“The price of not participating in politics is that you end up being
governed by your inferiors” ~ Plato
A government by inferiors, as Plato
calls it, is a recipe for the stunted growth of a nation and therefore, strong
political leadership – that is to say – a constructive role of politics in the
development process, is necessary if a nation state is to realize its full
potential.
A cursory glance through the
world map beginning from South East Asian nation states with export led
economies and management style political leadership, to China and North Korea
with communist leadership but drastically different economic fortunes, to India’s
democratic leadership and steady growth, onwards to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq
– countries ravaged economically due to politics of security and further
towards the Middle East’s oil producing nations and largely monarchical systems,
and so on and so forth, tells us about the role different styles of political
leadership have recently played in shaping the developmental trajectory of the
region.
The increased competition between
India and China has also given rise to the debate about the role and utility of
different political systems regarding economic growth and development. Yet, one
must ask, is development only economic? A systematic analysis of the word ‘development’
cannot leave out its historical and social components, which together give a
coherent picture of the state of a region and its people.
Historical Role
In India, ancient descriptions of
various kingdoms are replete with examples of kings patronizing artists, poets,
scientists, men of letters and crafts. Whether it is Kalidasa’s Abhignanshakuntalam, Todarmal’s
financial capabilities under Akbar, Abhinavagupta’s Commentary on the Gita,
Vishnu Sharma’s Panchatantra or
Aryabhat’s numerous scientific discoveries, all of them were made possible due
to the encouragement – moral and financial – by the prevailing political
leadership of the time. India’s famous handicrafts trade, including the world
renowned Daccai Muslin ‘Malmal Shahi’,
flourished because it had as its patron and largest buyers various kings and
their vassals of small and large kingdoms.
Add to this the various
contributions in the form of numerous palaces, forts and other forms of
timeless infrastructure including the famous Taj Mahal by Shah Jahan, the Grand
Trunk Road by Sher Shah Suri, the various Stupas, Viharas and Grihas, sundials
such as Jantar Mantar, temples like those in Konark and Jagannath Puri and the
dome shaped mosques and minarets such as Jama Masjid and Bada Imambara - all these
are physical consequences of political initiatives of their time.
Yet, not all historical
contributions of politics have been positive. The destruction of the famous
libraries and knowledge centers of Nalanda and Takshshila, the pillage and
sacking of countless temples and other religious places of worship such as Somnath
Temple, and the impoverishment of the country through the wanton loot of its
natural resources are some of the examples of negative influences of politics
on the development process.
Social Role
While reform usually comes from
within the society, there are various examples where political developments
have given birth to a social reaction and reform process. One such example is
the Communal Award announced by the British Government in early 1930s which
sought to separate the Depressed/ Backward Classes from the fold of Hinduism
and thus drive another wedge in the unity of Indian people and which led to the
Poona Pact and the campaign against untouchability launched by Mahatma Gandhi.
This, and the dominant role of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar in drafting the
constitution, later led to the enactment of constitutional safeguards for Schedule
Castes and Tribes in the form of reservation in government jobs and educational
institutions.
In the early days of the Company
Raj, seeing the plight of the Indian people under the religious orthodoxy and
taking advantage of the rule by foreigners, Raja Rammohun Roy, Dwarkanath
Tagore, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar etc. relentlessly campaigned for the
abolition of sati, widow remarriage, promotion of English language and reform
within Hinduism and ushered in the Bengal Renaissance. None of this was
possible under the old rulers for whom the religious orthodoxy comprised a
crucial support base.
The Post Independence period has
seen various initiatives by the modern political leadership for the abolition
of superstitious practices such as child marriage, empowerment of women through
reservation in local bodies, eradication of deadly diseases such as polio
through a sustained campaign and discouragement to blind faith through
promotion of scientific thinking and enquiry.
Economic Role
The most recent memory of the
amount of destruction that political leadership can bring to bear down upon the
fortunes of a region is that of the experience of colonialism. This experience
is not unique to India and is shared by various nation states of the world. The
deindustrialization and impoverishment of India for nearly 200 years through
colonial policies, as detailed by the early nationalists such as Dadabhai
Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, R C Dutt etc. financed the industrialization
and development of Britain.
If one looks at the global level,
one would find that major scientific advancements in recent memory were made as
a result of war. While World War I heralded the arrival of the Mustard Gas,
World War II hastened the entry of the Atomic Bomb. The Spanish Conquistadors were able to conquer a
large part of Latin America because of gunpowder, and the same allowed Tipu
Sultan to introduce the first rockets in modern warfare.
In the post World War II period,
the establishment of the Bretton Woods Institutions such as World Bank and IMF
by victorious allied powers, still determines the economic equations between
the developed and the developing as well as the least developed countries
today. At the national level, the politics of federalism and the distribution
of resources between various states signify the role political leadership at
the central and state level plays in shaping the developmental graph of the
nation.
Conclusion
After more than 4 decades of
socialist license-permit raj, Indian political leadership intervened to
liberalize the economy in 1991 and effect a much needed course correction
required to preserve the credibility of the Indian economy and to take it to
new heights. Since then, the aspirations of the people have only grown.
In the 21st century
India, responding to the needs of the population for jobs and basic necessities
like housing, clothing, transportation etc. the political leadership has begun
to move from the politics of identity to the politics of development. Recent voter
behavior too indicates that different sections, especially the youth, is more
likely to vote for candidates who focus on results rather than rhetoric. In an
era of automation, innovation and competition, only a dynamic and focused
leadership can usher in the security and prosperity required for the sustenance
of a country with as large a population as India’s.
