India Has Always Been Conservative—It’s Time for Liberal Thinking

 India is a land of paradoxes—vibrant chaos meets ancient tradition, tech hubs rise next to cow-dotted villages, and Bollywood churns out romance while families arrange marriages. But beneath this dizzying mix lies a stubborn truth: Indian society has always been conservative. From Vedic times to the Instagram age, we’ve clung to hierarchy, tradition, and conformity like a security blanket. It’s not all bad—it’s given us resilience and identity—but it’s also held us back. As Indians, we desperately need a dose of liberal thinking. Let’s explore why, with a few examples that hit close to home.

The Vedic Blueprint: Rules Over Reason

Go back 3,000 years to the Vedic period. The Rigveda wasn’t just poetry—it was a rulebook. Society was sliced into the varna system: Brahmins at the top, Kshatriyas next, then Vaishyas, and Shudras at the bottom. Your birth decided your role—no questions asked. Women? Their job was to marry, serve, and bear sons, as the Manusmriti later codified with glee. Sure, there were hymns to nature and lofty ideas about cosmic order, but the system screamed control, not freedom.

Fast forward to the Upanishads around 600 BCE. You’d think the shift to philosophy—meditating on Atman and Brahman—would loosen things up. Nope. The Brahmins still ran the show, and the caste ladder stayed rigid. Even questioning the system was a privilege reserved for the elite. Conservatism wasn’t just a phase—it was baked in.

Medieval India: Devotion, Not Disruption

By the medieval period, Bhakti saints like Kabir and Mirabai sang of love for God over caste or creed. Sounds progressive, right? Not quite. Their rebellion was spiritual, not social. Kabir might’ve mocked priests, but he didn’t dismantle the patriarchy or untouchability. The Mughal era added purdah—veiling women—to the mix, doubling down on gender norms. Even the liberal Akbar, with his interfaith debates, kept power centralized and tradition intact. India’s heart stayed conservative, even when its poets dreamed big.

Colonial Pushback: Clinging to the Old

When the British rolled in, you’d expect a shake-up. Instead, we doubled down. The 1857 rebellion wasn’t about liberty—it was about restoring kings and customs the British threatened. Reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy fought sati (widow-burning) in the 1820s, but faced backlash from orthodox Hindus who saw it as sacred tradition. The caste system? The British codified it further with their census obsession, and we didn’t exactly riot for equality. We resisted change, not oppression.

Modern India: Same Story, New Packaging

Independence in 1947 could’ve been a reset. Instead, we wrote a progressive Constitution but lived conservatively. Take marriage—90% of Indians still marry within their caste, per a 2016 survey by the Lokniti program. Arranged marriages dominate, often with dowry quietly changing hands despite being illegal. The 2012 Delhi gang rape sparked outrage, but victim-blaming persists—remember the politician who said women shouldn’t be out at night? That’s 2020s India, not some ancient text.

LGBTQ rights? Section 377 lingered until 2018, and even post-decriminalization, same-sex marriage is a pipe dream—conservative lawmakers won’t touch it. Meanwhile, cow vigilantism thrives, with mobs lynching people over beef rumors (like the 2015 Dadri killing). Tradition trumps reason every time. And don’t get me started on honor killings—over 300 cases annually, per the National Crime Records Bureau, because love across caste or religion is still a death sentence in some villages.

The Bollywood Mirror

Even our pop culture reflects this. Bollywood churns out films like Kabir Singh (2019), where a toxic, controlling hero is romanticized, grossing ₹379 crore. Contrast that with Piku (2015), a rare gem about an independent woman, which made less than half that. We cheer conservative tropes—self-sacrificing wives, obedient sons—while sidelining stories that challenge norms. Art imitates life, and our life loves the status quo.

Why Liberal Thinking Matters

So, what’s the cost? Stagnation. Our conservatism fuels inequality—India ranks 129th on the 2023 Gender Gap Index, behind Bangladesh. It stifles innovation—our obsession with “safe” careers like engineering or medicine kills creative risk-taking. It breeds intolerance—think of the 2021 arrests of comedians like Munawar Faruqui for “hurting sentiments.” We’re a young nation (median age 28), but our mindset feels ancient.

Liberal thinking—openness to change, individual freedom, rational debate—could break this cycle. Imagine questioning caste without fear, letting women choose their paths (not just their husbands), or debating religion without riots. It’s not about copying the West—it’s about unlocking India’s potential. The Bhakti poets bent rules; Tagore dreamed of a free mind in “Gitanjali.” We’ve got the seeds—we just need to water them.

The Road Ahead

This isn’t a rant against tradition. Our heritage—yoga, Ayurveda, the Mahabharata—is worth celebrating. But clinging to every old idea like it’s gospel? That’s where we falter. Liberal thinking doesn’t mean abandoning our roots—it means pruning what’s rotten so the tree grows stronger.

Look at our neighbors. Sri Lanka legalized abortion in 1995; we’re still debating it. Nepal recognized a third gender in 2007; we’re lagging despite our hijra history. We’re not incapable of change—look at the Green Revolution or Aadhaar—but we need to apply that energy to society, not just systems.

So, India, let’s talk. Why do we clutch tradition so tight? What’s stopping us from asking hard questions? The comments are open—bring your chai and your thoughts.

