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Here are different opinions about what made India a democracy.... - Democratic Politics
Here are different opinions about what made India a democracy. How much importance would you give to each of these factors?
a Democracy in India is a gift of the British rulers. We received training to work with representative legislative institutions under the British rule.
b Freedom Struggle challenged the colonial exploitation and denial of different freedoms to Indians. Free India could not be anything but democratic.
c We were lucky to have leaders who had democratic convictions. The denial of democracy in several other newly independent countries shows the important role of these leaders.
(a) Low Importance:
While the British introduced some legislative institutions, they were not a "gift" and were very limited. Indians were given very little power. However, these institutions provided some experience to Indian leaders in working with representative bodies, but the real push for democracy came from Indians themselves.
(b) High Importance:
The freedom struggle was the most important factor. It was a fight against colonial exploitation and for the rights of the people. The struggle spread the values of liberty and equality across the country, making democracy the only acceptable form of government for independent India.
(c) High Importance:
The role of leaders was crucial. Many countries that gained independence at the same time as India turned into dictatorships because their leaders were not committed to democracy. India was fortunate to have leaders like Nehru, Patel, and Ambedkar, who were deeply committed to democratic values and ensured the Constitution reflected those ideals.