355 india basics

India

Indian Administrative Structure

Basics• Over 1 Billion people• Opening to the world economically

since 1991• Importance of the US-Indian-Chinese

relationship in the future

Paradox One

• Largest democracy in the World• But…

– Economic inequality– Social inequality (due to lingering

Hindu caste system)

Paradox Two• Religion: 80% Hindu• But… a national ideology of separation

of church and state…• But the Bharatiya Janata and “Hindu

nationalism” or Hindutva

Current Prime Minister

• Manmohan Singh• The first Sikh PM• From Congress Party

Leader of Congress Party(currently in power)

• Sonja Gandhi• Roman Catholic• Born in Italy

Past Three Presidents of India

First “Untouchable” Pres. First Muslim Pres. First Woman Pres.

Paradox Three• East Asian Model: Authoritarian and

capitalist

• India: Democratic with a socialist economy (until 1991 when economic reforms began)

Paradox Four: The Economy• High Tech and massive povertyBangaloreIndia’s Silicon Valley Slums of any city

Paradox Five: Diversity• 80% Hindu, but…• 22 Official languages now• Over 140 million Muslims (the

nation in the world with the third largest Muslim population)

Paradox Six: National vs. Regional Parties

• Two major national parties:– Congress Party– BJP– Also, minor party: Communist Party

Marxist

• 2009: 35 regional parties in Parliament• Lok Sabha Party-wise

Political Culture1. Geography2. Agrarian economy3. Population4. Religion

1. Hindu: 81%2. Muslim: 13%3. Christian 2.3%4. Sikh: 1.9%

Hindu Caste System1. Priests – Brahmins2. Warriors – Kahtriyas3. Landowners/merchants – Vaishyas4. Small Farmers – SudrasOutcastes, sub-castes, backward tribes,

and “Untouchables” or Dalits or Harijans

Bhimrao Ambedkar

Mauryan Dynasty, 321-185 BC

Gupta Dynasty, 320-413 AD

Mughal Dynasty, 1529-1707

British Colonialism

Amritsar Massacre, April 1919

Eduard Thony painting

Indian National Congress

Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohandas Gandhi

Gandhi’s Impact on the INC• Extremists vs.

moderates• Ending factional

struggle• Mass movement• Non-violence

– Gandhi’s writings• Independence

Now

Muslim League

Mohammed Ali Jinnah

Independence and partition

Kashmir

UNMOGIP

Government Structure• Indian Constitution• President• Parliament

– Rajya Sabha– Lok Sabha

• Prime Minister

Parliamentary Process for PMPM and Houseserve full term

Partywinsmajority House PM dies or

General elects resignselection PMof LowerHouse

No party wins No Confidence fails majority motionpassesParties negotiate PM dissolvesto form coalition House(50% of seats, plus one)

1996 Election• Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 160 • Congress Party 136• National Front 110

• National Front forms government

Nehru Dynasty

Jawaharlal Nehru Indira Gandhi Rajiv Gandhi1947-1964 1966-1977 1984-1989

1980-1984

Congress Party

Manmohan Singh Sonja Gandhi Rahul GandhiPM President General Secretary

of the Party (one of nine)

Congress’ Ideology• Secularism• Socialist economics 1947-1991• Economic Reform 1991-present• Manifesto for 2009 elections

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)• Hindutva (Hindu

Nationalism)• RSS (Rashtriya

Swayamsevak Sangh)

1984 2

1989 88

1991 120

1996 160

1998 176

1999 182

Others• Leftist parties

– Communist Party of India (Marxist) • Regional parties

– AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhigam) regional party of Tamil Nadu state

– Janata Dal (Secular) (Karnataka, Kerala)– Telugu Desam Party (Andrha Pradesh)– Samajwadi Party (Uttar Pradesh)

• Caste-based Parties– Bahujan Samaj Party