Modern India
Introduction
Bal Gangadhar Tilak was an Indian nationalist, teacher, social reformer, lawyer and an independence activist. He was the first leader of the Indian Independence Movement. Tilak was one of the first and strongest advocates of Swaraj (“self-rule”) and a strong radical in Indian consciousness. His ideas and actions had a profound influence on the political consciousness of the Indian people, which ultimately set the stage for Gandhi’s leadership.
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Role of ideas and actions of Tilak in laying groundwork for the emergence of Gandhi as a mass leader:
- Promotion of Swadeshi and Boycott Movements: Tilak advocated for the use of indigenous goods and the boycott of British goods to promote self-reliance and protest against British economic exploitation.
- These movements created a sense of national consciousness and unity among the masses, which Gandhi later utilized in his own campaigns, such as the Non-cooperation movements.
- Emphasis on Mass Mobilization: Tilak understood the significance of mass mobilization and public outreach for the success of the freedom struggle. He popularized the Ganapati and Shivaji festivals as occasions to instil patriotic fervour and spread nationalist ideas among the common people.
- This focus on involving the masses and building public support became a key strategy adopted by Gandhi in his later movements, such as the Non-Cooperation Movement and Civil Disobedience Movement.
- Journalism and Education: Tilak was a prominent journalist and used his newspapers, Kesari and Maratha, to propagate nationalist ideas and raise awareness about political issues.
- Likewise, Gandhi too utilized the power of the press to reach a wide audience and educate them about their rights and the need for freedom.
- E.g. The two journals Young India and Navjivan were used by him to ventilate his views and to educate the public about Satyagraha
- Civil Disobedience and Passive Resistance: Tilak strongly advocated for civil disobedience as a means to challenge British authority. He encouraged Indians to peacefully resist oppressive laws and policies through non-cooperation and non-violent means.
- This strategy of passive resistance laid the groundwork for Gandhi’s philosophy of Satyagraha (truth-force) and nonviolent resistance. E.g. Champaran Satyagraha.
- Idea of Swaraj: Tilak’s concept of “Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it” resonated with Gandhi’s own ideas of self-governance and peaceful resistance. Gandhi later adopted these principles in his Swaraj and Non-Cooperation Movements, gaining widespread support from the masses.
- Assertion of Indian nationalism: Tilak was instrumental in reviving and reinterpreting nationalistic traditions and festivals. He used cultural symbols and festivals to mobilize people and foster a sense of pride in Indian history and culture.
- Gandhi later drew inspiration from these efforts and utilized cultural festivals and symbols to unite the masses and build a national identity.
Conclusion
Tilak had a long political career agitating for Indian autonomy from the British rule. Before Gandhi, he was the most widely known Indian political leader. Unlike his fellow Maharashtrian contemporary, Gokhale, Tilak was considered a radical Nationalist but a Social conservative.
Introduction
In India, the growth of modern nationalism is intimately connected to the anticolonial movement. People began discovering their unity in process of their struggle with colonialism. The sense of being oppressed under colonialism provided a shared bond that tied many different groups together.
Various factors have been responsible for the rise of nationalism in India, policies adopted by the British being one among many.
Body:
Emergence of Indian nationalism as a reaction to British policies in Colonial India
- Policy of segregation and discrimination; –
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- Lytton’s reactionary policies; – Lytton’s reactionary policies such as reduction of maximum age limit for the I.C.S. examination from 21 years to 19 years (1876), the grand Delhi Durbar of 1877 when the country was in the severe grip of famine, the Vernacular Press Act (1878) and the Arms Act (1878) provoked a storm of opposition in the country.
- Illbert bill controversy; The Bill tried to remove racial inequality between Indian and European judges in courts. This Bill was opposed by the British residents in India. Ultimately the Bill was modified.
- Racial Antagonism: The Englishmen considered themselves as superior in all respects than the Indians. They never wanted to offer the Indians higher jobs even though they were qualified and intelligent.
