Why the discontent?

Recent events in the world’s largest and oldest democracies have shaken belief in democracy. If, as political theory asserts, democracy is for, by and of the people then why are the people rebelling against it. In Britain, the cradle of parliamentary democracy, violent young men went on a four day rampage of arson and loot. Seeing the mayhem on television, it was hard to distinguish London from a violence stricken third world metropolis.

The Indian case is equally baffling. During the past two decades, India has been a rising power. Driven by the confidence which comes naturally to strong and stable democracies, the nation had embarked on a path of phenomenal success. The Indian constitution has stood the test of time and the democratic tradition, periodically renewed and reinforced by free and fair elections, firmly entrenched.

When BJP lost to the Congress in 2004 we in Pakistan were treated to an amazing spectacle: the reluctance to take over the baton of power. Vajpayee had immediately resigned without even waiting for the official results and Sonia Gandhi was disinterested in becoming prime minister, paving the way for Dr Manmohan Singh who too was diffident. Admittedly the country has been rocked by multiple insurgencies, some shoddily handled particularly Kashmir, but the democratic ethos has woven itself seamlessly into the Indian political consciousness.

Economically, India can take justifiable pride in its performance. During the past several years its economy has grown annually by nearly nine percent. Its Gross Domestic Product rose from $ 1.8 trillion in 1999 to $ 4.06 trillion in 2010 reflecting an increase of well over hundred percent while Per Capita Income increased from $ 1800 to $3500 during the same period (Purchasing Power Parity). India’s foreign exchange reserves increased from $1 billion in 1991 to $300 billion today. Its exports have been equally impressive, growing from $ 44 billion in 2000 to $ 246 billion last year. The incredible growth in India’s IT sector is a matter of envy for the developing world. This sector alone fetched $60 billion in foreign exchange during FY 2010/11 more than double Pakistan’s total export proceeds. The literacy rate in India is close to 70 percent.

Internationally, India’s standing was never higher. Gone are the days when India was equated with Pakistan in global perceptions. The hyphen linking the two countries was removed a decade ago with India charting a trajectory very different from ours. Today, it occupies a place of respect in the comity of nations. It is seen as a factor of stability in the region. Just recently, the US Secretary of State had enjoined India to play its due role, commensurate with its clout, in Asia.

India’s foreign policy achievements have been remarkable. Its stance that Kashmir is a bilateral matter to be resolved directly with Pakistan is globally accepted. When was the last time a foreign power or an international organisation called for the implementation of Security Council resolutions for settling this dispute? (Please don’t mention the OIC) It is a member of the exclusive group of G-20 countries which meets regularly to coordinate policy on global economic issues.

India is acknowledged and treated as a responsible nuclear power. The Indo-US Nuclear Agreement has given it the de-facto status of a nuclear weapon state. In violation of their own norms and principles, major powers — led by the United States — have agreed to provide nuclear power plants and fuel to India despite its non-adherence to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty. The 44 member Nuclear Suppliers Group has granted an unprecedented waiver to India. This has been, by any measure, a remarkable achievement of Indian diplomacy.

India’s soft power enjoys global reach. Indian corporations own and run major international television networks. Indian scholars and academicians occupy positions of prominence in western universities and think tanks. Its film industry and the stars of the Indian silver screen are widely acclaimed. It has become the financial powerhouse of international cricket and is the current holder of the ICC World Cup. Till very recently, it was the top ranked team in test cricket. While India produced world champions like Tendulkar we produced spot fixers.

These achievements should have inculcated a sense of pride in the citizens of any country. So what went wrong? Why the mass hysteria over corruption, a historically commonplace practice in these parts, to the negation of the resounding successes of the Indian state. Is the middle class who has risen against Dr Manmohan Singh, partly not his creation? Had his policies as Finance Minister in 1991not contributed to the creation of an environment that enabled the economic empowerment of the common man? The shrieking mobs are far better dressed, fed and educated than their forbears. The democratic institutions are very much in place. Fundamental freedoms remain sacrosanct. Dr Manmohan Singh’s confused reaction to the events was, therefore, not entirely misplaced.

Yet something seems to have gone terribly wrong.

We shall examine that in detail in the next week.

The writer is Pakistan’s former Ambassador to the United Nations and European Union. He can be contacted at [email protected]