Seven Decades of the Indian Republic: The Keys to its Endurance

Session Submission Type: Roundtable

Session Description

In 2020 the Indian republic turns 70, celebrating its endurance as a democratic and secular country. At a time when populist politics in India are challenging established norms of democracy and citizenship, India’s seven decades of democracy and indeed democratic consolidation are a significant achievement, one that appears likely to withstand its current challenges. When the Indian constitution became effective on January 26, 1950, less than three years after independence, India was one of the poorest countries in world with great religious, linguistically, caste, ethnic and socio-economic diversity. The endurance of India’s republic, despite the significant socio-economic odds and recent populist and majoritarian challenges, has been attributed to the founding principles enshrined in India’s constitution.

This roundtable will explore how the founding principles of the 1950 Indian republic have helped it to endure, confounding political theories of democracy. The idea of India was framed in the constitution as one where diverse people came together to found a democratic and secular republic, one where justice was defined in social, economic and political terms, liberty of thought, expression and faith was enshrined, and the promotion of equality of status and opportunity was fostered. These egalitarian principles provided a framework for dealing with the challenges of a newly independent, poor, largely illiterate, and exceptionally diverse country. Roundtable participants will each explore how India’s founding constitutional ideals have fared over the past 70 years and how different challenges to the Indian republic, including the recent populist politics, were mitigated by the founding principles of India’s constitution.

Sub Unit

• DIVISION 12: Comparative Politics in Developing Countries

Chair

• Vipin Narang Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Presenters

• Rani D. Mullen College of William & Mary

• Aseema Sinha Claremont Mckenna College

• Maya Jessica Tudor Oxford University