A letter from Seminar

WE hope you enjoyed reading the first volume of ‘Unfinished Agendas’ (September 2008), contributions old and new on issues as diverse as the need for planning; agricultural policy and food security; the changing character of our villages; priorities in health care; and the complex challenge of constructing a democratic polity as read through the issues confronting major political parties, in this case the Congress. Even a cursory reading makes clear that each of these issues and concerns remains as vital, and contentious now, as it did then, five decades back. Equally, that both our understanding of and ability to shift public discourse continues to be marked by not just a fuzziness but also a partisan streak that often obfuscates the issues at stake.

The current issue of Seminar, the second and concluding set of this exercise, explores another cluster of concerns – the relative roles of the ‘public’ and ‘private’ sectors in the economy; the state of our higher education system and the prospect of re-orienting our universities to make them more relevant for the times; the vexed debate over, and the passions aroused by, our choice of a national or regional language; the degree to which the film industry, arguably the most influential determinant of our public culture, is equipped to reflect the new mood and concerns; and finally, the one unending preoccupation of all Indians – corruption. The intention, as we wrote earlier, in revisiting issues debated in the founding year of the journal, is to explore to what degree ‘the concerns and agendas identified as important then still remain with us, and how our understanding of these issues has changed, if at all.’

Five decades may well be a blip in the long history of a people and civilization long used to describing themselves as ancient. It is often argued, and with some merit, that the task of moulding diverse peoples, each located in their specific eco-cultural niches and used to seeing themselves as distinct, into one people, co-citizens of a modern, secular republic, one which promises equality of opportunity and participation to all, is an audacious and ambitious project. Further, that as both observers and participants, we the people need to be patient and accommodating of the many constraints and pressures the decision-makers operate under. Nevertheless, it is difficult not to be disturbed by both the pace and direction of change.

Six decades plus ago, despite the horrific bloodbath of the Partition and possibly the single-largest involuntary migration of peoples forced to relocate to strange locales, the early years of independent India appeared, at least in retrospect, as one of hope. The fallouts of the struggle for independence from colonial rule, the excitement of finally being in charge of our own destiny and, in substantial measure, the quality of our political leadership, regional and national, helped us weather the storms of the early years. How surprising then that today, when we are a richer and stronger nation, one seen by others as a ‘success story’, we seem plagued by self-doubt.

Three recent episodes – the escalation of violence against Christian communities in Kandhamal, Orissa and Mangalore, Karnataka; the spate of serial bomb blasts in Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Delhi, reportedly by groups of disaffected Indian Muslims; and the response to the floods in Bihar and Orissa – have shaken confidence in the ability of the Indian state and political class to both meaningfully address long-felt grievances and act in a manner seen by all as fair and non-partisan. More than a steely resolve to bring the perpetrators of violence and hate to book and provide relief and succour to those affected by the floods, we, as citizens, have been subjected to a barrage of ugly wrangling between leaders of different political persuasions. It is, as if partisan agendas are privileged over national purpose.

All this makes it all the more imperative to work towards a culture of public discourse which informs, illuminates and helps people come together rather than inflame divisive passions. Above all, it is crucial to not add to a climate of cynicism and despair. It is to this endeavour that Seminar remains committed.