Navigating India’s Right-Wing Wave: A Survival Guide for 2025 and Beyond

Dealing with right-wing perspectives in India—whether in the present (2025) or the future—can feel like navigating a minefield if you’re left-leaning, especially given the right’s current dominance (40-50% of the politically engaged population, per earlier analysis). The BJP’s grip on power, media, and public discourse makes it a daily reality, and the trend suggests it’ll stick around through at least the 2030s. Here’s a practical, no-nonsense guide to cope, grounded in understanding the dynamics and keeping your sanity intact.

In the Present (2025)

The right’s strength today—rooted in Hindu nationalism, economic promises, and a slick media machine—means you’re often outnumbered in conversations, online, or even at family gatherings. Here’s how to handle it:

1. Pick Your Battles
   • Not every “right-wing idiot” needs a debate. If your uncle’s ranting about Modi’s genius at dinner, weigh the stakes—is it worth the energy? Save your breath for moments that matter, like policy discussions with someone open to reason or when misinformation’s spreading unchecked (e.g., WhatsApp forwards claiming India’s inequality is a “leftist lie”).
   • Data Point: X posts show right-wing narratives dominate Indian social media—think #BharatMataKiJai trending weekly. Engaging every troll burns you out fast.
2. Know Their Playbook
   • The right leans on emotional triggers: nationalism (“You’re anti-India!”), religion (“You hate Hindus!”), or cherry-picked stats (“Economy’s booming!”). Counter with facts—Oxfam’s 40% wealth concentration in the top 1% or 8.1% unemployment (CMIE 2023)—but keep it calm. They thrive on your frustration.
   • Example: If they brag about GDP growth, nod and ask, “Why’s the Gini coefficient at 0.410 then?” It’s a quiet jab that forces them to think (or Google).
3. Build Your Bubble—But Not Too Tight
   • Find like-minded folks—left-leaning X communities, local activist groups, or even Kerala/Tamil Nadu expats if you’re stuck in a BJP stronghold. It’s a sanity lifeline. But don’t isolate completely; echo chambers make you lazy, not sharp.
   • Reality Check: The Left’s down to 20-30% nationally. You’re not alone, but you’re not the majority either—connect strategically.
4. Stay Subtle Online
   • X is a right-wing echo chamber in India—trolls pounce on “libtards” fast. Share your views through questions (“Why do 63 million fall into poverty yearly from healthcare costs?”) or retweet data-driven posts (e.g., Oxfam reports) instead of preaching. It’s less likely to trigger a pile-on.
   • Tip: Mute, don’t block—keeps your feed clean without escalating feuds.
5. Focus on What You Can Change
   • National politics feel rigged, but local action—volunteering for education drives, supporting labor unions, or pushing caste equity—aligns with left values and sidesteps endless Modi debates. It’s tangible, not theoretical.

In the Future (2030s–2040s)

Looking ahead, the right might hold 40-50% through 2040, per earlier projections, but cracks could emerge—inequality, youth unrest, or a weak BJP successor. Here’s how to prep and cope long-term:

1. Adapt to the Long Game
   • If the right dominates, as seems likely, outright resistance might stay futile. Shift to subtle influence—educate quietly, back grassroots movements, or infiltrate centrist spaces (projected to hit 30-40%). The BJP’s peak could soften by 2040 if inequality festers (Gini potentially hitting 0.5+).
   • Scenario: A 2035 economic dip could revive left ideas—be ready to amplify them without gloating.
2. Leverage Crises
   • Climate change (50% of farmland unirrigated) or urban poverty could expose right-wing market-first flaws. Push left-leaning solutions—state healthcare, rural jobs—when the moment’s ripe. People listen when they’re desperate, not smug.
   • Example: If water riots hit by 2035, pitch public infrastructure over privatization—data like 63 million healthcare poverties yearly backs you up.
3. Outlast the Noise
   • The right’s emotional pitch—Hindutva, “strong India”—might fade post-big wins (e.g., Ram Temple’s done). Exhaustion could set in; your steady, fact-based case (e.g., 40% of girls out of school) might age better. Don’t expect a flip soon, but plant seeds for 2040.
   • Tactic: Share long-term stats—child stunting at 40%—that hit harder as nationalism’s buzz wears off.
4. Build Resilience
   • The future might mean more right-wing noise—AI-driven propaganda, louder media. Train yourself to tune out idiocy (e.g., “Leftists ruined India” revisionism) and focus on your lane. Meditation, offline hobbies, or a solid friend group keep you grounded.
   • Prediction: If the right holds 45% by 2040, the other 55% (left + centrists) is your playing field—nurture it.
5. Hope for a Pivot
   • A centrist surge (30-40% by 2040) or left revival (15-25%) isn’t impossible if the BJP overreaches—say, pushing divisive laws too far. Stay sharp, not bitter; a coalition could pull some of those “idiots” your way if they tire of dogma.

Core Mindset

• Don’t Hate, Outsmart: Calling them “idiots” feels good but wins nothing. They’re not all dumb—many are just sold a different story. Dismantle it with data (e.g., Hazra’s crime-inequality link) or questions they can’t dodge.
• Play Defense and Offense: Protect your peace now—limit X doomscrolling—but prep for openings later (e.g., 2030s unrest). The right’s not invincible; it’s just loud.
• Accept the Odds: You’re outnumbered today (20-30% vs. 40-50%). That’s not failure—it’s context. Work within it, not against it.

Bottom Line

In 2025, cope by dodging pointless fights, hitting with facts, and carving your space—think local wins over national shouting matches. By 2040, the right might still lead, but cracks could widen—stay ready with solutions (healthcare, equity) when they do. You won’t convert every “idiot,” but you can outlast them. India’s messy—always has been. Lean into that, not away.