A major western belief is
Freedom is incompatible with societies that privilege ancestral ties, birth based identities, "non-geographic" sources of diversity
India is proving that wrong
Political (& social) freedom CAN be sustained in a nation comprising "multiple" populations
Freedom is incompatible with societies that privilege ancestral ties, birth based identities, "non-geographic" sources of diversity
India is proving that wrong
Political (& social) freedom CAN be sustained in a nation comprising "multiple" populations
Much of the free western world is wired to think of "diversity" having a geographic axis
E.g. Germans are different from the French who are different from the Dutch
But within Germany, you don't want "multiple" populations. You don't want marital restrictions
E.g. Germans are different from the French who are different from the Dutch
But within Germany, you don't want "multiple" populations. You don't want marital restrictions
India positions diversity in non-geographic terms
So in a single street, you have multiple populations happily coexisting. Who may not have mingled for 1000+ years
Yet share a common language, and a peaceful civic life
So in a single street, you have multiple populations happily coexisting. Who may not have mingled for 1000+ years
Yet share a common language, and a peaceful civic life
An orthodox belief (particularly among western conservatives) has been -
For India to turn "free", we have to "annihilate" caste. End it by doing what it takes. Maybe Christianize India
For India to turn "free", we have to "annihilate" caste. End it by doing what it takes. Maybe Christianize India
But then India is able to afford a greater degree of civil and political freedom to its citizens than so many relatively homogeneous countries
It is also able to resist balkanization in part because of its non-geographic diversity countering geographic faultlines
It is also able to resist balkanization in part because of its non-geographic diversity countering geographic faultlines
It is even able to drive "social reform" and upward mobility for historically disadvantaged groups, without necessarily upending caste
So you get upliftment of "lower castes" and yet you retain the social structure albeit with modifications. You retain endogamy
So you get upliftment of "lower castes" and yet you retain the social structure albeit with modifications. You retain endogamy
This is indeed a genuinely Indian exceptionalism that the world has not even begun to acknowledge
But I think there will be a grudging acknowledgment of this in near future
But I think there will be a grudging acknowledgment of this in near future
What is the relevance of the Indian model for the rest of the world?
I would say - the country for which it has the greatest relevance is the United States!
Traditionally a melting pot where multiple populations mingle to become a single people
But not anymore
I would say - the country for which it has the greatest relevance is the United States!
Traditionally a melting pot where multiple populations mingle to become a single people
But not anymore
In an increasingly globalized world, immigrants take longer to lose touch with their roots.
And retain their endogamous practices for much longer
E.g. Chinese and Indian Americans don't mingle as much with white Americans as the different European groups did in late 19th cen US
And retain their endogamous practices for much longer
E.g. Chinese and Indian Americans don't mingle as much with white Americans as the different European groups did in late 19th cen US
So US in a few decades will increasingly look like India - with multiple "castes"
Yet US may endure this change and continue to exist as a strong political entity
Not unlike India
Yet US may endure this change and continue to exist as a strong political entity
Not unlike India
