Bronze-level articleIndia

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'''India''' is a very large, very, very, very populated developing country (approximately 1.21 billion examples of ''Homo sapiens'').  It is very proud of its spiritual heritage, having given the world [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Sikhism]] and [[Jainism]].  It is also a very fractious country.   
 
'''India''' is a very large, very, very, very populated developing country (approximately 1.21 billion examples of ''Homo sapiens'').  It is very proud of its spiritual heritage, having given the world [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Sikhism]] and [[Jainism]].  It is also a very fractious country.   
  
There is a great deal of controversy over whether Indians have the necessary sense of identity to qualify as a [[nation]], particularly considering the great [[religion|religious]], ethnic, and linguistic divides within the modern Indian [[state]].  However, by being a functioning [[democracy]] since independence in 1947 (with only short-lived eras of dictatorship under Indira Gandhi (not to be confused with [[that other Gandhi|Gandhi]])), it is definitely a functional [[state]], just as Yugoslavia once was.
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There is a great deal of controversy over whether Indians have the necessary sense of identity to qualify as a [[nation]], particularly considering the great [[religion|religious]], ethnic, and linguistic divides within the modern Indian [[state]].  However, by being a functioning [[democracy]] since independence in 1947 (with only short-lived eras of dictatorship under Indira Gandhi (not to be confused with [[Gandhi|that other Gandhi]])), it is definitely a functional [[state]], just as Yugoslavia once was.
  
 
==Politics==
 
==Politics==

Revision as of 15:47, 4 March 2013

India is a very large, very, very, very populated developing country (approximately 1.21 billion examples of Homo sapiens). It is very proud of its spiritual heritage, having given the world Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. It is also a very fractious country.

There is a great deal of controversy over whether Indians have the necessary sense of identity to qualify as a nation, particularly considering the great religious, ethnic, and linguistic divides within the modern Indian state. However, by being a functioning democracy since independence in 1947 (with only short-lived eras of dictatorship under Indira Gandhi (not to be confused with that other Gandhi)), it is definitely a functional state, just as Yugoslavia once was.

Contents

Politics

India also serves as an example that shows that Eastern polytheistic religions are not as immune to fundamentalism and violence as many in the West like to believe. The constitution of India guarantees religious freedom for all. However, religion is an important factor among parts of the country's population, as seen in the success of the Hindu fundamentalist (commonly known as Hindu nationalist) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, in English, Indian People's Party), the second largest political party in the country. Additionally, religious law is allowed to govern personal matters such as divorce and inheritance, which has led to legal controversies. Indian blasphemy laws have also been used to punish criticism of religion, with conversion to or from any of them subject to legal hurdles.

There are two major political parties in India, the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP). The Communist Party of India is also an important player.

The INC is widely considered secular and it has center-left orientation in political spectrum. However, the involvement of INC members in the anti-Sikh riots, coupled with statements of senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh in which he described as a negative attribute [1], the secular nature of the INC is open to debate.

The BJP has a center-right orientation and identifies itself as more conservative. Its parent, the right-wing RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) has promoted pseudo-scientific views by cherry-picking from ancient Indian texts and philosophers. BJP-governed states also have anti-conversion and anti-cow slaughter laws.

Other right wing organizations like Shivsena, Bajrang Dal and some members of VHP have involved in hatred and violence towards Muslims and Christians. There have also been politicians who have called for violence against Hindus like Akbaruddin Owaisi.


India, along with the other seven South Asian countries, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan and Afghanistan, is part of a regional coalition named SAARC, though there are internal hostilities between India and Pakistan in SAARC which makes SAARC an ineffective multinational alliance.

Economy

After independence in 1947, India tried to implement a socialist type economy, led by their first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who was a socialist. However it was a socialist mixed economy rather than a Soviet-style command economy. India's economy was framed in this model until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. After the USSR's dissolution, India adopted the Washington consensus and started to open its markets to the private sector. From that time, India's economy has been rapidly growing, with a GDP of $1 trillion[2] and a GDP growth rate of approximately 9.1%.[3] Some have estimated that India will be the third largest economy (behind the US and China) by mid-century.[4] Despite this, poverty is a severe problem in India. Approximately 27.5% of Indians live below the poverty line.[5] Nearly 14.3% of the population live on less than $1 a day.[6] Bureaucratic corruption is also a severe problem in India, and it makes economic progress a mere fraction of its potential.

