Page 21 - Pakistan Link - August 13, 2021

COMMENTARY AUGUST 13, 2021 – PAKISTAN LINK – P21
The Hindutva Rate of Growth hash of the COVID pandemic. He managed
n By Nayyer Ali MD high value Rupee notes, he also made a total

The Hindu Rate of Growth” was a term to combine a devastating pandemic that likely
used to describe the dismal economic killed 2-3 million Indians (the official statis-
“performance of India in the years up tics are nonsense) with an economic collapse.
to about 1990. When India gained inde- The economy shrank by 8% last year, and it is
pendence, there were high struggling to regain that lost ground this year.
hopes both there and in But COVID is not what is holding India
other Third World coun- back under Modi. The far bigger drag is Mo-
tries emerging from co- di’s focus on what he calls “Hindutva”, which
lonialism that they would translates badly into English as “Hinduness”.
rapidly catch up with the It is a rather amorphous concept, but its core
First World. Released from principles include the ideas that being Indian
the shackles of servitude, it seemed like a is really about being Hindu, and that promot-
natural conclusion that the gap between the ing Hindus and Hinduism is the primary re-
poor and rich could and should close. But sponsibility of the Indian government. This
that convergence turned out to be much concept obviously implies that non-Hindus
harder to achieve than most expected. are second-class citizens at best in India. But
India seemed particularly blessed. It had under Hindutva, being lower caste Hindu is
a competent civil service, an educated elite, also not a good place to be. The BJP is an up-
and substantial industry and railroad systems per-caste party. The problem with that from
already developed under British rule. In ad- an economic standpoint is the nation will be
dition, it had the benefit of the rule of law, crippled by the social barriers holding back
democracy, and a leader in Nehru who was those who don’t fit into Hindutva. Muslims
scrupulously clean and free of corruption, pected performance. But India’s failure to finally prompted the ruling Congress Party make up 15% of India, and another 5% be-
which was the scourge of many newly birthed develop was not due to Hinduism, it was due to embrace reform. By this point the Neh- long to other religions. Of the 80% who are
nations. to socialism. Nehru and the Congress Party, ru-Gandhi dynasty had petered out, and the Hindu, only about 50% belong to middle and
But despite all these advantages, India while committed to secular rule and democ- Prime Minister was Narasimha Rao, but more upper-castes. This means that half of India’s
consistently turned in poor performances in racy, was also oddly committed to socialism important was the Finance Minister Man- population are dramatically restricted from
the decades after independence. Economic as an economic policy. While not quite as daft mohan Singh. He pushed through a series of economic and social life. These barriers show
growth often trudged along at 3-4% per year, as communism, socialism in India was im- dramatic reforms that ended the License Raj up in the bottom line by the falling growth
barely faster than population growth, mean- mensely destructive and acted as an anchor and opened up India’s economy rather sig- rate of the economy. India has been perform-
ing that very little progress in material living holding back the Indian economy. Instead nificantly. This led to an acceleration in eco- ing steadily worse for years, even before CO-
standards was made. By the 1960’s, it seemed of developing competitive export industries, nomic growth to 5-7% per year over the next VID. It is time to recognize that a new eco-
that India may face famine as its galloping India raised massive tariff barriers and fo- 20 years, and India saw a significant rise in nomic curse has struck, the “Hindutva Rate
population could not be fed by its poorly cused on “import substitution”. It made this living standards. New Indian billionaires be- of Growth”.
productive farmers. That fortunately did not even worse by a whole series of restrictions on came players in global corporate games. But Even with the reforms of the early 1990’s,
happen, as the “Green Revolution” dramati- economic activity known as the “License Raj”. Congress lost power to the BJP, a new party India’s performance was not spectacular by
cally raised yields of critical crops like wheat Without a government license, it was difficult that played the Hindu card, declaring loudly any means. Per capita income in China was
and rice, giving many poor nations enough to expand existing businesses or enter into its intent to bolster the fortunes of Hindus, the same as India in 1990, it is now more than
grain to feed their populations. But while new lines of business. There was a massive and turning its back on the secularism of double India’s. While India did catch up to
India did not starve, it failed to grow much bureaucracy that stifled the entire economy, Congress and Nehru that founded the nation. Pakistan in per capita income, the huge in-
either. By the late 1980’s, India was well be- and rules meant to protect workers basically While Congress was able to win back come inequality in India (a result of its social
hind East Asian nations like South Korea and made it impossible to fire anyone, which power from 2004 to 2014 under Manmohan system holding back Muslims and lower caste
Taiwan and Malaysia, and it was even sub- made companies extremely reluctant to hire. Singh as Prime Minister, the BJP regained Hindus) meant that poverty was still much
stantially poorer than Pakistan, which had India’s poor economy culminated in a power under Narendra Modi in 2014, who re- worse and more severe in India. Going for-
far fewer resources and assets when it also balance of payments crisis in the early 1990’s, mains firmly in control of India. But while In- ward, both Pakistan and Bangladesh have bet-
became independent in 1947. which forced the Indian government to go to dia did grow reasonably rapidly through 2014, ter prospects for the 2020’s than India. Until
The mystery of India’s failed develop- the IMF and even to part with some of India’s the economy has been steadily slowing down India creates a level social space for all its citi-
ment led to the term “Hindu Rate of Growth”, gold reserves, an act fraught with symbolism under the BJP. Not only has Modi done some zens regardless of caste or religion, it will be
as a shorthand for India’s tepid and unex- of economic disaster in Indian culture. This rather rash acts, like his overnight banning of held back.
