COLUMN: India: the world's largest democracy

From Amar Kosaraju's, "And Justice For All," Fall '97 From Amar Kosaraju's, "And Justice For All," Fall '97 Imagine a political leader of a country who is not motivated by self-interest, money or power. A leader that did not have the title of "president" or "prime minister" or live in a White House or government mansion. Try to envision a political leader who governed millions of people without ever running for an election or holding any political title. Imagine this leader living in a straw hut along with the poorest and most common people of his country and wearing a simple white cloth. A leader who considered himself "no more than an average man with less than average ability." Through the efforts of Gandhi and other leaders, India secured it's independence from the British Empire Aug. 15, 1947, making this year it's 50th anniversary of independence. My last visit to India was about 15 years ago as an eighth-grader in junior high. I considered myself more American than Indian and was very pleased to be a young Ronald Reagan supporter. When I arrived in Bombay, I remember getting off the plane and being overwhelmed by the scent of India -- in one instance I was overcomed by the smell of spices of different foods, fragrances of flowers being sold and the urine of the beggars surrounding me. I wanted to smile and vomit at the same time. It was a country of confusion -- noise everywhere, cars in the same road with cows and business people in suits walking next to starving beggars. I was drenched with sweat and I missed my precious air conditioner back in the States. I could not get drinking water and the electricity would go on and off. I could not believe this country was suppose to be a democracy, it seemed backward and foreign to me. My mother and I traveled to the southern part of India to visit with our family. By this point, I was frustrated with my experience. I told my cousin who was my age that I thought India was underdeveloped and a joke of a democracy when compared to the United States. I told him that the the country was in shambles -- no drinking water, poor roads and transportation, millions of homeless and starving people, with a corrupt and an unstable government. I was quite proud of my analysis and told him India could never be as great as my United States. My cousin started to laugh at me. He said to me, "Let's look at your great America. You have had more than 200 years of independence, but India has had less than 50 years of independence." Let's look at your America in its 50th year of independence, he said. The leaders threw out the first constitution -- The Articles of Confederation. The country was preparing for a civil war and had enslaved a race of people. He continued to tell me that when India has had 200 years of independence we will be much greater, much more accomplished than the United States. I was stunned by his nationalism and sense of pride. I left India with a new found respect and understanding. As India celebrates its 50th anniversary, we realize that India has many problems of a new democracy. There is religious strife, political and economic instability, illiteracy, female inequality, homelessness, human right violations and all the other markings of a new democracy. The problems of India are many, but so are the successes. With equality in mind, India has legally abolished the caste system and the practice of dowry. While this country struggles with the issues of civil rights, India has elected its first president from the untouchable caste. India's population is close to a billion people, but the country is able to produce enough food to feed its people. From 1961 to 1991, India has doubled it's literacy and has doubled its life expectancy rates. More than 90 percent of the country now enjoys safe water. India is an ancient civilization that is old and unique but with a future that is young and vibrant. It is a country composed of people with different religions, different languages and people from different lands. It is Gandhi who taught Indians to see each other Indians regardless of caste, language, or religion, and it is in that ideal, the world's largest democracy was formed. The first line in India's constitution reads, "We the People of India give to Ourselves this Constitution." Those words seem similar to another great constitution that mentions "We the people." This past month, we have openly welcomed Chinese President Jiang Zemin, the leader of the world's largest communist country, but have not been that receptive to India, the world's largest democracy. This country has not appreciated India as an emerging democracy and economy but has given India second-class status. As an American citizen with Indian heritage, I can understand the very different independence struggles of both India and the United States, but I also recognize the similar democratic ideals of both people. We should not look at India's 50th anniversary as just a celebration of India's independence, but as a celebration -- a celebration of all democracies that have fought for self- determination, equal rights and freedom from oppression.