Military

Militarily, India is the strongest country in South Asia. The Indian military is third largest in the world in terms of military personnel, and the Indian Army is the second largest standing army. The Indian Navy is the fifth largest navy[7] and the Air Force is the fourth largest air force in the world.[8] Historically, the Indian military heavily relied upon Soviet arms and technical assistance, although it continuously developed indigenous technology. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, India have build most modern military technologies domestically, or with collaboration with foreign countries. The Indian Air Force maintains approximately 1300 combat and non-combat aircraft,[9] and the Indian Army maintain nearly 5000 main battle tanks[10] and the Indian Navy employs 155 vessels,[11] including one aircraft carrier. Six nuclear powered submarines are under construction and the Navy is undergoing a rapid modernization and expansion. Aircraft of the Indian Air Force include the 4.5 generation fighter Sukhoi Su-30MKI, which is IAF's primary air superiority aircraft. India is a de facto nuclear power. At present, India possesses two intermediate range ballistic missiles: Agni II with a range of 2,000–2,500 km, and Agni III with a range of 3,500 km. India is developing an intercontinental ballistic missile named Surya.[12] However this military is vastly smaller in size compared to China. For example, China maintains approximately 2000 combat aircraft while the IAF maintains only 700.

There are concerns of human rights violations associated with the Indian military. The Indian Peacekeeping Force in Sri Lanka is accused of human rights violations.[13] According to the Human Right Watch,

Attacks on civilians by militant groups[14] and Indian security forces continued unabated before and after the change in government. Notwithstanding the repeal of POTA,[15] the government continues to use other legislation to shield security forces from accountability. Indian military, paramilitary, and police forces have engaged in serious human rights abuses not just in conflict-zones such as Kashmir,[16] but also when dealing with criminal suspects and detainees.

Religious right

India suffers a lot from terrorism due to both Muslim and Hindu terrorists. The Christian church with the "baptize them all" policy is also causing trouble in India. Large and small communal riots are common, and many people die from these riots every year. A major Indian party (Bharatiya Janata Party), along with the Hindu fundamentalist organization commonly known as Sangh Parivar, are advocates of Hindu nationalism known as Hindutva. There has been no anti-evolution activity in India, however, it seems Ken Ham wants to change that.[17]

Terrorist attacks

India is a target of terrorism from several militant groups. The primary ones are Kashmiri Separatists, Islamist fundamentalists, Naxals (Maoist), and a few other separatist movements mainly in the far north-eastern states. Allegedly, some groups of Islamist terrorists are trained and funded by India's rival, Pakistan.

India accounts for the second highest number of deaths due to terrorist activities after Iraq.

Crimes against women

It is not unusual for women to hold high office and positions of influence and the the height of the glass ceiling is roughly comparable to that in Western countries. Despite this, gender-specific crimes against women are shockingly prevalent.

One recent report ranks India the "fourth most dangerous country for women."[18]

Acid Attacks

"If you love something set it free. If it comes back it's yours. If it doesn't, it never was mutilate it beyond recognition" appears to be the philosophy of many lovestruck Indian men. Acid attacks are almost solely revenge attacks against women who spurn the advances or proposals of the attacker (or who seek a divorce). The extent of permanent disfigurement is equivalent to that of 3rd degree burns and often results in blindness and a life behind closed doors. As with most crimes on this list, acid attacks are on the rise.[19]

Sexual harassment

Eve Teasing is a blanket term commonly used to describe all manner of sexual harassment ranging from catcalls to violent sexual assault. Even the media uses the term and, needless to say, it trivialises the gravity of crimes being reported.

Much sexual harassment happens in the workplace. Much happens in public. We are not talking about wolf-whistles here. We are talking about fatal gang rape.[20]

Dowry

Dowry is the practice of paying gifts or money to a guy's family in exchange for him agreeing to shack up with your daughter. Weird, isn't it? Despite being outlawed for 50 years[21], the practice is still widespread. If payment from the bride's family is not forthcoming, the groom's family (or the groom himself) may seek violent redress, often resulting in death. "Kitchen fires" happen with alarming frequency in households where a dowry dispute is occurring.

Thousands of women die in India each year as a consequence of dowry abuse.

