Is the Colonial Mentality Hindering India’s Success? | HPSC Preparation: All subjects - HPSC (Haryana) PDF Download

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Raghuram Rajan, former RBI governor, has gone on record to say that it is the colonial mentality that is holding back India from engaging with the world at large as an independent – economically and educationally developed nation. The colonial mentality of Indians is one that makes them come across to the world at large as ‘victims’ of the rule of the colonial era, still after more than 73 years of independence. We Indians hold ourselves back and do not put our vision, strengths, dreams to what India will look like in the future at international symposiums and work towards it.
Our role is less proactive and is more reactive or in response to the policies of the developed countries. This holding back, from expressing with confidence and feel that our points are not good enough and will not be heard is not an individual problem but one of colonial mentality. Let us look at the areas where these are, and how we can come out of this mentality, which chains us down, like a string that ties the elephant to the tree!

Education

Education deals with the development of the mind. The mentality is the way the mind is trained to think. Therefore, education itself is one of the most important factors in attributing this mentality. The education system, in general, inculcates values of obedience, discipline, and respect for elders. To comply with authority, whether at home or school,, is a reflection of good behaviour. Inquiry, curiosity, research, free expression of thought is not cultivated. Is this not the base of the colonial mentality?
Furthermore, schools in the English medium are still favoured, and vernacular schools are almost looked down upon. To be unable to speak good English is a handicap in India! This is absolutely true! This affects personality and prospects at every stage of selection. The first thing the English had done to rule over the colonies was to make the colonial people feel inferior. They then ventured to educate the masses to improve their lot, and they called it the ‘white man’s burden.’
Before the British left, various statutory bodies to take up the rule of the nation were constituted. These were people who were educated and trained in British culture. When they took over the offices of the British, their living quarters, and their lifestyle, they also adopted their roles. These Babus dressed like the British and moved around like the elite. The Indians in administrative posts still do not propagate a people-centric culture. They demand position and respect of the masses but keep the public at a distance. They move around in the red beacon cars and roads are cleared and traffic stopped to give them away. It is sad but true this colonial mentality of being submissive exists and subjugating as the invaders continue to date.
It is still not a rare sight to see the placard outside many so called high class clubs, where admission is reserved on the basis of the dress. The requirements are that you wear collared shirts, formal trousers and leather shoes. Even Silk Dhoti, chapals or silk Kurta Pyjama would not be allowed in such places. Yes, of course, there could be an exception if you were a Mahatma or a Mantri! Is it not because we still are trailing in the colonial mentality?
Talking of Mantras, the politicians follow the same policy of divide and rule, which is seen blatantly every 5 years. During election campaigns, various communal issues are raked up just to win over their own electorate. This often results in loss of love among the people, loss of public property, and loss of lives. The way the commons have to pay a heavy price, for no fault of theirs, other than being a novice and allowing themselves to be a pawn in the hands of these leaders.
Talking about us, the common masses, we too are equally to blame for our soup. We are the west in everything they do. We celebrate all the days they do, the way they do. On Christmas, New Year, Valentine's Day, Mothers Day, Father's day, there is equal or more fervour to celebrate than on our own national festivals. The ethnic saree and long hair, which were parameters to describe beauty, have long been replaced. The youth colour their hair to ape the west! It is so common now that natural black is rare. Is this not because we do not value ourselves the way we are and wish to be like them. How well the British have succeeded in their endeavour to make us feel small, they will never realise!
There are some purposeful steps that can be taken up to break this mentality. There is a lot of talent in our country, this talent should be encouraged to research and create solutions. All manufacturing units should be provided with facilities of research and formulating and inventing products, machines and aircraft, and weapons for defence rather than import them. What ISRO can do each organisation should do. Also, a bottom up approach should be adopted for progressive development, rather than the present trickledown effect that has not yielded the desired result.
There is already resistance being voiced against the VVIP culture, whereby the ‘babu’ culture is being slowly stripped down of its privileges. The recent court judgement to remove all stickers on private cars mentioning your office, as it sets you apart from the others to be removed, is a step in the right direction.
Like the ‘the black is beautiful’ slogan in Africa, we Indians need to be proud of being Indian and our language and dress. A sense of pride of being ourselves is not difficult to nurture once we decide to do so. Learning cultures of other countries, their languages and way of being, is desirable. But what is not good is to be embarrassed of what we are. We need to realise our worth, strengths, and pride in our being what we are, and then take steps to reach the zenith we envisage for ourselves.
Only when we take these steps will we be able to rid ourselves of this colonial mindset and attain freedom in the true sense. Only then do we get freedom, as enshrined in the preamble of the constitution. Only then will we have the scientific temperament to think, research, and generate the way forward which will suit the needs of the masses of India, its wild and varied culture, traditions, and heritage.