Your Aug. 10 article “India thirsts for progress” barely touched upon positive aspects like industrial and technological advance-ments accomplished by India, the world’s largest democracy. Rather, the article focused only on already known negative parameters such as poverty, illiteracy and the inadequate support provided by the country’s political leadership.
These are an unfortunate reality in any country, even one as prosperous as our own United States, and it is wrong to single them out at the expense of the other positive aspects.
For example, the graphic depictions of homeless life in India seemed quite prejudicial. A homeless person in India is as unfortunate as a homeless person in this country. The homeless in Washington or the Big Apple are in no better state just because they live on the streets near skyscrapers instead of on the streets of New Delhi. While the sight of these unfortunate people should serve as a reminder to be grateful for the Almighty’s blessings on us, it is inappropriate and unethical to bring it up on such an historic moment.
India celebrated its 50th Independence Day Friday, despite a five-decade period of internal religious conflicts. Yet it marched forward as a democracy with the sacrifices of its own people, who would not accept any non-democratic form of government. This is quite reminiscent of America’s own glorious history.
While the article narrowly focused on the overpopulation of India, let us remember that people in India believe in democracy as Americans do. And for this continued faith in democracy, despite numerous challenges, the Indian people deserve better recognition.