n By Dr Zafar M. Iqbal Iqbal: From Poet, Philosopher to Political Prognosticator One of his poems that many
Chicago, IL of us, originally from India, still
the whole of Asia. It has suppressed fondly recall is “Saaray jehan say
don’t know if Allama Iqbal, be- the spirit of the East and wholly de- uch-cha Hindustan hamara.” Writ-
sides the poet and philosopher prived her of that joy of self-expres- ten before 1905, he included it in
t
h
I at he predominantly was, sion which once made her the cre- ‘Baang-e-Dara’ (1924). Here is my
ever tried to be also a prognosti- ator of a great and glorious culture. translation:
cator but, perhaps unwittingly, he We have a duty towards India where
did eventually become all three, we are destined to live and die. We Song for India (Therana-e-
rolled into one. I am sure one can have a duty towards Asia, especially Hindi)
show how it happened, perhaps Muslim Asia. And since 70 millions
more persuasively than I can, of Muslims in a single country con- Better than any place in the
but I doubt if Iqbal himself could stitute a far more valuable asset to world
have known how important as- Islam than all the countries of Mus- is our India.
pects of his presidential address to lim Asia put together, we must look Its nightingales we are,
the 25th Session of the All-India at the Indian problem not only from it is our garden. When away,
Muslim League in Allahabad (29 the Muslim point of view, but also it is always in our heart;
December, 1930) would turn into from the standpoint of the Indian we are where our heart is.
reality less than a generation later. Muslim as such. Our duty towards The highest mountain, close to
He did inspire countless millions Asia and India cannot be loyally the sky,
and continues to. performed without an organized that’s our guard, our protector.
Regardless of how others may will fixed on a definite purpose. In the value of your individual and you who, as a people, can well claim Thousands of streams in its val-
have taken that address at the time your own interest, as a political en- collective action, however directed to be the first practical exponents of leys --
or over the decades since, he does let tity among other political entities of on material ends, in the light of the this superb conception of humanity, O, Ganges, do you remember
you into his mind at that historical India, such an equipment is an ab- ideal which you are supposed to live and move and have your being the day when
stage. I don’t know if what did ensue solute necessity. represent. Pass from matter to spir- as a single individual? I do not wish our caravan stopped by your
in 1947, how and at what cost then “Our disorganized condition it. Matter is diversity; spirit is light, to mystify anybody when I say that shores?
or over the decades since, would re- has already confused political issues life and unity. things in India are not what they
ceive his acceptance or blessing. vital to the life of the community. I “One lesson I have learnt from appear to be. The meaning of this, Religion doesn’t teach us hatred,
From that address (linked am not hopeless of an inter-com- the history of Muslims. At critical however, will dawn upon you only We’re all Indians, India is our
here:http://www.columbia.edu/itc/ munal understanding, but I cannot moments in their history it is Islam when you have achieved a real col- country!
mealac/pritchett/00islamlinks/txt_ conceal from you the feeling that in that has saved Muslims and not vice lective ego to look at them. In the Greece, Egypt and Rome– all
iqbal_1930.html), I cite part of his the near future our community may versa. If today you focus your vision words of the Qur’an, “Hold fast to gone,
concluding remarks: be called upon to adopt an indepen- on Islam and seek inspiration from yourself; no one who erreth can hurt but our name and fame still
[“…In conclusion I cannot but dent line of action to cope with the the ever-vitalizing idea embodied you, provided you are well guided” alive.
impress upon you that the present present crisis. And an independent in it, you will be only reassembling (5:104).”] [Emphasis added] We must live on for a reason;
crisis in the history of India de- line of political action, in such a cri- your scattered forces, regaining Since that address 74 years ago the world has long been our en-
mands complete organization and sis, is possible only to a determined your lost integrity, and thereby sav- (almost to the day), the Indian sub- emy.
unity of will and purpose in the people, possessing a will focalized ing yourself from total destruction. continent has been through many
Muslim community, both in your by a single purpose. Is it possible for One of the profoundest verses in dramatic changes but in the histori- No real friends we have, Iqbal,
own interest as a community, and in you to achieve the organic whole- the Holy Qur’an teaches us that the cal denouement, parts of what Iqbal in the world.
the interest of India as a whole. The ness of a unified will? Yes, it is. Rise birth and rebirth of the whole of hu- had envisioned may have gotten No one really knows our hidden
political bondage of India has been above sectional interests and private manity is like the birth and rebirth blurred for some, but his words still pain.
and is a source of infinite misery to ambitions, and learn to determine of a single individual. Why cannot resonate.
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