- The age limit for Indian Civil Service Examination was kept at twenty-one and the examination was held at England.
- Political and administrative divide: Partition of Bengal in 1905, carried out by the British viceroy, Lord Curzon has huge effects on the minds of people.
- Unification of country; – Introduction of railways, posts and telegraphs was done by the British to ensure faster movement of army, to easily fetch raw materials from distant parts of India and also to undersell Indian goods in the market. But, this brought about more unification of India and brought political leaders and masses together.
- A professional civil service, a unified judiciary and codified civil and criminal laws throughout the length and breadth of the country imparted a new dimension of political unity to the hitherto cultural unity that had existed in India for centuries.
- Western thought and education; – The introduction of a modern system of education afforded opportunities for assimilation of modern Western ideas.
- It gave new direction to Indian political thinking and the knowledge of English language helped nationalist leaders from different linguistic regions to communicate with each other and create a sense of national identity.
- Rise of middle class intelligentsia; – British administrative and economic innovations gave rise to a new urban middle class in towns which was a well-integrated all-India class with varied background but a common foreground of knowledge, ideas and values.
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- The leadership to the Indian National Congress in all its stages of growth was provided by this class.
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Other factors
- Influence of contemporary movements; – Rise of a number of nations on the ruins of the Spanish and Portuguese empires in South America, the national liberation movements of Greece and Italy in general and of Ireland in particular deeply influenced the nationalist ranks.
- Role of press; – The second half of the nineteenth century saw an unprecedented growth of Indian-owned English and vernacular newspapers which while criticising official policies, on the one hand, urged the people to unite, on the other.
- The newspapers, journals, pamphlets and nationalist literature helped in the exchange of political ideas among nationalist leaders from different regions.
- Rediscovery of India’s past; – The historical researches by European scholars, such as Max Mueller, Monier Williams, and by Indian scholars such as R.G. Bhandarkar, R.L. Mitra and later Swami Vivekananda, created an entirely new picture of India’s past.
- It provided self-respect and confidence and helped the nationalists to demolish colonial myths that India had a long history of servility to foreign rulers.
- Socio-religious reform movement; – The leaders of various organisations like the Brahmo Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, Arya Samaj, and Theosophical Society generated a feeling of regard for and pride in the motherland.
- Understanding of contradiction in Indian and colonial interest: –
- People came to realise that colonial rule was the major cause of India’s economic backwardness and that the interests of the Indians involved the interests of all sections and classes— peasants, artisans, handicraftsmen, workers, intellectuals, the educated and the capitalists.
- The nationalist movement arose to take up the challenge of these contradictions inherent in the character and policies of colonial rule.
Conclusion
Hence, it would be wrong to presume that only colonial policies in governance was responsible for rise of nationalism in India rather Indian nationalism arose partly as a result of colonial policies and partly as a reaction to it.
Introduction:
Under modern-day surveillance capitalism, interested parties can collect and monetize online data at an unprecedented scale with little scrutiny or limitation. India faces significant challenges in establishing sufficient moral safeguards to prevent unethical usage of technology by tech companies.
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Moral or ethical safeguards are defined here as deliberate measures and programs used by an organization to prevent unethical behavior and to promote ethical practices–mechanisms, structures, or pronouncements intended to encourage, guide, and regulate ethical behavior.
Safeguards present in India:
- Insider Trading and Securities Regulations: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) regulates securities markets and ensures fair practices by companies and market participants.. These regulations provide moral safeguards by promoting transparency, fairness, and integrity in corporate activities.
- Whistleblower Protection: The Whistleblower Protection Act, 2014, provides legal protection to individuals who expose corruption, misconduct, or unethical practices within organizations. Whistleblower protection mechanisms contribute to the moral safeguarding of corporate ethics by creating an environment where wrongdoing can be reported and addressed.
- Industry Codes and Standards: Various industry bodies and associations in India have developed codes of conduct and standards to promote ethical behavior within specific sectors. For example, the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) has established guidelines and principles for ethical business practices in the IT and software industry.
