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Description
This programme uses the same comparative historical method used in the China programme to analyse the relationship of politics to inequality in India. Inequality in India is considered both in the ...1920s and in contemporary India. This is demonstrated on film and through the techniques of animation. It is concluded that the structure of inequality in India has been changing very slowly since the beginning of the century. This is contrasted with the change in the political system of India. Comparison is made of India as a colony of the British Empire at the beginning of the century with India as a self-governing Republic operating a system of mass democracy today. The programme points to the fact that despite changes in the political system, there do not appear to have been concomitant changes in the structure of inequality. It is thus suggested that politics and inequality are largely independent of each other. This contrasts with the previous programme where it was argued that politics could be a positive force shaping the structure of inequality in society.
This programme uses the same comparative historical method used in the China programme to analyse the relationship of politics to inequality in India. Inequality in India is considered both in the ...1920s and in contemporary India. This is demonstrated on film and through the techniques of animation. It is concluded that the structure of inequality in India has been changing very slowly since the beginning of the century. This is contrasted with the change in the political system of India. Comparison is made of India as a colony of the British Empire at the beginning of the century with India as a self-governing Republic operating a system of mass democracy today. The programme points to the fact that despite changes in the political system, there do not appear to have been concomitant changes in the structure of inequality. It is thus suggested that politics and inequality are largely independent of each other. This contrasts with the previous programme where it was argued that politics could be a positive force shaping the structure of inequality in society.
| Module code and title: | D231, Comparative government and politics |
|---|---|
| Item code: | D231; 04 |
| First transmission date: | 12-05-1974 |
| Published: | 1974 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:24:24 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Francis Sealey |
| Contributors: | David Potter; Michael Smee; Geoffre Matthews |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | India; Inequality; Politics |
| Footage description: | Potter begins the programme by examining a representation of the relation between inequality and politics. This programme will deal with a third model, India. Sequence dealing broadly with the political history of India. Stills and film of Queen Victoria, George V's Coronation, Durbar and the Indian Army. Section dealing with the rise of Indian politicians. Films include shots of Gandhi, Nehru, and Lord Irwin, Viceroy in the 1920s. Post Second World War developments, including Mountbatten and the setting up of the Indian constitution, with shots of Nehru, Krishna Menon etc. Film of elections being conducted. Having examined the political development, Potter now looks at the effects on inequality in the country. Stills from Raj period of rich and poor, with statements from economists concerning average income in the 1930s. More stills and film clips from the Raj period showing relative wealth and poverty of native Indians. Potter now moves on to examine the effects on poverty and inequality of post 1950 Indian independence. Shots of early independence parliament and Sequence List politicians. Stills comparing the affluence of the few with the poverty of the many. Showing how the inequalities have continued, the programme looks briefly at the relevance the caste system. Shots of various caste members and village life in India. Potter sums up the relevance of this programme's findings to his model of the relationships between politics and inequality and outlines some reasons for the specific problems faced by India. Shots of Indian children. Credits. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/71226 |
| Production number: | 00525_2055 |
| Videofinder number: | 99 |
| Available to public: | no |
