I have previously discussed the modern political climate and my personal views in my book, “Glimpses of My Worldview”, but I felt the need to express my thoughts in a more direct, raw manner here on my blog.
Currently, I subscribe to no mainstream political ideology. I feel a heavy sense of disillusionment with the political sphere, especially here in India. While there has been a noticeable shift toward conservative governance over the last decade, and I observe certain resulting challenges, I am also not satisfied with modern liberal movements. Both sides, in my opinion, are becoming intensely polarized, which is causing the political sphere to lose its vitality and fall into dogma.
The political landscape appears dominated by an emphasis on specific community interests from one side, and a strong sense of religious nationalism from the other. The only politician I find consistently rational and balanced is Shashi Tharoor. I find myself gravitating toward the Nehruvian vision of governance, but the voices advocating for this approach feel increasingly marginalized. I am concerned that the voices of nuanced thinkers often struggle for visibility in the broader media landscape. Furthermore, the difficulties faced by opposition parties, partly due to entrenched family politics, contribute to a weakened democratic system.
I believe political neutralism and rationalism hold great promise for performing wonders on the global stage, but I feel more distant from the political process than ever. My observation is that India is lagging significantly in its social sphere. Arguments about numerical economic growth alone feel unconvincing when measured against the ground reality of societal challenges.
I find that many media and internet circles tend to become echo chambers, fostering polarized views rather than dialogue. Few people seem motivated to verify facts, which ultimately results in the proliferation of dangerous, pseudoscientific ideologies and conspiracy theories.
Implementing democratic principles effectively presents unique challenges in a highly diverse country like India, where deep cultural values and emotional factors significantly influence political choices. Historically, the economic revolution often precedes the political revolution. A reversal of this order can create friction and stagnation.
European nations were able to adapt liberalism and rectify their historical mistakes more quickly after centuries of dogmatic principles. However, this advancement often followed periods of global imperialism. Asia, on the other hand, was drained of its wealth, but I believe that if it could reignite its ancient rational form of inquiry, it could not only perform well but effectively compete on a global scale.
In my opinion, theocratic states are ill-equipped to solve today’s complex problems; on the contrary, I find them rigid and a hindrance to progress. I observe democracy struggling to function fully across the Subcontinent. While the hypocrisy of the West may seem evident, the foundational ideals emerging there still appear stable, concrete, and relevant to modern standards, provided the population structure is considered.
In my view, an overly rigid adherence to conservative ideals risks leading to inflexibility and dogmatism, potentially hindering necessary social progress and open dialogue. This is an observation built upon reflecting on historical patterns across various global regions, including the Indian subcontinent, China, and the ancient Greek, Roman, and Persian Empires.