Introduction
Since the beginning, India was governed by Empire rulers. All the dynasties governing the country were recognized for their effectiveness as their talented leaders organized their administrations to provide excellent and authoritative records. However, in 1527, corrupt leaders from the Mughal Dynasty paved the way for a gradual decline in India’s military and economic aspects. Therefore, due to their incompetence and extravagance, the empire leaders exhibited deteriorating religious, historical, and cultural practices that weakened India’s international status.
Historical Factors
Initially, India’s economic and military strength decline was attributed to a history of violent transition of rule. At least five rival princes were murdered due to succession issues. Moreover, Indian leaders made little effort to drag the country from its middle-aged status and usher it into civilization. As late as 1857, the Mughal Empire economically lagged behind Europe, China, Persia, and Japan (Maddison 2). The economy deteriorated consistently due to lowered entrepreneurial spirit among the Indians as they continued to use old practices in the trade, agriculture, and industry sectors. From history, Empire rulers were formidable conquerors that lacked effectiveness in their governance. Therefore, instead of resolving India’s weaknesses, they opted to add fresher court taxes and introduced expensive military campaigns that almost bankrupted the country. On the other hand, the British invasion resulted in the more economic and military decline, with only the top people in the Indian society benefiting more than those in the lower social classes (Maddison 1). In addition, Britain siphoned resources to the UK instead of developing the country’s economic strengthening sectors.
Religious Factors
India was characterized by extensive religious intolerance, where segregation on spiritual affiliations was the order of the day, which paved the way for an economic and military decline (Hyuck 1). The Mughal Empire being of Muslim origin, led its rulers to persecute individuals from other faiths consistently. For instance, Hindu believers were excluded from holding public offices, while their temples and schools were destroyed during some dynasties. As a result, the economic and military capabilities of the Hindu people were exempted, thus leading to the decline of India in such sectors. Muslim rulers also persecuted Sikh, Maratha, and Rajput believers. Consequently, that kind of violence led to aroused rebellions against the Mughal administration (Hyuck 1). Particularly, due to the exception of talented leaders of religious backgrounds, India experienced low-quality leadership that eventually led to a decline economic and military strength of this region since then.
Cultural Factors
India was formerly built on a strong aristocratic system, which required people to adhere to the designed hierarchies. Therefore, village societies, caste systems, the untouchable’s positions, intact family systems, and the use of ancient agricultural practices were recognized where breaking any of the designed cultures would lead to dire consequences (Tarun et al. 116). The Indian culture allowed inhumane acts like female infanticide, sati rituals, polygamy, child marriages, and a rigid caste system. In fact, all those practices consistently declined the country’s economic and military well-being. On the other hand, women were the most affected despite their large numbers considering that they were disadvantaged in every stage of their lives to the extent of being denied educational opportunities (Tarun et al. 116). Due to the existence of a classism culture in India, the chances of eliminating illiteracy and ushering development through technological advancement became a brick reality that led to a declined military and economic growth (Tarun et al. 116). Moreover, the Indian culture was imbibed with expensive rituals, birth or death practices, and sacrifices that later exhausted the country’s economy and deterred further development in the military sector.
While experiences led to the massive downfall of India’s economy and military today, things have changed with this state steadily growing in both sectors. Some of the factors contributing to this development include its rich demography, economic stability, military abilities, political strength, and cultural practices. India’s demography comprises a high population of young people who have consistently developed their language skills, leading to improved economic stability (Bosworth and Collins 51). With this vast number, the country is thriving in all its industrial development since many people are working towards its growth and development. On the other hand, people have acquired knowledge in foreign languages, facilitating the attainment of professional workforces, including doctors and engineers.
In addition, political factors are substantial contributors to a stable Indian economy. In this country, democratic republicanism has become the primary way of ruling, leading to a successful political platform free from malfunctioning elections and policy implementation. Moreover, India’s foreign relations are slowly developing to make it environment-friendly for economic investment nations like Japan, America, and Russia. In fact, India is actively participating in world economics, which favors the global investment atmosphere. Therefore, India’s political strength has gone beyond its legislative territories to help in peacekeeping affairs and active involvement in the World Trade Organization and the Commonwealth.
