Memo #225
Featuring M.J. Akbar – mjakbar1101 [at] gmail.com
Prominent Indian journalist and author M.J. Akbar discusses three key issues facing India today: poverty, gender and environment.
Modern India, which emerged out of British colonial rule in 1947 bloodied but unbowed by partition, had two massive challenges: the protection of its unity, and the elimination of poverty. More than six decades later, after surviving serious insurrections both in its North East and North West, India has largely resolved the threat from sectarian secessionism. But it still struggles under the weight of one third of the world’s poor. In 1947 this poverty was stark: in the last years of British rule, an estimated three million died of famine in Bengal alone. Such horrors are a thing of the past, but the tragedy of under-nourishment and subsistence-level existence remains a reality for 30% of the population.
Though poverty in India has been managed to a substantial degree, particularly in comparison to past famines, there remains a great deal of progress to be made. With the democratic push of good governance, and steady economic growth, it is however likely that poverty rates will continue to lessen. The obvious target is elimination of poverty in the next decade.
Environmental concerns are also prominent. Existing policies need to be completely reconsidered to balance India’s economic growth with sustainability. Issues requiring consideration include the management of environmental issues, from forestry to internal water resources. The Indian government is becoming increasingly aware of these problems; that awareness is the beginning of correction.
There exist external threats to India’s environmental sustainability. The suspicion that China will build damns diverting rivers that water India is an issue with the potential to create severe hostilities in diplomatic relations between the two countries. Neither country has affectively tackled the reality of these situations, yet it easily has the potential to become the single largest issue in India-China relations, as well as to create regional tensions.
Prominent lately on the international stage has been the issue of gender equality in India. Like poverty, women’s rights have improved since the 1950s when women lacked inheritance rights, polygamy was permitted, and there existed little education for women. Today, we see a visible liberation of the Indian women and her participation in the economy. Sadly, the existence of gender based violence stubbornly continues. What is promising is the anger of Indian people, as well as the international community. We have witnessed a number of voluntary protests on violence against women. This outrage is the beginning of change.
India: Problems and Promise (5.57 minutes)
About the Interviewee:
Mobashar Jawed Akbar is a well-known Indian journalist and author. He was the former Editorial Director of India Today, India’s leading English news magazine.
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