To realise the dream of Viksit Bharat 2047, India must prioritize national unity through robust institutions and social harmony to ensure uninterrupted progress.
India has largely been able to hold its own externally in maintaining its strategic autonomy in foreign policy articulation, despite challenges. Be it the Russia – Ukraine war, the conflict in the Middle East, participation in widely disparate multilateral organisations (BRICS, SCO, QUAD, I2U2) or the COP 29 negotiations in Baku; it has been able to skilfully maintain equidistance between the West and the Non-west through pragmatic reasoning and realpolitik. It has ironically catapulted itself to emerge as a potential interlocutor between belligerent opponents to promote world truce. It has undeniably emerged as the voice of the Global South with the successful conduct of G20 meet at Delhi last year buttressed by vaccine diplomacy and bailing out stressed economies. Despite the real GDP growth declining to 5.4 percent against the projected 6.8 percent, it is still regarded as the most resilient and fastest growing large economy in the forceable decade.
It has nevertheless to contend with an immediate neighbourhood ravaged by constant political, economic and security turmoil, accentuated by external agencies. As is evident, there would be contestations to repudiate India’s rise through political, economic, diplomatic and informational (staged narratives) shackles. Continued rant on HR violations and democratic backsliding, encouragement to separatist elements on foreign soil (US, UK and Canada), an insulting 105 ranking in the Global Hunger index despite providing free rations to over 80 crore population and corruption in high profile corporates are aimed to impede its growth trajectory.
Be that as it may, it is the internal societal cohesion that is likely to pose the most potent threat to its aspiration towards Viksit Bharat by 2047. While electoral politics of appeasement of a section of the electorate tend to polarise the population on the basis of caste, ethnicity and religion, there are external elements often funded by foreign governments that tend to fish in troubled waters to exacerbate internal dissent and divisiveness.
In the face of these challenges, it is imperative for the nation to project the united front on key national security and developmental goals. While there are plethora of issues affecting internal stability, this article is aimed at examining some of the contemporary challenges that can be detrimental to India’s growth story.
Religious / Ethnic Polarisation
One of the biggest challenges to internal cohesion has been religious polarisation largely owing to political expediency. The joint parliamentary committee on Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 has witnessed multiple acrimonious and violent exchanges in the run up to its tabling in the parliament ( now postponed ). The Musalman Waqf Act of 1923 and the Central Waqf Act of 1954 were legal regimes to govern waqf properties. However, the Act of 1995 is perceived as highly discriminatory lacking fairness and transparency, granting overwhelming and extra constitutional power to waqf boards even beyond the judicial jurisdictional power of civil courts. On the other end of the spectrum, is the attempt by the majority community to dismantle century old religious shrines (Sambhal quagmire) on the pretext of it being built over a Hindu temples. The Places of Worship Act 1991 is being questioned on its constitutional validity, despite the ideological Hindutva head resenting the attempt to look for a shivling under every mosque. Fringe and radical elements on both sides of the religious divide tend to conflagrate an emotive issue. The Global Risk Report ranked India the highest in terms of misinformation and disinformation. In a rapidly polarised social environment, this can be catastrophic.
Caste Census
Proponents of caste census, pertaining to enumeration of Other Backward Classes, argue that caste is an inalienable part of Indian society determining social relationships, economic opportunities and political dynamics. Justified by the constitutional provisions of Article 14 and 21, the exercise is essential to address social inequality, political and social subjugation of the marginalised and enable equitable and inclusive distribution of resources. The antagonists view it as a reinforcement of caste system which is discriminatory , complex and cumbersome exercise with inaccurate/unreliable data. Caste enumeration could lead to deepening fault lines, socially divisive leading to violence and social and political upheavals, especially if it involves redistribution of resources (read reservations). The demand for caste census last conducted in 1931 is gaining momentum to garner support of a particular section for electoral gains. A similar demand had led to a Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) in 2011. Its data turned out to be flawed and inaccurate and thus never published. The caste census in Bihar revealed that 63 percent of its 13.7 crore population belonged to Other Backward and Extremely Backward Classes. Together with SC and ST, this would amount to a whopping 84 percent of the population (countrywide it could be as much as 69 percent). Additionally, once conducted, how the data is to be used to strategize an inclusive society especially on the issue of reservation remains an illusion.
Income Inequality
A recent study from the World Inequality Lab finds the gap between the rich and poor in India starker then was under the British rule. While the top 1% of the population possessed over 40.5% of national wealth, the bottom half of 700 million hold a mere 3%. Privatization of Indian economy coupled with globalization favoured those with higher education allowing them to compete internationally favouring wealthy and upper caste communities. The richest 10,000 Indians have an average income of Rs 48mn, more than 2000 times the average income. The number of billionaires in India has risen to 185, only behind the US(835) and China(427). Coupled with this is the regional disparity (North-South and East-West).The high income inequality significantly undermines social cohesion which manifest in social unrest and resentment amongst disadvantaged groups. The World Happiness Report puts India below war torn Mali and Liberia. Let’s consider Brian Thompson’s assassination as a distant warning.
Internal Instability
There has been substantial progress in combating terrorism in J&K. Insurgency in the North East has witnessed significant decline over the last few years with nearly 73 percent reduction in violent activities and 8900 cadres of militant groups shunning violence and joining the mainstream. Left Wing Extremism has been largely contained, aimed to be eliminated by Mar 2026. However, the lingering ethnic strife in Manipur since May 2023, forcing reimposition of AFSPA in six police station areas in Nov 24, as also the recent threat to resume violent armed resistance by NSCN(IM) owing to long pending Naga Peace Accord have the potential to severely impact internal security in these border states. Statesmanship and inter-ethnic consultation/bonhomie appears to be the only way.
Summation
Internal stability and cohesion are imperative to achieve Viksit Bharat by 2047 as they form the foundational framework for sustained economic growth, social harmony and global leadership. Economic growth rests on attracting investment, efficient governance and reducing disruptions. Social harmony needs cohesion, empowering marginalised groups and countering divisive forces. A stable and cohesive India can assume global leadership and counter geopolitical challenges. Religious polarisation, caste divisiveness and societal inequality will stymie these aspirations. A unified approach must include:-
Political dispensations must rise above petty minded divisiveness to promote interfaith dialogue, respect for diverse beliefs and community engagement to protect a pluralistic and tolerant society.
Discrimination with respect to rights based on religion will perpetuate aggrievement. Consultative uniform civil code is the way forward.
Tolerance, cooperation and mutual understanding amongst religious / ethnic heads must drive dispute settlement. The demographic dividend of a young, dynamic and innovative population is to be exploited through an inclusive approach towards nation building.
While caste census may help monitor effectiveness of affirmative action and address inequality in the society, it is anathema to a casteless society.
Taxing the super-rich to reduce income inequality is easily said than done as it might lead to capital outflow in a globalised world. A granular view of inequality and curb on opulous and ostentatious behaviour is imperative.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Major General SC Mohanty, AVSM (Retd), was commissioned in June 1983. The officer commanded a Mechanised Infantry Battalion, a Mechanised Brigade and an Infantry Division (RAPID Strike) in the Western Sector. As a Brigade Major, he took active part in the Kargil Operations while located at Drass. As part of Military Operations Directorate, he headed the Information Warfare, Cyber and Electronic Warfare branches. Post retirement, he was the Security Advisor to Government of Arunachal Pradesh from July 2020 to May 2023.