{ முகநூல் கருத்துக்கள்}{ட்விட்டர் கருத்துக்கள்}

On August 15, 2007, India completed 60 years since the British left India. It is a significant landmark that gives an opportune time to look back on the years that have gone by.

The confidence one can sense in India these days - through the Media and from the man on the street - is palpable. Even 10 years ago - when India was celebrating 50 years of independence - this vibrance was not there. Many have predicted that the 21st century is destined to become the century of China as well as India. Few doubt it - its certainty and inevitability.

Much of this confidence stems from the economic growth India has registered in the last few years - around 8% per annum. Economy is booming, exports have surged, opportunities aplenty, foreign exchange reserves at record high.

Yet this growth is not universal. Millions of Indians continue to remain in extreme poverty. To them, the India growth story is just a mirage - a blockbuster they get to watch only from the sidelines. This cannot go on forever. Unless development gets itself spread wider, a serious backlash is not hard to foresee.

The Judicial system continues to show remarkable backbone - when it comes to major constitutional issues and rule of law. Given the fractious nature of India's polity, the role the courts are playing - as guardians of the Constitution - is crucial. It is not without its own problems however. Many see a rotten core in the system. Not many years ago - a Supreme Court Judge had to undergo impeachment proceedings. Action - for example in the case of Bombay Blasts case (the incidents which followed the riots of December 1992) - but very little action in the case of Babri Masjid demolition as well the riots that followed - is another major failure of the system.

One fact that most Indians take pride in - is their democracy. Except for the emergency years (1975-1977), India has had shown remarkable commitment to elections and the voice of the public. Governments have come and gone peacefully. This may seem trivial - yet, as experience of many former colonial nations have shown, it all could have been different. That it was not is thanks to its founding fathers - especially the visionary leadership of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

Nehru is a much maligned man these days. His economic ideals (socialistic) are blamed today for much of India's economic ills, though one can argue, it is all a case of seeing one's glass as half-empty or half-full. Under much more vigorous attack from the Sangh Parivar is his political vision - that of a secular India.

Even though the BJP is no longer in power in New Delhi, its continued presence at the national stage as a source of significant influence is a worrisome factor - not just for India's religious minorities, but also for India's long-term development and internal peace. Its divisive politics has seeped into the fabric of the society-at-large. Many otherwise rational men and women are today suspicious of minorities - Muslims in particular, thanks to overt and covert campaigns of the Sangh Parivar. Not all those who harbour those feelings are the voters of the BJP.

This is all the more disturbing - given the state of Muslims today. The crux of Sangh Parivar's campaign is that Muslims are being appeased by various governments. The economic figures speak otherwise - highlighted very graphically by the recent Sachar Committee report.

At over 138 million, Muslims form 13% of India 's billion-plus population. Only Indonesia and Pakistan have more Muslims. Of these, about 40% are illiterates, the figure is 50% for the women. About 25% of the Muslim children - in the age-group 6-14 - have either never attended school or have dropped out mid-way. 31% of the Muslims live below poverty line, a figure that is shade better than the Schedule Caste and Tribes Community.

The representation of Muslims in important positions is also way below their population ratio. In Judiciary, it is 7.8%, 4% in IPS, 3% in IAS and 1.8% in IFS. Railways - India's largest employer - has about 4.5% Muslims.

No doubt - this under-representation is not due to any official policy of discrimination. It is partly due to the fact that fewer number of Muslims today are qualified for these positions. What is required is collective action - most of the work from the community itself - with the helping hand from the government. A by-and-large impoverished and discontent minority is not in the best interest of the country.

India has seen many ups and downs in its last 60 years of new existence. One can hope the next 60 years wouldn't be as bumpy. Close to Nehru's death bed, written in his own hands were the words from a famous Robert Frost poem: The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. A haunty longing then, a haunty longing even now!