Another leading feature of India’s growth is improved economic factors. In fact, the nation is considered a booming economy, where it is prominent in the third position in financial terms (Bosworth and Collins 49). Enhanced science and technology are also attributed to growth in India’s economy. Moreover, this country is a leading producer of computer software manufactured by its highly skilled population. On the other hand, India has large masses of nuclear energy production stations, which are soon replacing the fossil fuel production platforms. Additionally, the country is actively developing its infrastructure to replace old methods of transportation and embrace urbanized methods that are fast, friendly, and timely in both railways and road transport systems. Tourism is also improving the economy as many people visit India to see fascinating, diverse, and unique arts, history, culture, spiritual models, and music. Therefore, an improved economy has developed India’s financial capability, technology, and infrastructure.
Military factors are also considered major development aspects attributed to India’s growth. The defense forces in this country are organized to provide total strength as they are based on the army, air force, and navy. Moreover, for security purposes, India invented the missile development program, whose primary job is to develop other complex fighting armaments and nuclear weapons. The country has a vast wealth of technologically advanced imported arms, which play a significant role in fighting terror groups and maintaining law and order in violence-affected regions (Bosworth and Collins 56). Apparently, a well-organized, technologically advanced defense system contributes to a steadily growing India.
Cultural factors are also other major elements leading to India’s economic rise. With the existence of diverse religions, people interrelate peacefully despite the presence of various spiritual beliefs. Besides, Indians live in unity despite being a country with multi-lingual and ethnic backgrounds (Bosworth and Collins 51). In essence, the region’s culture further leads to economic growth as it has cinemas where many films are produced yearly, further facilitating the spread of Indian cultural practices to other nations worldwide.
Notably, India’s steady growth has exhibited that this country can realize its Asian dream as it is slowly overcoming the Chinese influential shadow. While both economies are currently considered nations with great potential to grow and develop to become leading superpowers in the future, India has continued to exist under the shadows of a matured Chinese economy. But recently, this trend has been gradually eroding, with Indians slowly building their foundations. Apparently, in 2015, India’s economic growth surpassed China, indicating India’s capability to do even better in 2016 (Rajah 1). However, while there is a huge competition between the two countries, India will move past China as several predictors exhibit. India’s economic growth is on the surge since its workforce is well-trained with productive and urbanized digitalized skills (Rajah 2). On the other hand, the middle class is significantly growing, increasing commercialization and urbanization in rural areas.
India is consistently tapping into the potential talents of Southern Asia, where space for growth is still raw. Moreover, rural sectors and infrastructure in India are strengthening, pushing the economy upwards. In fact, India’s economy is not yet exhausted as the household debts in this region are minimal and almost non-prevalent, which points out that inflation is not likely to strike India. On the same measures, China is vulnerable to such an occurrence (Rajah 2). In essence, with the favorable factors in India, there is the likelihood of more economic growth leaving behind China as it struggles to maintain its stability.
Conclusion
Apparently, the above discussion has substantiated that there is a history behind the Indian predicament of slow growth. Certain historical, cultural, and religious variables led to the downfall of the Indian economy and military. India has been growing consistently due to improved demographic, economic, military abilities, and political and cultural factors. For that reason, this nation is slowly overcoming the shadows of the already-matured Chinese economy. This process confirms India’s ability to realize its Asian dream of becoming an influential superpower.
Works Cited
Bosworth, Barry, and Susan M. Collins. “Accounting for Growth: Comparing China and India.”
The Journal of Economic Perspectives vol. 22, no.1, 2008, pp. 45-66.
Hyuck, Jin, Lee. “India in the 18th Century.” Korean Minjok Leadership Academy International
Program, vol. 12, 2009, pp. 1.
Maddison, Angus. Class Structure and Economic Growth: India and Pakistan Since the Moghuls. Taylor & Francis, 2013, pp. 1-30.
Tarun, Punia, Chunnu Prasad, and Azmat Noori. “Impact of British rule on India: Economic,
Social and Cultural (1757-1857).” Social Science Secondary Course, 2013, pp. 104-125.
Rajah, Sukumar. “How India is Stepping out of China’s Shadow”. Beyond Bulls & Bears.
Franklin Templeton Investments. 2016, pp. 1-5.
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