- Positive examples:
- Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR): TATA group’s Tata Code of Conduct outlines the group’s commitment to honesty, transparency, and fairness in business operations. Their emphasis on corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, such as healthcare, education, and rural development, further exemplifies their dedication to moral safeguarding.
- Guidance on ethical concerns: Infosys established an Ethics Connect program that allows employees to seek guidance or report ethical concerns confidentially. This demonstrates their commitment to creating a culture of ethics and moral safeguarding.
- Ethics helpline: Wipro has also established an Ethics Helpline for employees to report ethical concerns. Their ethical approach has garnered recognition, and they have been consistently ranked among the world’s most ethical companies by Ethisphere Institute.
- Client data protection program: run by Accenture governs the stewardship of client information and systems entrusted to them either as part of client-specific projects or outsourcing arrangements.
What is lacking:
- Ethical Standards and Transparency: India lacks a comprehensive framework for ethical standards in the technology sector. Companies often operate without clear guidelines on responsible AI development, algorithmic transparency, and data handling practices. The absence of such standards can lead to unethical practices, as witnessed in cases of biased algorithms or the misuse of user data for targeted advertising.
- Privacy Legislation and Enforcement: While India has taken steps towards addressing privacy concerns with the introduction of the Personal Data Protection Bill, there are ongoing debates and discussions about its effectiveness in safeguarding individuals’ privacy rights. The recent controversy surrounding WhatsApp’s updated privacy policy, which raised concerns about data sharing with its parent company Facebook, highlighted the need for robust privacy legislation and effective enforcement mechanisms.
- Data Localization and Cross-Border Data Transfers: India has made efforts to promote data localization, requiring companies to store data within the country. But there are ongoing legal battles between social media platforms and the Indian government over compliance with data localization and content moderation further emphasize the need for comprehensive safeguards.
- Ethical Leadership and Corporate Culture: Strong ethical leadership at all levels of organizations is crucial. Leaders should set a positive example by embodying ethical values, promoting transparency, and fostering a culture of integrity.
The following would help build a practical framework to secure the future of digital economy:
- Governance: Solving cybersecurity challenges will require an organized group effort.
- Business architecture: to connect and protect data with a model run on digital trust.
- Ethical design and Technology concepts: to advance business and enhance safety.
Conclusion:
These actions require a collective effort from policymakers, regulators, educational institutions, businesses, and society as a whole. Collaboration, public awareness campaigns, and regular evaluations of the effectiveness of moral safeguarding measures are necessary to create an environment where ethical behavior is valued, encouraged, and enforced.
Case Study
In the context of this case study, answer the following questions:
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- What are the challenges for you in this situation?
- What possible course of action can you take in this situation?
- Evaluate each of these courses of action briefly.
- Which course of action will you choose? Justify your choice adequately.
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- Challenges in the situation:
- Balancing personal relationships and professional responsibilities: The presence of a personal relationship with the employee in charge of the trial creates a challenge in maintaining objectivity and impartiality while addressing the reported lapses.
- Ethical dilemma- means vs end: The dilemma arises from the conflict between the potential harm caused by shortcuts in the clinical trial and the goal of providing affordable medicine to the public. Striking a balance between these conflicting interests is challenging.
- Corporate pressure: The lobbying efforts by pharmaceutical companies from western countries can exert pressure on the committee and pose challenges in conducting a fair and unbiased investigation.
- Lack of cooperation: The employee’s reluctance to put his statement on record and the defense of the company’s goals by highlighting the potential impact on affordable medicine create challenges in obtaining comprehensive and reliable information.
- Reputation management: Addressing the controversy surrounding the company’s functioning requires carefully managing the public perception, ensuring transparency, and upholding ethical standards.
- The possible course of actions:
- Thorough investigation and report findings truthfully: Conduct a comprehensive investigation to gather all relevant evidence, interview employees involved, and assess the reported lapses in the clinical trial. This investigation should be conducted impartially and without bias, aiming to uncover the truth.
