Five Decades of Free India. Between Naive or Vested Euphoria and Doomsday Cynicism Falls the Reality

Abstract Indian independence has been a mixed blessing. The partition of India, followed by Hindu-Muslim bloodshed and Gandhi's assassination, sobered up an already sceptical people who were lucky to have the romantic-socialist Nehru as Prime Minister for nearly two decades. After him, the quality of Indian politics has generally deteriorated but the people have voted more or less wisely, keeping the nation on a democratic middle path. Though India remains one of the most problem-ridden countries, it has managed to make noticeable economic, social and cultural progress during the last 50 years and now has a steadily growing middle class. Whether free India will ever be able to live up to its own image and join the overall "great" nations of the world remains an open question, but surely it would have done much better had the Indian intelligentsia intervened in national life with more commitment and courage.