Modern India and Post-Independence
Q1. How did the Indian Home Rule Society’s activities on foreign soil contribute to the broader Indian independence movement back home? (10M)
Introduction
The Indian Home Rule Society (IHRS) was founded in London in 1905 by Shyamji Krishna Varma. The society’s goal was to promote the cause of Indian home rule, or self-government, from abroad. It was intended to be a rival organisation to the British Committee of the Indian National Congress that was the main avenue of the loyalist opinion at the time.
Body:
Contribution of Indian Home rule society’s activities on foreign soil to the broader Indian independence movement back home:
- Raised awareness: The IHRS published a number of journals and pamphlets that were distributed in India and abroad. These publications helped to raise awareness of the Indian independence movement and its goals.
- Recruiting students: The IHRS offered scholarships to Indian students to study in Europe. These students were then exposed to the ideas of Western democracy and nationalism, and they often returned to India to participate in the independence movement.
- Funding: The IHRS raised funds to support the Indian independence movement. They also provided logistical support, such as arranging for the transportation of weapons and ammunition to India.
- Coordinating with revolutionaries: The IHRS helped to coordinate the activities of Indian revolutionaries who were operating in different parts of the world.
- This coordination was essential for the success of many of the revolutionary plots that were hatched during this period.
- Promoting dissatisfaction: the IHRS also helped to spread the message of Indian nationalism and to challenge the British colonial government’s claim to legitimacy.
- The society’s publications and activities helped to inspire Indian nationalists back home, and they contributed to the growing sense of dissatisfaction with British rule.
- Foundation of India house: The society was foundations of the India House and, along with Krishna Varma’s journal The Indian Sociologist, was the foundation of the militant Indian nationalist movement in Britain.
- The society gave way the secret nationalist society of Abhinav Bharat Mandal, founded by D. Savarkar.
- Influence on British Public Opinion: The Indian Home Rule Society’s activities influenced public opinion in Britain itself. They managed to create a discourse in the British media and society about the moral and ethical dimensions of colonialism and the need for India’s self-governance.
- Ties with Indian Diaspora: The Indian Home Rule Society built connections with the Indian diaspora in foreign countries. This diaspora played an essential role in supporting India’s independence movement financially, politically, and intellectually.
Conclusion
The IHRS’s activities on foreign soil were a significant factor in the success of the Indian independence movement. These activities helped to pave the way for India’s eventual independence in 1947.
Q2. Assess the long-term implications of the economic drain on India’s economic growth and development, both during and after the British colonial period? (15M)
Introduction
During the colonial period, India faced a systematic and relentless economic drain under British rule. This exploitative policy severely impacted India’s growth, development, and prosperity, shaping its economic landscape even after colonial rule ended.
Body:
Long-term implications of the economic drain on India’s economic growth and development:
During the British period
- Agriculture: The British implemented exploitative land revenue policies, leading to excessive taxation and rent extraction from Indian farmers. This exploitation affected agricultural productivity, leading to economic distress in rural areas.
- g. exploitative land revenue system, 1770 great Bengal famine etc.
- Extraction of natural resource: The British colonial government extracted India’s natural resources, such as coal, iron, and minerals. This deprived India of the resources it needed to develop its economy.
- Deindustrialisation: British policies favoured the import of British manufactured goods and discouraged local industries, leading to the decline and eventual destruction of indigenous industries.
- g. In the mid-18th century, India’s share of global manufacturing output was around 25%, but by the end of the 19th century, it had declined to less than 2%.
- Trade Imbalance: British policies led to a significant trade imbalance, with India becoming a primary supplier of raw materials to Britain while relying on British imports for finished goods. This dependency on imports stifled India’s industrial growth.
- g. During colonial rule, India’s share of global exports fell from 2.5% in 1750 to less than 1% in 1900.
- Financial Drain: The British extracted wealth from India through taxation, export surplus, and financial transfers. This financial drain contributed to the impoverishment of the Indian economy and reduced the availability of capital for domestic investment.
- g. According to economist Utsa Patnaik, British Raj siphoned out $45 trillion from India (adjusted for inflation).
- Infrastructure Neglect: The British focused on building infrastructure primarily for the extraction and transportation of raw materials, neglecting domestic infrastructure needs. This lack of investment hindered economic growth and modernization.
- g. majority focused on resource extraction and military needs.
After the British period:
- Delayed Industrialization: The legacy of colonial policies, including the neglect of domestic industries, infrastructure, and education, hindered India’s industrialization even after independence. The lack of a strong industrial base posed challenges to economic growth.
- Dependency on Primary Commodities: India’s economy remained dependent on primary commodities, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in global commodity prices. This dependency persisted due to the lack of diversified industries.
- Human Capital Depletion: The economic drain resulted in the outflow of skilled labour and human capital from India to British colonies and Britain itself. This brain drain deprived India of essential talent and expertise.
- g. only 17 % literacy rates in 1947.
- Social and Income Inequality: The economic drain perpetuated social and income inequality, as the benefits of economic growth were unequally distributed, leaving a large portion of the population in poverty.
- g. during independence, around 70% of the population lived below the poverty line.
- Infrastructural Challenges: The neglect of infrastructure during the colonial period led to significant infrastructural challenges in post-independence India, hindering economic development.
