Political Regroupment in India

On the eve of India’s recent election (February, 1967) the fourth national election since independence in 1947, the Delhi correspondent of the London Times sent home two alarming dispatches. In one he announced the end of India’s parliamentary democracy, predicting this would be the last election ever held in that country. In the other, he solemnly announced the impending disintegration of the Indian Union.

Unfortunately, India is not among the most respected of nations. Its early demise has been forecast since its birth; the London Times doomster is but the latest in a long series. But even though a considerable part of British intellectual hostility toward India is accounted for by an illconcealed contempt for one’s former “subjects,” we cannot discount the gravity of India’s problems. The British and others may prefer the “neater” solution of Ayub Khan’s “directed democracy” in Pakistan, but the Indian people have clearly rejected such temptations and shown their intention to continue along the democratic path: weaknesses, shortcomings, and all. This is the basic meaning of the elections.

...