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The author is Starr Foundation Professor of South Asian Studies at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies
The upcoming G20 summit in New Delhi is a testament to India’s impressive year. As the world’s most populous country and fastest-growing major economy, it has gained global recognition, especially after its historic moon landing. India has adeptly managed its relationships with the West and Russia while leveraging the escalating China-US tensions to its advantage.
However, it’s unfortunate that India’s theme for the summit, “One World, One Family, One Future,” doesn’t seem to extend to its own internal challenges. The main obstacles faced by India originate from within the country. These challenges are rooted in the politics of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its controversial leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Modi undoubtedly possesses visionary qualities, evident in the ongoing transformation of India’s infrastructure and public welfare systems. Whether it’s providing over 500 million bank accounts (with more than half belonging to women), ensuring electricity access for all households, or promoting the availability of sanitary pads, Modi has prioritized improving the “ease of living” in India.
However, his achievements are overshadowed by a growing authoritarianism fueled by personal and ideological resentments. In his Independence Day address last month, Modi emphasized the significance of transitioning from “1,000 years of slavery” to a “grand future.” This obsession with perceived past humiliations primarily targets India’s Muslim community, civil society, and opposition parties. Modi’s government believes that these entities have undermined India’s Hindu cultural heritage and is determined to reverse that trend.
This vilification of perceived enemies is fostering dysfunction in Indian society. Acts of bigotry, from a railway police official killing Muslim train passengers to a school principal encouraging Hindu students to harm a Muslim student, are becoming alarmingly entrenched. Treating individuals as second-class citizens erodes their dignity, stifles their contributions to society, and nurtures harmful resentment.
Moreover, the government’s crackdown on critics, such as censoring the media and harassing independent think tanks and academics, is silencing citizen voices. These attacks have weakened feedback mechanisms and hindered policy reform efforts, particularly in comparison to the government’s enthusiastic embrace of welfare programs. While this administration has showcased superior implementation capabilities, economic policy reforms have stagnated since the unsuccessful attempt to reform agricultural markets.
By treating political opponents as enemies, the government is also undermining India’s delicate federal balance in a culturally diverse nation. Addressing India’s economic weaknesses, such as education, health, environment, urbanization, labor, and land markets, requires cooperative federalism. However, polarization is hindering cooperation.
The excessive power wielded by Amit Shah, often referred to as India’s second most powerful leader, exemplifies the weaponization of state control. Shah, who has significant influence over the central government, has utilized official investigative agencies to target political rivals with corruption charges and civil society organizations with tax fraud allegations.
Even prestigious institutions like the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), India’s leading think tank, have become victims of baseless charges brought by the government. These actions highlight the breakdown of checks and balances.
Meanwhile, Shah’s own Ministry of Home Affairs has failed in its core responsibilities. The decennial Indian census of 2021, which has been conducted every ten years since 1881 (excluding during the Second World War), has not taken place, depriving the state of updated data needed to address governance challenges. Additionally, Shah’s ministry has been unable to restore peace in Manipur, a northeastern state plagued by ethnic violence for months.
In his Independence Day speech, Modi repeatedly referred to the country as his “family” and urged citizens not to squander the opportunities at hand. He is right, but a divided family cannot thrive and succeed.
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