Is colonial mentality hindering India's success?

Is colonial mentality hindering India's success?

    The past is inextricably linked with our present and feeds into our future. The importance of history cannot be overstated. It creates a framework and construct which translate into our culture and social practice.

    The British colonized India and established a semi-hegemonic, semi-authorization, semi-democratic type of rule. They did not rely solely on force to rule India. Doctrines such as ‘white man’s burden’ civilizing mission, benevolent despotism where used to legitimize their rule. When India was subjugated by British, India was stagnant and retrogressive practices (sati, thugie, untouchably, etc) were rampant. The British capitalized upon these weaknesses in our country and portrayed us as barbaric and uncivilized.

    The British systematically spread the image of India as backward society and portrayed themselves as ‘supreme ‘based upon racial supremacy. “History of India” by James Mill structured Indian history as Hindu Era, Muslim era and British era (not Christian era). They encouraged and promoted fragmentation (in line with their divide and rule policy) in order to facilitate their rule in India.

    This system of rule by control over the mind and degraded the confidence of every Indian. Intellectuals and reformed looked at the state of affairs and tried to find the cause and weed out the evils in the society. Some even believed that British were a modernizing force (as seen by the lack of their participation in the revolt of 1857) But they were soon awaken to the exploitative nature of British rule in India. Dadabhai Naroiji published “poverty and UnBritish rule in India”  which was a criticism of the economic structure which drained Indian wealth by various means- heavy taxation ,unequal free trade imposition , expensive administration, etc. it was necessary for more than a book to burst the myth of the British rule.

    The Indian freedom struggle was a battle for the reinforcement of the values and identity of Indians. Nation states emerged by the 17th century in Europe Unaware of such ideologies India still remained medieval. The British future worsened the situation by interpreting our way of living through the Western culture. Indian National movement served the cause of political education, creating awareness and awakening the common man.

    300 years of British rule has left an indelible mark on Indian society . the colonial administration ,economy had penetrated their roots deep into the body of India. There was probably no area of life untouched by the British rule. In this essay their impact on our lingua franca, Educational system, Administration, society, etc are examined.

    English and Hindi are the official languages of India. If the French might have won the Cyanotic war, we probably night have had French and Hindi as our official language. But English has served India as a modernizing force, a language of integration, etc. with English becoming the predominant language of the world; the nations which leg behind are striving hard to catch up.  

    The English was made as the medium of education in British India after a long debate about using vernacular language. In the end for the convenience of British needs, English was preferred. The content of education was also chosen accordingly to create babus (clerks), often the Benefits of British rule in Indian being the first to laugh  the system encourage rote learning and discovered independent thought. Scholars have opined that our educational system still functions within a similar kind of frame work. Dedicated efforts are being put up to change the pattern and encourage more interactive and creating. Opinions.

    But this culture of adhering to text books and inculcating what is being taught has deeps roots in our culture. Trained to trust the wisdom of elders and obey then, it was easier to the British to manipulate this attitude to serve been attributed to this lack of culture for innovation and independent thought. Nevertheless we have reformed our educational system and are making at rides in every field with Indians achieving top positions all over the world.

    The glamour of white colored jobs and the prestige that came to be attached to it also cut through the Indian society. To encourage subservience and obedience to authority the British crated on image where the officials and authorities   came to be perceived as ‘Sahib’ (Master). The ordinary persons were at their mercy and favors. Lack of other employment opportunities pushed the intellectuals into fierce  competition for there coveted limited opportunities. This love for government jobs also seemingly continuers in India.  Yet in recent times the private sector is making a client into this type of thinking with attractive salary and increased vistas as per the interests of the persons.  

    Position of women in Indian society was further was send because of British rule. Though under compulsion from reformers some legislations for enlistment of women were introduced their contribution was not substation . British itself being a conservative society where women were arraigned to their traditional role and had a fight a long drawn battle for suffrage reinforced Indian perception of treating women as second class citizens. The lack of economic opportunities increased her dependence on men whose stature as a earning taking progress though on slow pace. Especially after person in the family increased his power positions. Here too, it might be incorrect to attribute women subjugation only to colonial rule. Even after independence, we have been struggling to make huge strides because of the deep entrenched patriarchal system. Women organization, enlightened individuals and government efforts are begging to yield results as manifested in the increased enrolment of girls in schools.

    A important inherence of India is the British administrative machinery handed by s the steel frame of India ‘and the torture upon  which the British empire rides has been criticized as  a cheap allay Robert and functional as it was the system was insensitive to peoples need and followed a top down approach. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru  heritance to carry on with the structure due to its flaws and Sardar Patel’s advocacy of them has yielded cocktail of results.

    While having holded together India and helped her sail the turnout louse partition and hard times, it has been criticized as resisting to change and not locking forward. The colonial mindset of master- servant relationship has been cited as the cause for looking dawn upon people as beneficiaries rather than the owners of the government. Despite all its flaws. The system has been effective and has functioned as on important reason for perpetuating democracy in India.

