New Delhi, 2025 — As the world’s largest democracy, India stands as a beacon of resilience and adaptability in governance. With its commitment to inclusivity, pluralism, and grassroots participation, India’s democratic model offers valuable lessons for neighbouring nations like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, many of which face political instability, governance challenges, and economic volatility.
Lessons from India for South Asian Neighbours
- Bangladesh: Strengthening Electoral Integrity While Bangladesh has made strides in economic growth, its democratic framework has faced challenges, including election-related violence and political polarization. India’s robust electoral systems, overseen by the Election Commission of India (ECI), offer an exemplary model of transparency and efficiency.
- What Bangladesh Can Learn: Institutionalizing an independent election commission and adopting voter awareness campaigns, similar to India’s Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP), can enhance public trust in the electoral process.
- Pakistan: Promoting Pluralism Pakistan’s democracy is often marred by religious and ethnic tensions, impacting its societal cohesion. India’s constitutional commitment to secularism and diversity, ensuring equal rights for all religious and cultural groups, demonstrates the value of inclusivity.
- What Pakistan Can Learn: Emphasizing pluralistic policies and fostering interfaith dialogue, inspired by India’s focus on peaceful coexistence, can strengthen Pakistan’s democratic ethos.
- Nepal: Institutional Stability Nepal’s transition to federal democracy has been fraught with political instability and frequent government changes. India’s ability to maintain peaceful transitions of power and uphold institutional integrity, even in a diverse and complex environment, is a model for stability.
- What Nepal Can Learn: Strengthening federal structures and fostering collaboration between central and provincial governments, as seen in India’s Panchayati Raj Institutions, can help Nepal achieve long-term stability.
- Sri Lanka: Decentralization and Grassroots Governance Sri Lanka has faced challenges in effectively addressing regional disparities and ensuring equitable development. India’s decentralization through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments has empowered local governments, enabling tailored solutions for regional issues.
- What Sri Lanka Can Learn: Adopting decentralized governance systems and promoting local participation can help Sri Lanka address grievances, particularly in regions like the Northern and Eastern provinces.
India’s Regional Leadership in Democracy
India’s influence as a democratic leader extends beyond governance structures:
- Economic Collaboration Initiatives like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)underscore India’s commitment to fostering regional development. Its focus on economic integration can inspire neighbours to prioritize democratic and economic reforms.
- Crisis Management During crises, such as the recent political upheaval in Sri Lanka, India’s humanitarian aid and diplomatic engagement reflect its role as a stabilizing force in the region.
- Soft Power Diplomacy India’s cultural diplomacy, through yoga, Bollywood, and shared historical ties, strengthens its democratic influence across South Asia. Programs like ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The World is One Family) reinforce the idea of harmony and mutual respect.
Challenges and Opportunities
While India provides valuable lessons, it must continue addressing its challenges, such as economic inequality and political polarization, to remain a credible example. Neighbouring countries can learn not just from India’s successes but also from its approach to tackling internal issues.
Conclusion
India’s democratic journey offers a roadmap for neighbouring nations grappling with governance challenges. From electoral reforms and pluralism to decentralization and institutional stability, India’s values resonate as powerful tools for building resilient democracies. By fostering collaboration and sharing best practices, South Asia can collectively move towards a future defined by stability, prosperity, and democratic integrity, with India leading the charge as a beacon of hope and inspiration.
