Deepavali, the festival of lights, is a time for wishing for and seeking the prosperity and well-being of all people. While we seek the well-being of all, our particular concern should be for those who are unable to meet their basic needs. Perhaps the best way of celebrating Deepavali is to light a lamp for them too, by assisting those in need in whatever way we can, to the best of one's ability.
At the national level, our wishes can be for India to find a path that always gives high priority to meeting the needs of the marginalized. All citizens should be regarded as equal, with absolutely no discrimination at any level. It is on the basis of equality and justice that the unity of all people in the country should be strengthened, as unity in diversity is the real strength of the country. This is true for all times, but it is particularly true for more difficult times.
Let us not forget that even if overall international conditions are more favorable, the path of ensuring the well-being of all people on a sustainable basis is not an easy one for India. We have to plan very carefully and adopt well-thought-out policies to ensure that the needs of all people can be met in satisfactory ways.
With 17.8% of the world's population but about 2.4% of the land area, about 4% of freshwater resources, and less than 1% of oil and gas resources, and with high vulnerability to climate change, India faces tough development challenges even in normal times. These can aggravate significantly if the international situation becomes adverse and uncertain, as in present times. The country's overwhelming need in such conditions is for increasing unity at all levels.
The present-day, increasingly difficult external situation must be understood at two levels. Firstly, there are the problems arising not just for India but for many other countries as well due to increasing wars, conflicts, and arbitrary attacks. In certain contexts, international affairs are being conducted in unprecedented ways that are much more volatile and less predictable. Highly insulting and humiliating language is being used against other countries. Top leaders of some countries have been killed in sudden attacks or kidnapped. The preference of several countries for neutrality and peaceful coexistence is being met with increasing hostility. There is a growing tendency of ruthless, often illegal exercise of power by the most powerful countries in the form of arbitrary sanctions, restrictions, seizures, and tariffs, making it more difficult for many countries to protect essential interests relating to trade and economy.
Not only are entirely avoidable wars and conflicts—as well as the related endangering of maritime routes—causing a disruption in the supplies of oil and gas, food, and other essential needs for many countries, but in addition, they are facing highly arbitrary directives regarding from which sources they can get their supplies and from where it is forbidden.
Secondly, apart from these increasing difficulties that many countries face, India has to cope with some additional problems as well. Ironically, these arise from its position of strength as a leading country that is not confined to any camp or narrow group but instead seeks good relations with almost all countries. When a situation of subordination is not accepted by India, then increasing pressures are exerted.
India must thoughtfully and with quiet determination face up to these challenges. The seriousness of the difficult situation that already exists must be communicated effectively and understood more widely among people.
India must be very clear that it must protect the independence of its foreign policy as well as domestic policy. It must firmly retain its sovereignty to choose the options most suitable for protecting and pursuing its national interests and the interests of its people. In fact, in these difficult times, India must go a step further and strive for wider unity of those countries that strongly share these concerns for protecting independent decision-making and sovereignty in the face of increasing arbitrary onslaughts being made on these.
Hence India must strive, on the one hand, to obtain the increasing unity of its people to protect the essential interests of the country in difficult times, and on the other hand, strive to obtain and to lead—collectively along with some other leading countries—the broader unity of many countries that are trapped under the weight of the increasing difficulties created by the emerging international situation.
Such an understanding regarding national needs and role should exist at the level of the government and the ruling political parties, the opposition political parties, the social movements and community organizations, as well as more generally among people. There should be continuing attempts to forge unity at the national level on some important issues of protecting national interests.
The government should accept the responsibility by reaching out to opposition parties and social movements for such unity, while at the same time strengthening the constitutional provisions that already exist for equality-based justice for all people of India and ending all kinds of discrimination not just on paper but at the implementation level too. The opposition should respond adequately and move in the direction of creating a consensus on important national concerns. Social movements should clearly announce that while they will continue to raise important issues relating to people and the environment, they are equally conscious of exercising all due caution in these difficult times.
In addition, national unity on important issues can be facilitated by one or more groups comprising elderly leaders of ruling as well as opposition parties who are not so much in active politics now, eminent officials who have now retired from government service, senior academics, scholars, and artists, helped by some younger persons whose energy and drive will also be needed. Such groups can take several initiatives for unity, including organizing get-togethers in which those on opposite sides can meet in more relaxed and friendly ways.
Let this Deepavali be a time to light a lamp for a new resolve—a resolve for unity, justice, and the prosperity of all.
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The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Protecting Earth for Children, When the Two Streams Met, A Day in 2071 and Man over Machine. His website is bharatdogra.in and his YouTube channel is Bharat Dogra | Save Earth Campaign
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