On January 26, 1950, India ceased to be a dominion of the British Empire and became a republic. It wasn't just the King of England who lost the right to be the King of India; rulers of 600-odd princely states that merged into India also lost their titles.
Unfortunately in the India of 2012, we have another kind of monarchy. The Congress party of India, which is single-handedly responsible for the poverty of a majority of Indians, has meticulously followed a hand-me-down system, where ministers and members of parliament are succeeded by their children. So, yes, the Republic of India is still a collection of princely states, although an English emperor doesn't rule the country anymore.
To be honest though, every country gets the kind of government it deserves. On a train ride to Udaipur last year, I heard a group of Marwaris talking about how business was in their blood. That was the reason they discouraged their children from pursuing independent careers and wanted them to join the family business. One middle-aged man in that group went on to add that the Nehru-Gandhi family was in power for almost 60 years and transcended generations. "It was in their blood" to rule, according to this man. Politicians, doctors, movie stars, singers, businessmen and athletes, all belong to new castes in this republic.
I am not criticising the country or its people. These are mere observations.
Unfortunately in the India of 2012, we have another kind of monarchy. The Congress party of India, which is single-handedly responsible for the poverty of a majority of Indians, has meticulously followed a hand-me-down system, where ministers and members of parliament are succeeded by their children. So, yes, the Republic of India is still a collection of princely states, although an English emperor doesn't rule the country anymore.
To be honest though, every country gets the kind of government it deserves. On a train ride to Udaipur last year, I heard a group of Marwaris talking about how business was in their blood. That was the reason they discouraged their children from pursuing independent careers and wanted them to join the family business. One middle-aged man in that group went on to add that the Nehru-Gandhi family was in power for almost 60 years and transcended generations. "It was in their blood" to rule, according to this man. Politicians, doctors, movie stars, singers, businessmen and athletes, all belong to new castes in this republic.
I am not criticising the country or its people. These are mere observations.
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