The massive diversity of India and strength of the institutions.
India as a nation is too diverse for dictatorship or tyranny. If you put 10 Indians in a room there will be 20 different opinions. That is a setup that would frustrate any army. India has always been ruled through a sort of consensus of multiple communities. Democracy has not been accident, but a core element that India cannot live without.
In fact, India’s key element has always been submission without submission. Indians would look to overtly submit but never plan to give up their core traditions. The Turkic rulers and Europeans found this to their chagrin. If any army general takes over India, he would be so frustrated about dealing with all the different Indian communities. The Tamils, northeasterners, Punjabis and other cultures will demand their own representation.
Most importantly, coups often happen when the government becomes too rotten and goes against the fundamental principles of the state.
Indian leaders are not going against the Constitution and if there comes a time when an Indian P M is completely flouting the Constitution /fundamental principles of the nation, there are so many other backup mechanisms to fight before the Army gets tempted to clean up.
Finally, Indian political leaders carefully engineered the Army leadership to make it coup resistant. Here are some of the structural protections:
- Having the army mostly populated by minorities. If Indian army has mostly Sikhs, Gurkhas, Kumoans it is not an accident. It is by design. Since 1857, Indian army was engineered to recruit mostly these loyal minorities. These minorities would find it very hard to rule the majority community.
- Having the army chief recruited from a community different than most of the armed forces. For instance, until recently Indian political leadership completely prevented any Sikh person from becoming the Chief of Army staff fearing that this person might have too much influence in the Army.
- Frequently changing the Chief of Army Staff. The highest role of the Army is shifted once in 2 years. No one is allowed to settle for too long.
- Not having the role of a Chief of Defence Staff. That role is sort of managed by a civil servant than a defense person. Political leadership never wanted a single military person to have a very powerful role.
(Source- quora digest)
I am bit reluctant to accept the very first paragraph for the following reasons
ReplyDelete1.You too, as an average Indian,comfortably fit into that kind of saying " in India mostly majority is corrupt but not every body"
2.You said that "India is not fit for dictatorship or tyranny because of their diversity--"Absolutely incorrect.When they join armed armed forces, they become the best obedient soldiers in the world .This fact is well known.They do not revolt.History is the proof.How is possible?.
3.You said democracy has not been accident, but a core element that India cannot live without-This is quite absurd.Democracy is quite new to India and it accidental.For reasons, till independence India was ruled by at least princely state heads,if not by Kings.
So I would say Indian diversified population is NOT FIT FOR DEMOCRACY.
Why do you and whom you are praising By saying "Indian leaders are not going against the Constitution and if there comes a time when an Indian P M is completely flouting the Constitution /fundamental principles of the nation, there are so many other backup mechanisms to fight before the Army gets tempted to clean up." Joke of the day.You will receive many critics on this article
ReplyDeleteMr Gavin you should have edited this kind of article.He says "Having the army chief recruited from a community different than most of the armed forces. For instance, until recently Indian political leadership completely prevented any Sikh person from becoming the Chief of Army staff fearing that this person might have too much influence in the Army." This is not correct
ReplyDeleteThe writer has no idea of what the Army is all about. He is just writing for the sake of writing.Chiefs have been appointed on the basis of seniority. No Sikh was ever been superseded for being a Sikh.The Air force had a Sikh Chief in 1965 and is now Marshal Of the Air Force.The IAF has also had a Muslim as a Chief.A coup has not taken place because of very strong political stability which never necessitated a coup.Besides, the country is much too large for a single person to handle.There is no civil servant who is senior to the Chiefs and acts as the Chief Of Defence Staff.
ReplyDeleteYou may be Indian all the way but your thought are rebellions. Indian arms forces never do such act. If by mistake it is happening civil war will start and it will never end. Don't hope situation like USSR.
ReplyDeleteyou want to know what happened in srilanka
DeleteBy saying or shouting fire,your mouth will not be engulfed in fire.That is what I said Indians have diversified nature.Everyone is king in his own land.This united land mass will never have single idea towards whatever the cause be.But they can be ruled by external forces for centuries.They were mere spectators.Military coup is forbidden fruit.I was bit emotional on their part of insensitivity towards any change either good or bad.They can not start a civil war in any case.Do You think all the politicians are Gandhis to day.Why the people are silent.They will not react to anything.
ReplyDeleteWe are a Democratic country and doing well with the help of disciplined Forces. Better change your line of thought. It is India and not Turky...
ReplyDeleteyou are only fit to preach and you are not a doer
DeleteWhat do you mean by democracy.Do you say it is flawless and pure and Indian like illiterate mass will fit into to democrcy
DeleteNo time for bullshit
ReplyDeletespell it out what do you mean bullshit
DeleteIn the name of democracy the politicians elected take unilateral decisions based on the whims and fancies of the bureaucrats. It is a silent takeover of powers to rule India by these bureaucrats. That game was complete longtime back. The Indian Armed Forces never had such aspirations and will never have it in future.
ReplyDeleteUnlike pakistan, india is lucky to have a bunch of leaders who were well educated, freedom fighters, gandhians and honest to rule our country in the beginning. These honest leader paved a solid foundation of democracy to our country.
ReplyDeletePakistan was formed by opportunistic leaders and they sidelined their nationalist leaders in the beginning which resulted a failure in the democratic process.
Our forces are truly secular in nature and believes in democracy and committed to protect our democracy. So a coup in our country is un imaginable and impractical.
Please for Godsake do not apply butter
DeleteCan you define secular and so called ism.Please do not invent some thing and talk irrelevant.Do you belong to a country,du you belong to race ,do you belong to religion,do you belong to a caste,will you give up every thing in the name of secularism.Please show me the word in Dictionary secularism
DeleteIn my opinion ! Should not argued this types of commented, This blog should usage be in favor of Beneficiary related to Pensionary benifit ' For our Veterans.
Delete