i do understand all bit of concerns reflected in article, though i am not contented with india's progress towards a real democratic nation courtesy selfish politicians and power brokers..... but who is really responsible for those... we people are not going to cat votes... in last general elections also the voting percent was just near 60 which directly indicates no interest of 40% people in democratic values.... and mind it thats a huge number which only is incashed by these political people.... despite of all odds we are doing still better in international concern as per democratic values.... expenditure of government has been revised and increased for rural area like NREGA, several BPL programms has been launched  also on other fronts of cummulative growth india is doing fairly better.... except few instances accountability of government has been reflectedin its executions through all its organs... RTI has been strengthen.... lets hope all goes well.... we all get to pround on our democratic values..... plz vote and help democracy flourish, else we can indulge in Pak. like situation

Nice article Asghar, really very informative. Indeed India has no comparison....Thanks for sharing...

Will get the best future as we experienced the bad past... 

The article merits appreciation. Generally I am in agreement to the views. At the same time we should also look at the constraints of a continent which was not a cohesively united Nation just 60 year ago, 
a region of many small kingdoms ruled over and exploited by various colonial oppressors and tormented by communal violence and resultant partitioning, and many other major backlashes presented by its diversity, regional interests, multitude of linguistic divides etc. 

India has done well considering that its achievements were through democratic process without going through tougher paths as done else where. One major set back according to me is the unethical political activism of some of the power mongering leaders of political parties 
by wrongly indulging in religious issues into politics. 

India could have done better, but with its huge population base, most of it in underdeveloped rural areas living in poverty and oppression from chauvinist upper class land lords and migrant communities, a major change need to happen in the mindset of the local oppressors and minds of the oppressed. 

Educating the low downs is the top priority. However, education brings awareness of their rights in the oppressed making them revolt against their oppressors, and in turn the oppressors to react. It breeds anti-social activism like naxalism and insurgency. Great effort is required from the governments to realize it against the malefic intentions of the oppressors, and its social implications.  

To get over these problems, a multi-faced approach of the governments is required. Education falls under the purview of the State government.  There are many systemic problems due lack of proper coordination between Federal and State. A consolidated approach is required by Central and Regional government with same national views. With more youngsters coming into political arena, I am sure India will forge ahead faster in the years to come. 

True! Here the politicos live: Of(f) the people, by the people, (never) for the people!

This article is an eye opener!

Yes India which has the largest democracy in the world is struggling at the moment with Terrorist activities and whole lot of other things and to go with bad political arena, if this largest democracy in the world is given a proper direction in terms of what it can achieve with that sort of population that is there in the country, if everybody is working to their potential, then India would become developed country in very less time.

Nice article,hope we all contribute for a better change, thanks for sharing. 

Ok. Lets hope there will be a change this time around after the elections. I leave you this extract from the Turkish weekly jornal:

“Indian democratic institutions have worked wonderfully well,” says Prof. Satish Kumar. “It is the largest democracy; it is the most heterogeneous democracy. It is a democracy with a multiple religions, languages, ethnic groups and all kinds of other diversities, and yet the country has managed to accommodate all of them into a system where gradually all of them are feeling that they have a voice in the running of the government.”

See anything happens in India...there are so many things that needs to be addressed, but nobody is bothered about it...as everybody from the slum dweller to the Ambani's goes to their daily activity as there is nothing to care of..The world's largest democracy is good for only one thing that it is the world's largest and lagging behind in all other things..Nice article thanks for sharing Asghar.