A Brief Critique of Curriculum and Missed Indigenous Voices
As someone who grew up in India, I always believed that our political system—diverse, noisy, and deeply rooted—was something special. But when I started studying political science more seriously, something felt off. Despite being in one of the world’s oldest democracies and richest civilizations, we were still relying on political theories shaped in the West to understand our own country.
It made me ask: Why are we ignoring our own political voices and traditions?
And more importantly: What can we do about it?
The Overuse of Western Political Thought in Indian Education
Look at any political science syllabus in India—school or college—and you’ll mostly find names like Plato, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Marx. These thinkers are important, and I’m not saying we shouldn’t study them. But the problem is we study them more than we study our own.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who literally shaped our Constitution and offered powerful ideas about social democracy and justice, is usually treated as a historical figure—not a political theorist. Kautilya, one of the earliest thinkers on statecraft and economic policy, barely gets more than a chapter. Thinkers like Jyotirao Phule, Savitribai Phule, Periyar, and Tagore are pushed to the sidelines.
This doesn’t just create an incomplete education—it sends a silent message: that real theory is foreign. That Indian ideas are not deep or modern enough. And that’s not just wrong—it’s damaging.
Who Are We Leaving Out?
We’ve also ignored a lot of powerful voices from within India’s own margins. Caste, tribe, gender, and class-based thinkers have shaped political ideas on the ground, through activism and community leadership. But they rarely get space in our formal learning.
For example, Savitribai Phule was one of India’s first women educators and a social reformer. Her thoughts on education, equality, and justice can reshape how we understand power and representation. But ask a high school student today if they’ve heard of her—and most will say no.
When we leave out these voices, we miss out on real solutions to real problems. Because let’s face it—India’s challenges are different. Our democracy is messier, more diverse, and more layered than most others. We need theories that are built for us, by us.
The Digital Generation Deserves Better Theory
Today, young Indians live in a digital-first world. From political memes to Twitter debates to Instagram activism, politics is not limited to Parliament anymore. Movements rise from hashtags. Awareness spreads through stories, not speeches. But political theory hasn’t caught up.
Most students still learn about old-school governance, election systems, and traditional power structures—without discussing digital surveillance, privacy, online misinformation, or the power of algorithms in shaping opinions.
We’re teaching them about outdated frameworks in a hyper-connected, fast-changing reality. That’s a recipe for disconnection and apathy.
Learning from Our Roots: Indian Political Wisdom
This isn’t about rejecting Western thinkers—it’s about making space for our own. Indian political philosophy goes far beyond what’s currently taught. Kautilya’s Arthashastra is a goldmine of practical political and economic thinking. Ambedkar’s writings on social democracy and constitutional morality are still some of the most relevant political ideas in the world today.
Tagore questioned the dangers of blind nationalism. Gandhi brought in ethical politics through swaraj and ahimsa. These aren’t just historical figures—they’re thought leaders with fresh perspectives for today’s problems.
And let’s not forget India’s many decentralized, community-led systems like panchayats, gram sabhas, and tribal self-governance models. These are not just cultural practices—they are working political systems that deserve serious academic attention.
How Do We Fix This?
We can’t fix political theory overnight—but we can start with education.
Teachers, curriculum designers, and policymakers need to seriously reconsider what is being taught in political science. Indian thinkers should be integrated into the core curriculum, not treated like “special topics.” Regional movements, grassroots leaders, and contemporary issues like climate justice, gender identity, and digital rights should be part of every student’s political vocabulary.
And just as importantly—we need new ways of delivering this knowledge. Podcasts, short videos, real-life case studies, and even social media series can make political theory feel alive. Let’s not limit learning to textbooks and outdated lectures.
Conclusion: Rethinking Starts With Us
If we want future leaders who understand India, they need to study India—not just through a Western lens, but through its own political stories, voices, and struggles.
We don’t need to copy-paste other countries’ theories. We need to craft our own, based on our lived experiences. This is how we build a stronger democracy—one that doesn’t just function but thrives.
As someone who now runs a digital marketing agency, I understand the power of storytelling and communication. We help brands tell their stories, build trust, and connect with the right audience. In the same way, India needs to tell its own story in political education—clearly, confidently, and creatively.
So here’s a question for you:
Which Indian political thinker or movement do you believe deserves a bigger place in our classrooms—and why?
Let’s talk about it. Because rethinking begins with dialogue.