India’s Multi-Front Failures The Urgent Need for Self-Reflection and Reform

India’s Multi-Front Failures The Urgent Need for Self-Reflection and Reform

India, a nation that proudly calls itself the world’s largest democracy, is today grappling with failures on multiple fronts — diplomatic, strategic, and moral. Behind the façade of economic growth, technological achievements, and global recognition lies a deeply troubled society, plagued by inequality, intolerance, and political arrogance.

Diplomatic and Strategic Decline

Once projecting dominance in South Asia, India has steadily lost its influence over neighboring countries. Control over Bangladesh has faded; Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and even Afghanistan no longer view India as the uncontested regional leader. Relations with Iran have cooled, and its aggressive stance in Kashmir has alienated not only Pakistan but also large sections of the international community.

While India boasts of its military strength, including nuclear capability achieved before Pakistan, recent military confrontations have tarnished its image. The myth of Indian invincibility has crumbled — especially after failing to secure decisive outcomes against Pakistan in recent conflicts.

Internal Contradictions and Social Injustice

Despite reaching space and excelling in the IT sector, India remains trapped in the medieval chains of caste discrimination. In the 21st century, millions from lower castes still face humiliation — barred from sharing meals, working together, or accessing equal opportunities. This is not progress; it is moral decay.

Religious minorities — Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians — face targeted violence. Mosques and gurdwaras have been demolished, and in Kashmir, decades of occupation have led to widespread human rights violations, including mass killings. The rise of Hindu extremist groups, tolerated and sometimes supported by the state, has turned India into an unsafe country not just for minorities, but for any voice of dissent.

Economic Gaps and Misplaced Priorities

While India invests billions in global influence campaigns and military expansion, it neglects its most basic responsibilities to its citizens. Over 150 million Indians live without proper sanitation; millions more sleep on the streets of Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata. Instead of building toilets and homes, resources are diverted to fueling regional tensions and propaganda wars.

Many of India’s greatest monuments and architectural wonders were built by Muslim rulers or the British colonial administration — yet nationalist rhetoric distorts history to deny this legacy, replacing fact with prideful myth. Even in sports, political fear dictates decisions — avoiding cricket matches with Pakistan out of the fear of losing.

Media Manipulation and Propaganda

India’s media, once respected for its vibrancy, has become one of the most biased in the world. A handful of journalists who dare to speak the truth face threats, censorship, or even assassination. The majority operate as mouthpieces for the ruling establishment, spinning narratives to conceal failures and glorify fictional victories — especially in cinema, where films turn propaganda into entertainment.

The Risk of Collapse

Beneath the surface of “Shining India” lie powerful separatist movements in various states. If New Delhi continues to ignore its own people while violating international laws — including the UN resolutions on Kashmir — the dream of a “Great India” could end in fragmentation.

Pakistan, despite its military capability, has refrained from targeting Indian civilians in conflicts, respecting international law. But if India continues on its path of arrogance and aggression, it risks provoking a scenario where even its most secure assets — dams, infrastructure, and cities — could become vulnerable.

The Path Forward

For India’s leadership, the choice is simple: continue down the road of extremism, propaganda, and oppression — and face eventual isolation and internal breakdown — or embrace the principles of justice, equality, and peaceful coexistence.

True greatness will not come from intimidating neighbors or glorifying military power. It will come from eradicating caste-based discrimination, ensuring equal rights for all citizens regardless of religion, honoring international agreements, and using national resources for human development instead of hostility.

If India sincerely commits to these reforms, it can still emerge as a respected global leader. If it refuses, history will remember it as a nation that had every opportunity for greatness — but chose greed, arrogance, and hatred instead.

Syed Ali Raza Naqvi Bukhari

Unity of Peace, Economic Reform, and Global Unity

Founder & Chairman of Tehreek Istehkam Pakistan, and the author of “Law of God” and “Social Democratic System.” He advocates for truth, social justice, and reform in all sectors of society.