Make our diversity our strength

Justice Markandey Katju-

Justice Markandey Katju

Markandey Katju is a former Judge, Supreme Court of India, and former Chairman, Press Council of India. The views expressed are his own.

India is a country with tremendous diversity, having several religions, castes, languages, races, etc, and this is because it is broadly a country of immigrants, like North America ( as explained in detail in my article ‘ What is India ‘ on my blog Satyam Buryat).

This diversity is a source of great weakness if we keep fighting each other and wasting our energies and resources, as we have been doing till now. But it can also be a source of great strength.

For example, the USA is also a country of great diversity. People came here from different countries in Europe, and later Asia and other parts of the world. Each of these people’s brought with them their knowledge, technical skills and culture. When all this was pooled together it led to rapid progress, and America became the most developed and prosperous country in the world.

So also, our very diversity can be a source of great strength and prosperity. But for this we must stop fighting each other, and work unitedly, giving equal respect to people of all religions, sects, and communities.

This was realized by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar who gave equal respect to all ( see my article ‘ Emperor Akbar, the real Father of the Indian Nation ‘ on my blog Satyam Bruyat ‘ ), because of which India became a prosperous country, with 24% of the world’s GDP, and because of which the Mughal Empire lasted so long ( see Peter Preskar’s article ‘ Mughal Empire dominated the World https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiBkbSJxczuAhV74XMBHdRCBGYQFjARegQIHxAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fhistory-of-yesterday%2Fmughal-empire-39eb1e7d6045&usg=AOvVaw1qs2c6fL-4S_uT3Tui_LMW

Our national aim must be to transform India from an underdeveloped country to a highly developed, highly industrialized, and prosperous country, otherwise, we will remain condemned to massive poverty, massive unemployment, appalling level of child malnourishment ( see Global Hunger Index ), almost total lack of proper healthcare and good education for our masses, etc.

This historical transformation of India from an underdeveloped to a highly developed country is only possible by a mighty people’s struggle ( lasting probably 10-20 years ), and this struggle is only possible if we are united, instead of being divided ( as we presently are ).

The present ongoing farmers’ agitation has united us, as it has cut through the barriers of caste and religion, and risen above them. No doubt this is only the beginning of our people’s struggle, and there will be several twists and turns, splits, and retreats in our long journey before success is achieved, but at least the beginning has been made.

The result of this united people’s struggle ( which, as I have said, will probably last 10-20 years ) will be a creation of a political and social order under which there is rapid industrialization, and transformation of India into a highly developed country, with its people having a high standard of living, and decent lives.