State of the Republic: Universal education and spotting problem solvers is the panacea

The ‘gang-rape’ incident has damaged India’s image in the world on an unprecedented scale and it will be a long time before we can erase its memory. More disastrous than the actual crime was the reaction of the politicians and Government functionaries, who trivialized the incident and caused peaceful protestors in Delhi to be beaten up by the police. Later, the police used Section 144 Crpc to disallow protestors’ assembly while our constitution allows peaceful protest. Our public figures created sufficient smoke to cast doubts on how ‘peaceful’ the protests actually were. Later events, gatherings, candlelight vigils proved how disconnected they were from actual public sentiment. Almost the entire country did not celebrate the New Year.

A country can be well governed only if those who govern it are constantly in touch with the common citizens and are able to sensitively deal with their problems. Great leadership is one able to foresee the requirements of a fast changing society. It is important that the Government agencies at every level are sensitized to issues relating to women and children and further ensure that public servants are diligent, responsible and upright.

To remove gender inequalities and provide safety for women, we need to ensure greater participation of women in all facets of government. Every government agency must reflect the gender ratios in society. Even if we reserve 33% of all government jobs including in the police forces, we will be one of the most effectively governed societies, taking care of people’s welfare.

The scope of women’s role in India is tremendous. Even before Independence we had great women leaders like Annie Besant, Sarojini Naidu, Aruna Asif Ali, and Durgabai Deshmukh.

The previous President of India, Pratibha Patil was a woman. Currently, the leader of the ruling front is a woman, Sonia Gandhi, as is the Speaker of Lok Sabha, Meira Kumar. There are women entrepreneurs, technocrats, bureaucrats, Supreme Court, High Court judges…

However, when this presence of women is achieved right across the country then we will achieve every goal in an effective way and our growth story would perhaps equal China’s.

Sociologically and culturally we are a patriarchal society that has not been able to understand what it means to respect women in the modern context. We are lost somewhere between goddess worship and female objectification. The key is to have free and compulsory education till the age of 14 for every child. Education, value-based education and gender-sensitive education of the kind that India has outlined in its ‘Right to Education’ framework has been made a ‘Fundamental Right’ by amending the Constitution in 2002.

 

The remedy for most ills plaguing Indian society is finding the best talent. If there are dynamic leaders who can spot those who can solve the problems, and then support them with what is needed, we’d be able to deal with the social ills and other hindrances in making India a model society.

A great leader can start by curbing corruption: give government employees every kind of security so they do not succumb to temptation. Unproductive government servants must be weeded out. The Union Public Service Commission must appoint those with highest proven credentials. UPSC members have been recently equated to the rank of sitting Judges of the Supreme Court. Good going.

Even private citizens who try to advance themselves by corrupt methods should be severely punished: confiscating all assets acquired by corrupt means. The judiciary should be revamped and mechanism devised to appoint only the most meritorious as judges. There should be zero tolerance to any malpractices in the judiciary.

India is a huge country, a pluralistic society with vast differences of caste, region, culture, languages, and development indices. Yet, we have achieved very respectable growth rates and economic development. We are a reasonably technologically developed country, although our literacy and education indices are somewhat lower than what it should be. We remain one of the most sought after investment destinations, and having travelled abroad extensively, I have seen people speak about India with admiration. We Indians are patriotic, positive thinking and optimistic, and will never give up in aspiring to be the best in world.

As two great democracies, India and America are deeply bonded by common political philosophy and values of life. America is a superpower endowed with a global role affecting every aspect of human life on this planet. America should perform this enormous task through friendly relations with others advanced countries. India is among the fastest growing economies of the world, besides China and Brazil. Our large population, as human resource, is an asset waiting to fuel development in the country. The Indian IT sector is perhaps the best in the World. We are one of the most intellectually endowed, technologically-abled, extremely talented and forward-looking people in the world, willing to contribute, work and forge alliances with people from other parts of the world.

Whether it was with Republican President George W. Bush, or Democrats Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, we have extended our hand of cooperation and friendship with America, and earned its respect. Having studied Obama extensively, I understand his philosophy and thinking, which displays his deep respect and admiration for India, its people and their ability. His re-election is an opportune movement for the governments of both the countries to make greater efforts to build a stronger alliance in technological development, manufacturing, trade and industry, military hardware, services sector as well as education.

Our relationship with Pakistan has been a sore point since Independence. The main problem here is that the leadership in Pakistan thrives on confrontation, and traditionally the army calls the shots. And those supporting army leadership are extremist and fundamentalist forces. What India needs to do is change the attitude and perceptions of the leadership in Pakistan.

Indo-Pak ties can become friendlier only when Kashmir, which is an integral part of India, is fully protected from insurgents and infiltrators by the well-equipped army at the border.

The Government of India should give greater attention and focus to the welfare and well-being of the Kashmiri people in every way. The Armed forces should be sensitized in handling local population with greater human considerations.

The whole of Kashmir Valley and the Kashmiri people should get every opportunity for development, right from education to employment and livelihood and family well-being.

As Vice President of the World Peace Congress 2010 in Nakhonnayak, Thailand, I had drafted the ‘Universal Declaration of the Renunciation of War as an Instrument of State Policy’, which was forwarded to the UN Secretary General and other Heads of State. If Pakistan and India were to adopt this Declaration, the subcontinental siblings will be rid of apprehension of an armed conflict forever.

 

G. Venkatesh Rao is Advocate, Supreme Court of India, & Member, Indian Society of International Law.