is a juxtaposition that in a country like India, with more than a billion people, a nation with diverse customs, relations, food, ethnicity, and linguistics, one of the most glamourous and sought after career is controlled by a limited number of families and clans, which are more or less known or connected to each other. This has time and again resulted in an ardent debate on nepotism, the last one only a few years ago with actress Kangana Ranaut at its forefront.
Hence, it is not a surprise that the unfortunate demise of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput has once again not only set Bollywood but also fans and politicians alike in an intense and vehement argument on nepotism
"In a garden full of roses, a sunflower couldn't bloom since it belongs to the contrasting clan"
How can a lack of meritocracy lead to a healthy competition for the society to grow? How would this lead to the self-realization of individual knacks' for persistent improvement? Should someone be penalized on account of not having any association with the successful tribe of this country? Is it justified to set the success bar on account of the family name?
As a society, we Indians have evolved and transfigured ourselves to the need of time, yet regrettably, in some phases, we are still strained and gripped in a knot of feudalism, which is birthed from nepotism. Let's figure out the purposes and implications of having such a scenario.
Why does nepotism prevail in India?
Pre Independence, the throne of the kingdom was occupied by a dignitary belonging to the royal clan or any potentate from a state itself used to disown the authority. In either case, power emanated from or was authorized by the royal family. Indians seem disinterested to unsubscribe themselves from this system. Evidently
Fortunately, with our freedom struggle and our declaration as a Republic, we were able to shake off this malady from most political and executive roles (sadly not entirely); however, this system still has a keen hold on other spheres of public life as seen in a plethora of family-owned business conglomerates, film production houses, and even certain academic institutes.
The critical question is that even after 70 years of independence, have we developed a society where meritocracy towers over family clan names?
The honest answer is no. Nepotism is an aftermath of a long and rigorous process, which we all unknowingly go through since our childhood.
The sin that we Indians unwillingly commit is failing to empower and entrust our kids right from their childhood. Our disposition to be an eternal shadow to our kids proscribed them from fostering and infusing self-dependence skills.
While in nations such as the United States and the UK, parents tend to encourage their children to live an independent life, we Indian parents tend to forfeit and devote our entire lives for the happiness and prosperity of our child.
What shall be the implications of nepotism on the Indian Economy?
Nepotism poses threats to the nation’s economic advancements as it restricts the elevation of highly qualified and deserving candidates. There is no dearth of highly equipped and meriting nominees who may have higher education, upgraded skills, and work experience in the market but a lack of a generous ‘benefactor’ in the industry/sector/domain deprives them of an opportunity.
Nepotism unquestionably plays a significant and substantial role in widening the radius of lawlessness and corruption in the state. There are various reports from all over the world such as Korea, Russia that state how nepotism is a decelerating force for economic growth and invites stagnation to the country's development. The research papers published by University College of International Management, Republic of Kosovo and Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Federation Russia elicits the destruction brought upon by nepotism not only to the economy but vandalizing structural virtues of the society by promulgating the feeling of antipathy amongst each other. By only favoring people of certain houses fabricates imbalance, inequity, and mistreatment in a society that may lead to grave and drastic results.
The bottom line being, ‘favoritism’ is not only sabotaging an individual's growth and innovations but is repulsing the Indian Economy as well. The implications of nepotism could lead to unfair and biased treatment and broaden up the horizon of corruption in an organization which certainly affects a nation's growth and development.
What can we do to build a non-nepotistic state?
- Laying down the rules for eligibility while applying for a particular post.
- Excluding family members from awards and contests.
- Establishing an impartial and unbiased panel in every firm to monitor the inclusion of any family member by the higher authority having a performance review and implications after hiring family members in the organization.
- Moreover, we can take inspiration from the Kerala government’s decision and hope that things are going to finally improve.
By:- Rupika Tomar