New Enlightenment The Future of Indian Democracy with Indrajit Roy
In this episode, we sit down with Indrajit Roy to discuss the past, present, and future of Indian democracy, just as the country of more than 1 billion people goes to the polls. The conversation delves into the state of Indian democracy, its historical context, and the impact of Modi's leadership. We explore the effectiveness of Indian democracy in providing a voice to its citizens and the impact on social and economic equality. We discuss the rise of Hindu nationalism and its impact on Indian society and politics, noting the departure from the principles of liberal democracy, particularly around non-discrimination of minority groups. Notwithstanding, the resistance against illiberal tendencies in India is evident through institutional, political, and social activism. This highlights the durability of Indian democracy.
Takeaways
- Indian democracy faces challenges in providing social and economic equality, despite its effectiveness in giving a voice to historically oppressed communities.
- The rise of Hindu nationalism under Modi's leadership has led to a departure from the principles of liberal democracy, impacting religious minorities and creating a Hindu homogeneous group.
- The historical context of Indian democracy and the impact of Hindu nationalism on Indian society and politics are critical to understanding the current state of Indian democracy.
- Caste dynamics play a significant role in Indian politics, with upper caste groups holding disproportionate wealth and power.
- Modi's leadership has seen positive developments in infrastructure investment, reduction of petty corruption, and digitization of financial transactions.
- The resistance against illiberal tendencies in India is evident through institutional, political, and social activism, highlighting the durability of Indian democracy.
Links:
Audacious Hope: An Archive of How Democracy is being Saved in India