question_answer

  Here are different opinions about what made India a democracy. How much importance would you give to each of these factors?         Democracy in India is a gift of the British rulers. We received training to work with representative legislative institutions under the British rule. Freedom struggle challenged the colonial exploitation and denial of different freedoms to Indians. Free India could not be anything but democratic. We were lucky to have leaders who had democratic convictions. The denial of democracy in several other newly independent countries shows the important role of these leaders.

Answer:

                  (i) Although, the British rule was not democratic our leaders learnt about how to work with representative Legislative institutions during the last few years of the rule, as the British allowed elections in a limited way and creation of some Legislative Assemblies. (ii) Freedom struggle  against  colonial  exploitation contributed a lot to making India a democracy. (iii) This is the most important factor in making India a democracy. The absence of these type of leaders made many newly independent countries undemocratic.