British Legacy?

Alka argues, in my view, correctly, that credit for success of Indian democracy goes to Indian culture and tradition and, not to our British inheritance.

The post was with reference to Manmohan Singh's address to Oxford, although a old issue now, yet post is worth reading.

India was hardly a stagnant society, even in the middle ages, when it was challanged most by brute force of Turkish ,Arab and Afgan invaders .

Indian past is full of reformers and leaders who strived to end the social inequality and while religious dogma and social intolerance has prevaled many times, there has always been a strong counter thrust for reform. The tradition of plurality and open mindedness has ensured Indian survival in the past.

The present challange to this plural tradition comes, not from extremism, as is thought generally, but from apathy and indifference of educated classes.

The reason for this apathy and indifference is among other things secular fundamentalism.