India at 75 at the cross roads of liberal democracy vs brahmnical tyranny

As India celebrates 75 years of independence, it has arrived at a perilous juncture. It must decide if it wants to become a Brahmnical tyranny or a liberal democracy. This choice will carry important consequences for India's 1.4 billion people and for the whole world. 75 years after independence, India still remains trapped in "Low income country" trap. India must adopt and sometimes leapfrog the path of liberal democracies that the Western society has paved in order to escape the low income trap. With right focus and efforts it can do so within two decades. A liberal and democratic India is important not only for the well being of its own people but for the entire world in fighting important common battles be they global warming, diseases, or threats to democracy.

Defining Brahmnical supremacy vs Tyranny

The fundamental reason for India's low growth remains unnatural Brahmnical supremacy. India has always been a Brahmnical supremacy. It means brahmins and their allies have always wielded upper hand in India's social cultural political and economic life. This was true before during and after the British rule. While Neheru, himself a Brahmin, along with other progressive leaders from the freedom struggle built a progressive framework for India; it hasn't made much dent in this unfortunate reality. Even after 75 years, Brahmins and other top castes who comprise less than 10% of India's population occupy more than 2/3rd of top positions in business and in government. Caste remains the most primary indicator of a person's wealth in India.

However this supermacy is now turning into a tyranny with the rise of Hindutva. Hindutva is not new. It is the same old Brahmnical supremacy only with a new and pervert take on religious and cultural national identity. Hinduva has galvanized Indias elites and middle class into believing that for a nation to prosper it must adopt a religious litmus test. By leveraging aspiration of billions of Indians Hindutva has cleverly sold theocratic poison to India. Since 2014 it has taken the country on a perilous path of destruction of country's institutions as well as creating an atmosphere of fear among the opposition. In today's India it is quite common to hear blatantly discriminatory and bigoted religious views against muslims as a means to demonstrate national spirit. There have been killings of progressive voices as well as that of ordinary people based on suspicion by Hindutva terrorists or vigilantes. Unfortunately since the government apparatus itself was always Brahmnical in nature, they have fallen prey to Hindutva and have been a mute spectator to the violence and lawlessness. Hindutva is suppressing freedoms and creating litmus tests for all kinds of opportunities in India. Which is why Indian corporations in fear of falling behind on deals are lining up to contribute to "PM Cares" a shady opaque political fund masquerading as a relief fund. The Modi government is not shy of misusing government machinery to blackmail its political opponents by creating witch hunts. India does not have a real right to remain silent and thus government agencies can drag people through endless enquiries and even put in jail with frivolous reasons. The Modi government has been busy doing just that.

All of this is not conducive for India to escape low income trap.

India at the turn of 21st century seemed poised to catch a good break with its prowess in information technology. Abdul Kalam the much beloved ex-president of India famously painted a vision of India at 2020 that most people from my generation can remember. Year 2020 went by, however, that vision still remains a somewhat distant dream. India did achieve remarkable progress under Dr. Manmohan Singh when it almost tripled per capita GDP from $627 in 2004 to $1523 in 2014 and cut poverty by half. However since 2014 till 2021 the GDP per capita has barely moved from $1523 to $2000 (give or take a 100 dollars). That's marginal progress considering India ranks 144th out of 194 countries in GDP per capita.

How to overcome low income country trap

It is critical for India to replace the Brahmnical supermacy with liberal democracy that provides equal opportunity, freedom, and justice to all people without fear or favor. Freedom, justice, and equal opportunity are the fundamental pillars of wealth creation. Brahmnical supremacy is holding the progress on Freedom and Justice and hence it is important that India must be governed in all spheres by people who look like true India.

• India needs 50% women in workforce education government and business.
• India needs 60% farmers in workforce education government and business.
• India needs 12% muslims in workforce education government and business.
• India needs it SC/ST/Dalit/OBC and all communities represented in all walks of life.

While imperfect, 75 years have not been a waste. India has already given equal voting rights to all its people, its backward castes, and women were provided reservations. Caste barriers are falling down, urbanization is leading to better opportunities for all and youth are more enterprising and liberal.

By dismantling the Brahmnical supremacy India can unlock innovation and hidden potential. India ranks a dismal 46th on innovation index. It is important to bring india within top 10.

Between 2004 and 2014 India achieved average of 11% per year cumulative growth rate. Its economy grew from 709B in size to over 2 trillion dollars. If India achieves that same rate for next 18 years then by 2040 India will easily surpass the status of middle income countries ($12K per year GDP per capita).

That is why it is critical to strengthen liberal democracy and dismantle Brahmnical supremacy.

How NRIs and the West can help

Becoming liberal and democratic is cleary beneficial to India (or any other country for that matter) because it is the best way to generate wealth. Free markets operate best in liberal democracies.

However such India is also useful to solve big problems in front of the world be they climate change, disease control or strengthening democracies and international order. Without India firmly on the democratic camp autocratic forces the world over will be emboldened. While the world remains tied into 20th century politics, the reality of 21st century shows our collective future is at stake. So India's march towards a strong democracy and economy is only one important piece of what should be a similar larger initiative.

The best NRIs can do to help India is copy the same things that has made the Western societies achieve freedom justice and equal opportunities. Wealth is merely a result of those values. If you are contributing to Hinduva then you are contributing to the problem. History will judge Hindutva as the same old wine of Brahmnical supremacy in new bottle of Hindu nationalism.

The West can help India by banning these hateful organizations that are turning India into a theocratic state. Western corporations can start actively enforcing caste based non-discrimination and ensure that the workforce in US or in India is free of such biases. It is good for human rights and good for business.

Time is of essence. Our forefathers in India and in US have fought hard to win freedom and it is our duty to keep it that way and work to achieve a more just and equal society.