- Lack of Technological Advancements: The lack of investment in research and development during the colonial period limited India’s ability to adopt and develop new technologies, affecting its competitiveness in the global economy.
Conclusion
Despite the above challenges, India has demonstrated resilience and potential for growth, emphasizing the nation’s determination to shape its own economic destiny and reduce the long-term effects of the economic drain.
Ethics
Q3. Explain how cultural mores affect the way societal ethics is viewed and practiced in various parts of the world. (10M)
Introduction:
Cultural mores play a significant role in shaping societal ethics, as they reflect the values, customs, and norms of a particular community or region. They influence how individuals perceive and practice ethics in their daily lives.
Body:
Various ways in which they influence societal ethics include:
- Ethical Relativism: cultural acceptance around parents choosing partners for their kids (arranged marriages) in some societies such as USA might be perceived as unethical where individual autonomy or pers is valued.
- Honor and Shame Cultures: In some parts of India, the concept of “family honor” is deeply ingrained. Instances of breaching that, such as marrying outside the community or engaging in premarital relationships, can lead to honor-based violence against individuals, particularly women.
- Collectivism vs. Individualism: In Japan, a collectivist society, the concept of “amakudari” refers to the post-retirement employment of senior bureaucrats in private and public corporations and non-governmental organizations, particularly those that fall under the jurisdiction of the ministry they retired from. This is unethical and a conflict of interests in other societies.
- Role of religion: In Saudi Arabia, a country deeply influenced by Islamic culture and ethics, they have “religious police”, the Mutawa, where non-adherence to Islamic law is non-ethical and also punishable by law, including the prohibition of alcohol and observance of daily prayers.
- Gender Norms: In certain traditional societies in India, there exists a preference for male offspring over female offspring, leading to the practice of female infanticide or sex-selective abortions which is considered acceptable and moral by many.
As ethical relativism asserts, embracing cultural diversity should be complemented by universal ethical principles to promote a more inclusive and just world.
As Mahatma Gandhi said, “I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all the lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.”
Conclusion:
Cultural mores influence how individuals and communities perceive right and wrong, leading to diverse ethical practices. Embracing cultural diversity while upholding universal ethical values can lead to a more compassionate and harmonious global society.
Case study
Q4. You are the PIO (Public Information Officer) for Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Your Ministry has enormous health statistics at treasure. These involve sensitive health information of many citizens. Such information is denied to be given under RTI to any applicant since they come under ‘third-party information’. However, many pharmaceutical MNCs are interested in availing such information by any means since they have high commercial value for research and development. Now, disregarding citizen’s privacy, your Minister has asked you to share the information in a camouflaged manner to an MNC which funded his party heftily. The company will file an RTI for name-sake and third-party information is asked to be shared through RTI reply. By doing this, you are promised a plum- post in government after retirement.
Identify the ethical issues involved in this case. What options are available to you? Examine them. (20 Marks, 250 Words)
Introduction:
This case presents a public information officer (PIO) facing a moral crossroads, where the demand to compromise citizens’ privacy for personal gain clashes with ethical responsibilities and the principles of good governance.
Factors to be considered:
- Ensuring the confidentiality and protection of citizens’ sensitive health information.
- Minister trying to disclose the information without complying with the provisions of the RTI Act.
- Concerns regarding favoritism and conflicts of interest must be carefully addressed.
- Upholding public trust in government institutions.
Dilemmas/Issues Involved in the Case:
- Privacy vs. Transparency
- Public Interest vs. Personal Gain
- Legal Compliance vs. Minister’s Request
- Favoritism vs. Impartiality
- Trustworthiness vs. Loyalty
- Abuse of power
- Corruption
Options Available:
Option 1: Complying with the Minister’s Request
- Pros: May receive the promised plum post in the government after retirement.
- Cons: Violates ethical principles of privacy, integrity, and honesty, contributing to corruption.
Option 2: Refusing the Minister’s Request and Reporting the Matter
- Pros: Upholds ethical principles of privacy, integrity, and honesty, and prevents involvement in corrupt activities.
- Cons: May face repercussions or retaliation from the Minister.
Option 3: Seeking Legal Advice and Protection
- Pros: Legal advice can help clarify the ethical implications and protect the PIO from acting against their conscience.
- Cons: Legal actions may lead to further complexities and challenges.
Option 4: Whistleblowing
- Pros: Exposing unethical practices can bring transparency and accountability, protecting citizen’s privacy and upholding integrity.
- Cons: Whistleblowers may face personal and professional repercussions.
Option 5: Seeking Support from Institutional Ethical Committees
- Pros: Ethical committees can provide guidance and support in navigating the ethical dilemma.
- Cons: The process may be time-consuming and might not guarantee immediate resolution.
My decision:
The situation presents a complex ethical dilemma for the PIO, involving privacy, integrity, honesty, and corruption. While the promise of a plum post in the government may seem tempting, it should not overshadow the duty to uphold ethical principles and respect citizens’ rights.
The PIO should prioritize their ethical obligations, refuse the Minister’s request, and consider options like seeking legal advice or support from ethical committees to address the issue effectively while safeguarding the public’s interests and maintaining their own integrity.
Whistleblowing may also be considered as a last resort to expose unethical practices and promote transparency and accountability in the system.
Conclusion:
As the saying goes, “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” Upholding integrity and ethical values in public service is essential for building trust and promoting good governance.
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