India After 60 Years

A Mathematical Mind:
• Algebra originated in India: Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi learned the
technique of Indian mathematics and introduced it to the world through his
famous book on arithmetic text, the Kitab al-jamwal tafriq bi hisab aI-Hindi
("Book on Addition and Subtraction after the Method of the Indians"), around
780-850 A.D The first use of algebraic transformation was described by
Brahmagupta in his book Brahmasphutasiddhanta, where he first proposed
solution of Linear Algebra and Quadratic Equation.
• The ancient Indian mathematicians were also very familiar with Trigonometry.
Aryabhata in 499, gave tables of half chords which are now known as sine tables,
along with cosine tables. He used zya for sine, kotizya for cosine, and otkram zya
for inverse sine, and also introduced the versine.
• The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas numbers
as big as 10 to the power of 53 with specific names were used in ancient India.
• The Place Value System' and the 'Decimal System' were .developed in India in 1
00 B.C.

The Peace Loving Country:

• India never invaded any in her last 1000 years of history.India provides safety for
more than 300,000 refugees originally from Sri Lanka, Tibet, Bhutan,
Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who escaped to flee religious and political
persecution.

India's Sporting Spirit:

• The game of Snakes & Ladders was create in Industry the 13th century poet saint
Gyandev. It was originally called 'Mokshapat'. The ladders in the game
represented virtues and the snakes indicated vices. The game was played with
cowrie shells and dices. In time, the game underwent several modifications, but
its meaning remained the same, i.e. good deeds take people to heaven and evil to a
cycle of re-births. It is also widely believed that some forms of Martial Arts were
first created in India, and later spread to Asia by Buddhist missionaries. Yoga has
its origins in India and has existed for over 5,000 years.

Challenges To India's Democracy

Divisive tendencies:-

• In a country of over a billion people, Indian nationalism has for long survived the
divisive tendencies of caste, crass, religion and languages. But recent past
 growing violence in the name of religion and sub nationalism has posed a great
threat to the smooth functioning democracy in India.

Extremism:-

• There is an organized attempt by forces inimical to freedom and peace in our

region to destroy Indian democracy by striking at the every roots of our
nationhood. Over a period of time there has been a systematic effort to spread
communal disharmony and conflict in India
• Unemployment The employment growth in organized sector, public and private
combined has declined during the period between and 2006 and the situation has
got aggravated during the last year due to the global financial crisis.

Regionalism:-

• This is the main weakness of Indian democracy today. A large part of the Indian
politics has been reduced to 'Identity politics, be it caste, religious or regional
identities, ~ and this brings divisive forces to play.

Illiteracy:-

• Literacy in India, says UNESCO, is an indispensable means for effective social

and economic participation, contributing to human development and poverty India
is one of the countries (along with the Arab states and sub-Saharan Africa) where
the literacy levels are still below the threshold level of75% hut gigantic efforts a
on to achieve that level. Without literate and well inform 'Citizens, no democracy
can be participative in the true sense.

Corruption and nepotism:-

This is another major problem in our country today. Many of us have simply
accepted it as sad reality. But unless we are able to fight corruption, the benefits
of development can never be shared equitably and democratically.

Important Persons Who Drafted Our Constitution

Some names feature prominently when we talk about the framers of our Constitution.
There are others who may not be remembered as widely, but their contribution to the
entire process was immense. A brief on some such personalities:

• K M Munshi: Was one of the most prominent members of the Assembly. He was
a member of several committees including the rules, steering and advisory
committees. Went on to become a minister in the government and then the
governor of UP.
• M A Ayyangar: A prominent member of the steering committee. Went on to
become the speaker of the Lok Sabha.
• N Gopalswami Ayyangar: A member of the rules, business, drafting and several
other committees
• Benegal Narsing Rau: Not a member of the Assembly, he assisted the assembly
with his knowledge and erudition and also enabled the other members to perform
their duties with thoroughness and intelligence by supplying them with the
material on which they could work.' He represented India at the United Nations.
• N Madhava Rau: Was a member of the drafting committee.
• Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar: A was a member of the rules, drafting, union
powers and several other committees. I
• Jairamdas Daulatram: Was a member of the advisory, union subjects, and
provincial constitution committees. Went on to become the governor of Assam.
• Shankarrao Dattatraya Deo: Was a member of the minorities, and the
fundamental rights sub-committees; besides, he actively participated in several
other advisory committees.
• Shrimati G Durgabai: Was a member of the steering and rules committees.
• TT Krishnamachari: Was a member of the drafting committee. A businessman
who went on to become a minister in the government.
• H C Mookerjee: Was vice-president of the assembly and member of the minority
rights subcommittee and provincial constitution committee. Went on to become
governor of Bengal.
• Saiyad Mohammed Saadulla: Was a member of the steering and drafting
committees.
• Satyanarayan Sinha: Was a member of the steering committee and the
provincial constitution committee. Went on to become the minister of
parliamentary affairs.
• B Pattabhi Sitaramayya: Was a member of the rules, states, union subjects and
provincial constitution committees.