is expressing differences, debating on merits and then deciding.
For example, a husband saying he will watch cricket and wife demanding watching soap or both having their own TVs is equality but not democracy
Parijat Sahai: 03 अगस्त को 10:03 बजे
Interesting point of view! I really liked the paragraph on 'Dictator Dad' where you pointed out the wasted hours of youth. How true! However, the piece about marriage didn't add to the discussion and can be argued in quite a reverse manner (for example, my guess is that arranged marriage is better for the economy than the love marriage! Hence, the dictator dad is good for the economy!!).
I'd like to know your thoughts on how (at a high level) the democracy can be achieved such that these "dictators" cease to exist. That'll make for a good discussion.
Also, I would have liked to read more about China, considering the title of the essay.
Overall, very good points, I must say. These dictators (including some dictator dads) are truly the root to many evils in India.
================
Abhinav Bhatnagar :07 अगस्त को
In my view, democracy at high level will be permanently achieved only when there is democracy at home. After Independence, there was democracy at high level, but none at home, so now we must begin with democracy at at home and in personal relationships.
Gave the title of China as people compare India with it, I have little knowledge on things there.
Ankur Bhatnagar: 07 अगस्त को
It is not necessary that democracy can only grow upwards. It often percolates downwards. In fact, the latter effect is very visible today. Today there is comparatively more equality (less dictatorship) in homes than, say, 30-40 years ago. For example, women have more say now. This didn't happen automatically in families. When the external environment changed (rooted probably in winds blowing from West), so did the internal family environment. You can say the same things about reducing arranged marriages too.
Secondly, I am a little uncomfortable with too abstract conjectures. While all such discussions that we do is anyway theoretical, saying democracy at high level will be permanently achieved only when there is democracy at home makes it even more abstract because it tends to imply that there is no hope for democracy in India until it is established in crores of homes in India. We don't know how or when that will happen. Can't wait for that. There has to be better solutions.
Of course, my different opinion doesn't mean that there shouldn't be democracy at homes!
However, there needs to be more accountability in public services. I think I have some ideas about how that can be achieved. Will post them another time.
======================
Abhinav Bhatnagar 07 अगस्त को
I do agree that external environment can affect the internal environment, I wouldn't call it percolation downwards.
The more equality in Indian homes, I would attribute it to education and encouragement from within the family/friends to assert their rights.
But more equality is not necessarily more democracy, democracy is expressing differences, debating on merits and then deciding.
For example, a husband saying he will watch cricket and wife demanding watching soap or both having their own TVs is equality but not democracy
I agree with all you said Abhinav. I'm just thinking if we would consider Gandhi a dictator as well, and if so, is there a role for "good dictators" ?
Not sure if growth of China's economy should only be prognosis to overly used Dictatorship model.
Dictatorship has not assured growth to Cuba, Libya and other Dictator countries. On contrary, many Democratic society are high on chart of developed nations.
People having exposure to China's growth and way of leaving could potentially decode the growth story for better relevance to India. Learning from success stories should possibly be no crime.
Decision making depends on socio-economic and political structure of country in which judiciary play an important role for application of various development theory and practices in any counter for development. India has a very weak Judiciary system, Millions of cases of crime, corruption are still pending in queue to find justice. Inspite of formation of fast track court, which are made for speedy making of justice for national important cases,Nothing has been achieved till date.It is this because the politician are making corruption, crime etc with GUNDAS as they have no fear judiciary.
its mean justice delay justice denied.
They are nothing to fear about justice because one or other they get the bail and the hearing of case will be there in court till dead.
Immediate corrective action take against the person, who are indulge in corruption, crime etc. make a fast decision making process in free and transparent environment.
China has been progressing due o stringent rule apply when any body do corruption, crime etc.
Its either dictatorship or democracy its judiciary to define the track of decision making and development of country.
one more thing ,i want to add, Indians have a very weak opinion about himself, because their decision change very fast. Indians are not willing to make there opinion in front of public. as they are easily adopting foreign language, culture , view and thought etc.
ecision making depends on socio-economic and political structure of country in which judiciary play an important role for application of various development theory and practices in any counter for development. India has a very weak Judiciary system, Millions of cases of crime, corruption are still pending in queue to find justice. Inspite of formation of fast track court, which are made for speedy making of justice for national important cases,Nothing has been achieved till date.It is this because the politician are making corruption, crime etc with GUNDAS as they have no fear judiciary.
its mean justice delay justice denied.
They are nothing to fear about justice because one or other they get the bail and the hearing of case will be there in court till dead.
Immediate corrective action take against the person, who are indulge in corruption, crime etc. make a fast decision making process in free and transparent environment.
China has been progressing due o stringent rule apply when any body do corruption, crime etc.
Its either dictatorship or democracy its judiciary to define the track of decision making and development of country.
one more thing ,i want to add, Indians have a very weak opinion about himself, because their decision change very fast. Indians are not willing to make there opinion in front of public. as they are easily adopting foreign language, culture , view and thought etc.
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