Notes: Christophe Jaffrelot - Civilisational State vs Nation State | Sociology Mains Optional for UPSC 2024 PDF Download

 Page 1


 
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Summaries of Christophe Jaffrelot's 3 important articles on Religion 
Coalition country 
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/coalition-country-united-opposition-bjp-201
9-lok-sabha-elections-5229461/ 
The late Ravinder Kumar, (director of the Nehru Memorial Musuem and library) 
defined India as a Civilisation-State, rather than a nation-state, because of its 
capacity to amalgamate into one coherent whole a large number of cultural 
influences. 
This approach - articulated by an historian in a long duration perspective - has a 
clear political implication: India is also a coalition-state. 
Unlike some European countries or China , India has never been governed 
successfully in a centralised manner.  
Sovereign had to build coalitions of regional satraps and maintain them through a 
constant bargaining process, even the great Akbar spent his half-life in traveling 
across his empire in managing his empire. 
India after 1947 inherited a centralisation legacy from the British raj, but only after 
some years , Nehru had to built coalition again (he sent letters to CMs every 15 
days). 
Issue of states formation on the lines of language also become prominent in 1950s 
only. 
Whenever Prime ministers tried to emancipate themselves from coalition, the 
quality of governance has suffered the most. Example - Indira Gandhi's emergency 
period. 
Paradoxically, after a difficult transition of 10 years, India experienced more 
stability under coalition govt. , from 1999 onwards. 
More stability as coalition forced Centre to acknowledge the state's autonomy 
because Centre depends upon regional forces. It limits concentration of power. 
Coalitions apart from political parties also includes social groups. 
Page 2


 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
www.SleepyClasses.com 
 
Summaries of Christophe Jaffrelot's 3 important articles on Religion 
Coalition country 
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/coalition-country-united-opposition-bjp-201
9-lok-sabha-elections-5229461/ 
The late Ravinder Kumar, (director of the Nehru Memorial Musuem and library) 
defined India as a Civilisation-State, rather than a nation-state, because of its 
capacity to amalgamate into one coherent whole a large number of cultural 
influences. 
This approach - articulated by an historian in a long duration perspective - has a 
clear political implication: India is also a coalition-state. 
Unlike some European countries or China , India has never been governed 
successfully in a centralised manner.  
Sovereign had to build coalitions of regional satraps and maintain them through a 
constant bargaining process, even the great Akbar spent his half-life in traveling 
across his empire in managing his empire. 
India after 1947 inherited a centralisation legacy from the British raj, but only after 
some years , Nehru had to built coalition again (he sent letters to CMs every 15 
days). 
Issue of states formation on the lines of language also become prominent in 1950s 
only. 
Whenever Prime ministers tried to emancipate themselves from coalition, the 
quality of governance has suffered the most. Example - Indira Gandhi's emergency 
period. 
Paradoxically, after a difficult transition of 10 years, India experienced more 
stability under coalition govt. , from 1999 onwards. 
More stability as coalition forced Centre to acknowledge the state's autonomy 
because Centre depends upon regional forces. It limits concentration of power. 
Coalitions apart from political parties also includes social groups. 
 
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www.SleepyClasses.com 
 
One may argue that India cannot afford a coalition govt. because it needs reforms 
and strength in a complicated international environment, but most difficult reforms 
were taken by coalition govt.  
Ex- LPG, Nuclear Test, BRICS joining, Reservation of 27 % for OBCs, liberalisation 
of the FDI policy. Lokpal act, NREGA, RTI act, Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and 
Resettlement Act, etc.  
But opponents of coalition politics may reject it in spite of its effectiveness - for 
IDEOLOGICAL  REASONS. 
Hindu nationalist have traditionally considered that India is one and should have a 
unitary state so how can a sacred land (punyabhoomi - Savarkar's definition) be 
divided acc. to cultural lines? 
This approach reflects another idea of India, other than the one presented by Sunil 
Khilnani and before him, Ravinder Kumar, in terms of a civilisational-state.  
The Hindu nationalist idea of India is more in tune with the European idea of a 
nation-state rooted in the exclusivist triad: 
- One country 
- One culture 
- One people