TODAY marks the 75th anniversary since India obtained her independence from Britain.  At the time, India was among the least developed nations with one of the lowest GDP per capita, lowest literacy and life expectancy rates and highest unemployment, poverty and infant mortality rates and incidence of polio, and among the most de-industrialised large economies.  Since then, a free India has pursued strenuous efforts to combat poverty, illiteracy, persistently high unemployment, negative growth of British rule, and the degrading health sector administered by the imperial ruler. In spite of notable problems, India has made significant progress and has shared her wealth and technology with developing countries, including Guyana.

Britain governed India for two hundred years. During that period, the colonial power impoverished India, sucking the wealth of the colony for the benefit of the motherland. After decades of struggle by nationalist leaders like Gandhi and Nehru, among others, demanding from colonial rule, India got her independence on 15th August 1947. After 1947, India has made great strides in different fields like education, engineering, science and technology, agriculture, energy, manufacturing and industrialisation, employment creation and health, among others, all made possible largely through indigenous technologies and a policy of self-sufficiency.
Britain inherited a wealthy India and left it an impoverished nation at the time of her departure.

When Britain took over, India’s GDP was 24 per cent of global GDP and when Britain departed in 1947, Indian’s share of global GDP had sunk to three per cent. Since then, India has been rebuilding, accounting for nine per cent of global GDP now. Unlike many other territories that were granted independence by imperial powers, India has remained a secular democracy. It has earned the sobriquet of the world’s largest democracy (1.4 billion) where people have the right to vote in secret ballot for the government of their choice and with the outcome respected.

At independence, despite being a largely agricultural economy, India was deficient in food production. Starvation was rampant during colonial rule with millions dying from hunger as food production was sent to feed Britain. Right after independence, there were bouts of drought and famine with India heavily reliant upon imports of food, grains in particular, and the generosity of the West to feed a huge population. India made every effort to become self-reliant in food production. The country experienced the Green Revolution (improved varieties of seeds along with use of fertilisers and other chemical inputs) in the late 1960s and 1970s, making India self-sufficient in food with surplus to help other nations. Today, India is the largest producer of pulses and the second-largest producer of rice, wheat, and sugarcane globally. India is the largest producer of fresh fruits, milk, pulses and oil seeds, sunflower seeds and second largest producers of wheat, rice, sugarcane, potato, tea, cotton, cement, coal, etc. in the world. It has one of the largest rail-line with 64,000 KM, many times the length the British built.

Per capita income in 1947 was less than US$40. Today, it exceeds US$2,000. Illiteracy, which was just 12 per cent in 1947 is almost 80 per cent today. Poverty has declined substantially from 90 per cent in 1947 to less than 20 per cent today. At independence, India’s foreign exchange was a mere $2B. It has grown to over $ 350B with India providing soft loans to developing countries, including Guyana. The Indian economy has grown almost 25 times in size since 1947. Today, it is the sixth largest economy and is on course to becoming the third largest within a decade.

India has also made strident gains in health. At independence, India had one of the highest incidents of polio, accounting for two thirds of the world’s cases and had one of the lowest life expectancy among all nations. Since then, India has eradicated polio attaining “Polio-free certificate from the World Health Organization in 2014”. In 1947, India’s life expectancy was 32 years. Today it exceeds 70 years.

At independence, agriculture accounted for 80 per cent of the economy. Today, it comprises only 14 per cent of GDP. Britain de-industrialised India. Manufacturing was hardly two per cent in 1947. Today it is 18 per cent. In 1947, India had no space programme or satellites. Today, India has one of the most advanced space and satellite programmes. India launches her own satellites and those of several other countries, including the US and France. In 2008, India set a world record of sending 10 satellites in orbit in a single mission through PSLV-C9. And a few years later, it launched 108 satellites in one mission. India also partakes in UN peacekeeping missions.

When Britain governed India, only a few Indians had access to education and it was geared towards benefitting Britain and British businesses in India. Since then, education has become a right and compulsory elementary education for every child.

After independence, India has also strengthened the defence of the nation. India is a nuclear power and has an advanced missile system with missiles that can travel 10,000 KM with the Brahmos Missile among the fastest in the world. India has the second largest military force and the largest voluntary army in the world to defend the nation.

Guyana has benefitted enormously from India’s 75 years of progress and development in the billions of dollars. Guyana has availed itself of various training programmes for government officers and the private sector as well as media operatives. Dozens of scholarships are taken up annually by Guyanese students for higher education in India. Hundreds enroll in online programmes offered through the GOAL. And dozens are studying at Indian universities on a self-financing basis. Cultural exchange and co-operation take place on a continual basis ever since Guyana became independent. The Swami Vivekanand Centre of ICCR, in Georgetown, has emerged as an important venue for promotion of cultural activities in Guyana. The centre holds classes in disciplines of Hindustani music, Hindi language, and yoga. The Government of India has recognised the contributions of prominent Guyanese, including Bharrat Jagdeo, Yesu Persaud, Rohan Kanhai, Shridath Ramphal, Dr. Vindya Persaud (Dharmic Sabha) and Ashook Ramsaran, among others.  And Guyanese of Indian origin are entitled to status as Overseas Indian Citizens that exempts them from the requirement of a visa to travel to India and benefits that come with citizenship such as studying at Indian universities (virtually for free), health care, and ownership of properties, among others.

India deserves commendation for her significant achievements at 75 and for her generosity of financial assistance, developmental aid, cultural exchange and sharing of soft power to nations around the world, including Guyana.