Compare and Contrast Post-Colonial India and Post-Revolutionary China (since 1949)

India and China

12 .12 .2007

Introduction

Over past 50 years India and China have emerged as new giants in global economic , social and political . The modern history of these Asian neighbors starts concurrently in 1947-49 in similar conditions of economic jeopardy , legacy of colonial rule and monarchy , burgeoning population , and general poverty . China and India witnessed population explosion on relatively unprecedented scale , subsequently pushing their population beyond one billion . Both of them have been also gifted with huge geographical presence and abundant natural resources to capitalize in creating

a sound economic infrastructure . The purpose of this is to study the growth and development routes adopted by these two while aligning in their cultural heritage and legacy in their in their quest towards modernization and development

Brief background

India and China share a strikingly similar historical background that is etched in colonial canvas . While India was a colony of Britain , under its direct control and supervision , China was also a tool in hands of Britain , Japan , Germany and several other European nations , exploited for their commercial interests . India gained its independence from British rule in 1947 , ending over a hundred years of freedom struggle Almost simultaneously , in 1949 China came out from periods of intense violence and struggle to get its first stable political in decades in form of the communist government . At this junction , India and China shared a similar social and economic space , that was enwrapped in poverty , illiteracy , resource under-utilization , and lack of infrastructure , along with a new political and administrative at the top that was entrusted with responsibility of setting the future course of their respective country . India and China also show great similarity in their tradition and cultural heritage . They have typically conservative Asian societies that place great value at customs and traditions . Each has a cultural heritage thousands of years old , woven complexly and tightly around their day-to-day life , setting guidelines and parameters for their action , thought and philosophy

However , their similarities , apparently end here as they adopted completely different approach and strategies in their in their stride towards growth , development and prosperity , labored under separate political theories , followed different ideological paths and established contrasting political and governing systems . Under premiership of Jawaharlal Nehru , India converged on a democratic model of governance close on the spirit of British Parliamentary Democracy , China followed a completely different path in modeling its political system on pattern of then USSR 's communist system . Their political philosophies significantly differed where India refrained itself from getting drawn in the raging Cold War of `50s-90s , following a non-aligned socialist approach in world politics . On the other hand , China , under the dynamic leadership of Mao Tse Tung , became an aggressive campaigner in the cause of communism and aligned itself directly with USSR led communist block taking up its stand against the `democratic capitalism ' of Western nations

Both India and China contradictions of the political models did not alter the fundamental ground situations of the two nations that remained...