Historian Ramachandra Guha feels Kerala has made ‘more progress’ than most other States in the country in terms of social and gender justice.
One reason for this was the two-party (two coalitions) system that prevailed in the polity for decades. The two-party system checkmated multiplicity of parties that would have attempted to gain power by appealing to the baser and parochial interests and sentiments, Mr. Guha reasoned. Of course, several other factors, such as the work of visionary social reformers, had their role in helping Kerala achieve ‘more progress’ in reducing caste discrimination, communal intolerance and gender inequalities.
Mr. Guha, in his talk on ‘India at 70: a historian’s report card’ at the Kerala Literature Festival here on Saturday, reviewed the progress of the country in terms of democratic practice, social justice, economic performance and religious and linguistic pluralism.
Greatest achievement
“The greatest achievement of India after Independence,” he noted, “has been the holding of regular, free and fair elections.” The people had the freedom to choose their candidates, parties and regimes. The Election Commission of India had so far proved to be an independent and efficient institution facilitating free and fair elections.
However, democracy in India had been largely reduced to ‘election-only’ freedom. Once the elections were over, the ruling parties were beyond the control of the people and the hegemonic governments got away with corruption and other misdeeds.
Mr. Guha said caste discriminations and religious intolerance were the major blots on India.
The condition of Muslims was pathetic. In every riot or communal violence, Muslims suffered the worst — in terms of killings, burning of homes and rapes. The condition of Dalits had improved compared with what it was 70 years ago, but the condition of Adivasis was still tragic. There was substantial reduction in poverty in the country over the past 70 years after the economic liberalisation process started 25 years ago.
