Over the years, India has fought through a long history of wars, intra-state conflicts, the partition, and much more. It went from being suppressed by the British to becoming the world’s largest democracy and a leading country in terms of international affairs.

One of the darkest chapters in India’s political history was the British colonial rule that began in the mid-18th century and continued for nearly two centuries.

The first time I witnessed proof of the history of devastating wars was when I was 12. At a school trip to Amritsar, -a state in India- I witnessed the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. 379 people died due to an open firing by the British on unarmed Indians. I could actually see gun holes in the walls of that place (it was traumatizing, to say the least).

My grandparents were also witnesses of the India-Pakistan partition, where millions of people were displaced from their homes with no access to even the basic necessities.

After the rough past India had, the government worked hard to ensure peace and harmony among its citizens. Now, India’s political system is a parliamentary democracy, with a President as the head of state and a Prime Minister as the head of government.

It has a multi-party system with numerous political parties representing various ideologies, interests, and regions. The Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been two dominant political forces, but regional parties also play a significant role.

Fun fact: India holds the record for the largest voter turnout in the world. Its general elections witness millions of citizens exercising their right to vote.

In conclusion, India’s political journey from colonial rule to the world’s largest democracy is a testament to its commitment to democracy, and we must appreciate everything that our freedom fighters have done to achieve that.