- Agreeing to my friends request of concealing the truth: As this helps in getting the high demand drug in market as per consumer needs.
- Not to investigate directly and seek external expertise: Engaging independent experts in clinical research and ethics can provide impartial insights and strengthen the credibility of the committee’s findings.
- Encourage anonymous reporting among other employees: Establish mechanisms for anonymous reporting to encourage whistleblowers and protect them from potential reprisals, creating a safe environment for employees to come forward with information.
- Concealing the truth for now but reviewing and strengthening internal controls to avoid future incidents: Recommend improvements to the company’s internal control mechanisms, such as robust monitoring systems, strict adherence to ethical guidelines, and rigorous oversight of clinical trials.
- Evaluation of each course of action:
- Conduct a thorough investigation:
- Pros: This approach upholds the principles of integrity, fairness, and transparency. It provides an opportunity to uncover any unethical practices and ensure accountability.
- Cons: It may strain personal relationships and potentially harm the company’s reputation, impacting the goal of affordable medicine.
- Concealing the truth:
- Pros: Maintaining friendship and I may avoid straining or damaging your personal relationship with them. Protecting the company’s reputation, loss of public trust or financial implications. Ensuring affordability of medicine as my friend believes that any harm to the company could negatively impact their goal of providing affordable medicine.
- Cons: Ethical violations- Concealing the truth goes against principles of honesty, integrity, and transparency. It compromises ethical standards and can undermine public trust in the healthcare system and the pharmaceutical industry. This may indirectly discourage other whistleblowers from coming forward with vital information in the future, potentially perpetuating unethical practices within the company.
- Seek external expertise:
- Pros: Independent experts can bring unbiased insights, enhance the credibility of the investigation, and ensure a more comprehensive evaluation of the reported lapses.
- Cons: It may increase the cost and time required for the investigation, potentially creating further controversy and external pressures.
- Encourage anonymous reporting:
- Pros: Anonymity can protect whistleblowers from retaliation and encourage a higher level of employee participation in reporting ethical concerns.
- Cons: It may limit the ability to gather direct evidence and confront specific individuals involved in the reported lapses.
- Review and strengthen internal controls:
- Pros: Strengthening internal controls can prevent future lapses, enhance ethical practices within the company, and rebuild public trust. Will protect this company from multinational lobby.
- Cons: It requires the company’s commitment and resources to implement changes effectively. The company will be absolved of its moral responsibility at present and if there are lapses in clinal trails the people’s life would be at risk. Participating in the cover-up of unethical practices may lead to legal consequences, including potential liability for withholding critical information.
- The chosen course of action would be to conduct a thorough investigation (a), adhering to ethical principles of integrity, fairness, and transparency.
Theranos, a healthcare technology company claimed to have developed a revolutionary blood testing device that could perform a wide range of tests with just a few drops of blood. John Carreyrou, an investigative journalist, conducted a thorough investigation into Theranos and its claims, despite facing immense pressure and intimidation from the company. Carreyrou’s honest investigation played a crucial role in exposing Theranos’ malpractices and preventing potential harm to patients who might have relied on inaccurate test results.
This approach will involve:
- Gathering all relevant evidence and conducting interviews with employees involved in the clinical trial to uncover the truth behind the reported lapses.
- Analyzing the data and findings objectively to determine if any shortcuts were taken in the trial process.
- Presenting the investigation’s findings truthfully and accurately, without bias or personal influence, in the committee’s report.
- Maintaining confidentiality and anonymity for whistleblowers, while ensuring their concerns are appropriately addressed and investigated.
- Collaborating with regulatory authorities to ensure that necessary actions are taken to rectify any ethical violations and prevent future lapses.
By following this course of action, I would uphold my ethical responsibilities as a committee member and prioritize the well-being and safety of the general public. Transparency, integrity, and accountability will be key principles guiding your investigation and subsequent actions.
“Without ethics, medicine becomes soulless; without science, it becomes aimless. Medicine needs both to heal.” – Harriet Hall
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