    Reassures’ to empower people has been making progress though on a slow pace. Especially after person in the family increased his power position. Here  too, it might be incorrect to attribute women subjugation only to colonial rule. even after independence, we have been struggling to make huge strides because of the deep entrenched patriarchal system women organization, enlightened individuals and government efforts are beginning to yield results as manifested in the increased enrollment of girls in schools.

    A important inheritance of India is the British administrative machinery- handed by as the steel frame of India and the tortoise upon which the British empire rides has been criticized as a cheep allay Roburt and functional as it was, the system was insensitive to peoples need and followed a top down approach. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s heritance to carry on with the structure due in its flaws and Sardar Patel’s advocacy of then has yielded a cocktail of results.

    While having holded together Indi and helped her sail the toniest lies partition and hard times. It has been criticized as resisting to change and not locking forward. The colonial mindset  of master- servant relationship has been cited as the cause for looking dawn upon people as beneficiaries and rather than the owners of the government. Despite all its flaws, the system has been effective and has functioned as n important reason for perpetuating democracy in India.   

    Resources to empower people have been making progress though on a slow pace. Especially often the 73rd and 74th amendment acts by Panchayats have  been given constitutional status, people which participation at local level has given a sense of ownership to locals. though it has been much dependant on the efforts made by the state governments their has been progress definitely.   

    Corruption and nepotism in the system is also a major problem. Though they were a reason for colonist of India to became successful, they hade become more rampant due to commercialization spread of materialistic and utilitarian     ideologies. Commercialization of agricultural land created private property in a form as never before witnessed in India history. Increased inequalities and landlers laborers resulted in impoverishment of nit lions. British gained by created a class of vested interest whom they could play against the Nationalists.

    After independence, Nehru made efforts to keep the system free of corruption ( continued existence of special police establishment  act and further repeat ad appeals to the chief ministers to shake off the system are to be noted) while corruption was  ramped   at lower levels in bureaucracy, after independence there the politician bureaucracy nexus even at top level has been hugely detrimental to India. The implementation of progressive legislations  such as land. Reforms have suffered due to the want of political and administrative will to be noted in this aspect is west Bengal, where a se change has been made due to effective implementation of   land tenancy reforms and panchayati  raj systems.

    The parliamentary form of government in India was chosen as a result of the acquiesce we Indians herd with it under the British rule. Enthused with idealism and vision our finding fathers envisaged a central role for parliament India having chosen representative  democracy parliament was to act as “ microcosm of macrocosm “ the systematic deliberations in the constituent Assembly and the feat recent decline of the stature of parliament due to disruptions has portrayed the institution in bad light. Despite the hiccups, the functioning of democracy in a successful manner in India should be appreciated ( esp. when most of her citizen were illiterate, poor and starving ) the political education  imported during freedom struggle and the constructive programs  undertaken have driven the values deep into the hearts of the people.

    Indian Judicial system has been often cited for the colonial hangovers we suffer from. The language ( use of words such s my land ) and the attire have been still retained in the system. The elitist appearance and the conduct have been in want of reform. Despite keeping with the earlier traditions the judicial system cannot be said to be functioning as it was under the colonial administration.

    The modern judicial system was introduced by the British in India. Yet though it was based on rule of law equality of in the eyes of law was seldom experiences. After independence the executive from judiciary has yielded in more specialization and efficient functioning.  

    In all respect of our life we have a made progress after independence, much in those  where we put efforts and less where we have locked the will. From a ship to mouth agric there we have become a net exports of food grains. The will to where in Green revolution and see though its successful implementation is the major reason for its stupendous success. We have generated intellectual giants in each and every field, our marvelous achievement in space Technology is especially note worthy.  

    To blame colonial  legacy for most maladies we face today may not be a very appropriate diagnosis. The ideological struggle waged during our freedom struggle to wipe our the indoctrinated subordination and the subsequent involvement of the mares in the freedom struggle had generated huge awareness and inculcated more progressive values. Even to attribute materialism and utilitarianism to colonial legacy cannot be fully justified. Ideas have barriers and are unstoppable; they may be delayed but are bound to knock at the nations soars at sometime.

    Any behavior practice to exist must have reinforcement of the same. To still blame the colonial legacy for our problems would it fit appropriately  the colonial tradition could have served initiated the action but its perpetuation in our society would not be possible if we did not allow it to true that 300 years of rule has left an impression but 6 decades after they have left India we are to be blamed it that tradition still continued.

    It is always easy to blame someone or something for a problem. To take responsibility and believe that your actions are manifested as results is progressive. We should look forward to mobilize the necessary will to being in desired changes. The recent anti- corruption movement and the subsequent enactment of Lokpal Bill (after being struck) the pipeline for a quarter century is a case in point. A nation is what its people are, hardly the people who ruled it decades ago. It is worth remembering Buddha’s lines. We are what we have done yesterday and, we will be what we do today.