Domestic violence

Unsurprisingly, it happens a lot.

So you've decided to reincarnate as a female in India anyway

Of course, the trials and tribulations of being a woman in India can be easily avoided if you get aborted first. We are not referring to pro-choice abortion here; the mother rarely has a say in the matter. Systemic termination of female foetuses and newborns has a long history in India and it continues today[22]. There are two principal reasons for this. Males are traditionally the breadwinners and prospective parents have a better chance of being financially provided for in their dotage. The second reason is dowry. Receiving a dowry is more attractive than paying one.

If you survive birth or infanticide, you stand a 47% percent chance of being married off while still a minor[23].The practice has been outlawed for 150 years but, hey, Rome wasn't built in a day.

Becoming a child-bride isn't the worst that could happen. Child trafficking for forced labour, prostitution or domestic servitude (AKA rape victim) is a thriving industry.

Gay rights

Gay rights are not widely recognised in India. Homosexuality was (until very recently) legally classified as "unnatural sex", punishable by imprisonment from 20 years to life. Some journalists have argued that the Victorian era values imposed by the British colonialists have been an influence on this homophobia and the anti-gay laws.[24][25] To date, no political party in India, with the exception the Communist Party of India (Marxist)[26], has voiced support for the legalization of homosexuality. In 1996 a film named Fire caused a lot of controversy in India due to its positive portrayal of lesbianism.[27] In 2009, however, a court order was passed removing the bans on gay sex imposed by the British.[28]

Sex in India

In addition to homophobia, there are many other sexual taboos within Indian society and legislation, despite the fact they invented several hundred new positions. The sale of sex toys is banned, and publishing hardcore pornography is a crime, but it goes largely unprosecuted for inexplicable reasons.

Woo in India

Established religious beliefs aside, much woo is accepted and practiced in India. In poor, rural regions, many women are subject to attacks based on accusations of witchcraft. Medical pseudoscience in the form of Ayurvedic medicine is widely accepted because of its antiquity and cultural relevance. Standing up to scientific scrutiny simply doesn't enter the picture. A relatively more recent "medical practice", Homeopathy, has gained widespread popularity. The health and well-being of millions of Indians are compromised daily because of the pervasiveness of many such superstitions.

Rice pullers and other bizarre scams abound to fleece the unwary.

Religious tradition has made it taboo to eat the world's tastiest animal that isn't bacon. A workaround for this is to eat buffalo which totally isn't the same thing.

See also

Footnotes

  1. [1]
  2. The Times of India: Indian economy, mkt lose trillion-dollar status July 2, 2008
  3. The Wall Street Journal: India Defies Turmoil With Growth of 8.8% May 31, 2008
  4. BBC News: Indian economy 'to overtake UK' January 24, 2007
  5. http://www.planningcommission.gov.in/news/prmar07.pdf Government of India Press Information Bureau: Poverty Estimates For 2004-05 March 2007
  6. Business Standard: India has fewer poor people: World Bank August 27, 2008
  7. GlobalSecurity.org: Indian Navy
  8. GlobalSecurity.org: Indian Air Force
  9. Bharat Rakshak
  10. rediff.com: Are you cut out for a career in the Armed Forces? April 17, 2008
  11. Arab News: Two Saudi warships to visit India July 27, 2008
  12. MISSLETHREAT.com: The Threat from India
  13. uthr.org
  14. Insurgent groups operating in India against the Indian government
  15. Prevention of Terrorism Act, a controversial act which was criticized by human rights activists for human rights violations
  16. A disputed territory which is the source of military conflicts between India and Pakistan
  17. Kens Ham's blog
  18. Thomas Reuter
  19. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7270568.stm
  20. [2]
  21. Dowry Prohibition Act
  22. [http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-loses-3-million-girls-in-infanticide/article3981575.ece
  23. [http://www.unicef.org/sowc09/docs/SOWC09_Table_9.pdf UNICEF
  24. The Guardian: India's literary elite call for anti-gay law to be scrapped September 17, 2006
  25. Lesbilicious: India debates legality of homosexuality October 15, 2008
  26. People's Democracy: AIDWA Welcomes SC Directive February 10, 2002
  27. Wikipedia: Fire (1996 film)
  28. newser: India Legalizes Gay Sex July 2, 2009
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