The record of 75 years: How will India be more whole-heartedly admired?

If India addresses its institutional and policy failures, reduces its inequalities and addressing its iniquities over the next 25 years, that would truly make it an Indian century, writes T N Ninan

How should we assess India’s record as an independent country over the 75 years since Independence? The most obvious point is that it has marked a dramatic departure from the preceding 90 years of colonial rule, and the century of exploitative colonial capture before that. After close to two centuries of first rapid decline and then stagnation, with (to use a typical indicator) average life expectancy in 1947 of 32 years, India has emerged with new dynamism, imbued its freedom with a sense of purpose, and devoted itself to social and economic progress.
 
Belying dire commentary by Western observers