Online published on 23 October, 2018.
Applying democratic principles to govern any country is a constant challenge and much more so in a nation as vast, diverse and ancient as India, steeped in traditions and memories. This article surveys the evolution and development of India's system of governance since independence and highlights the political, social and economic successes, failures and weaknesses of the polity while warning of the threats to its continuance which must be overcome, such as communal divisions, the rise of fundamentalism and the twin perils of disorder and authoritarianism.
