Why India Struggles to Celebrate Its Own Achievements?

India is a land of unmatched civilizational depth, timeless spiritual heritage, scientific innovation, and cultural diversity. From the discovery of zero and ancient metallurgy to ISRO’s lunar missions and world-leading IT services, India has every reason to take pride in its accomplishments. Yet, paradoxically, a striking pattern persists: Indians often overlook or underplay their own achievements while being overly eager to celebrate recognition from the West. This persistent undervaluation of native success is not incidental; it is deeply rooted in historical, psychological, and cultural layers that continue to shape India’s national consciousness.

1. Colonial Hangover and Mental Conditioning

The roots of this attitude lie in the psychological scars left by nearly two centuries of British colonial rule. Beyond economic exploitation, colonialism systematically eroded India’s self-esteem. The British created an education system designed not to empower but to produce clerks who would serve the Empire. Lord Macaulay’s infamous “Minute on Indian Education” in 1835 openly stated the aim of forming a class of Indians who were “Indian in blood and colour, but English in tastes, in opinions, in morals, and in intellect.”

This deliberate mental conditioning fostered a belief that everything Western was superior, and everything Indian was outdated or inferior. The damage was profound: generations of Indians grew up internalizing the notion that greatness came only from the West, and progress was measured by how closely one mimicked Western standards.

2. Fragmented Historical Consciousness

India’s history is vast and glorious, yet its telling has been fragmented. The common categorization of Indian history into “Ancient,” “Medieval,” and “Modern” creates an artificial disconnection between different eras. Unlike Western nations, which present their histories as a continuous civilizational journey, India’s timeline is taught in isolated compartments, rarely highlighting the continuity of thought, culture, or innovation.

This disjointed narrative has made it difficult for modern Indians to feel rooted in their civilizational identity. Few realize that the same soil that produced Vedic philosophy also gave rise to Nalanda University, Bhaskaracharya’s astronomical genius, Shivaji’s governance model, and the spiritual strength of Vivekananda. Without a cohesive understanding of our past, celebrating it becomes a challenge.

3. Post-Independence Intellectual Disengagement

After independence, India’s academic and intellectual institutions were largely shaped by Western-educated elites. Dominated by Nehruvian socialism and Marxist ideologies, these institutions often viewed India’s traditional knowledge systems, cultural icons, and spiritual heritage with skepticism or outright contempt. In this environment, the idea of drawing inspiration from ancient Indian thought was considered regressive, while Western political, economic, and social frameworks were glorified.

As a result, icons such as Chanakya, Adi Shankaracharya, Maharana Pratap, or even movements like Bhoodan led by Vinoba Bhave were marginalized or dismissed as idealistic. Their immense contributions to Indian civilization were underrepresented in education, media, and public discourse.

4. Craving Western Validation

In post-colonial India, Western approval became the gold standard for success. Whether it was getting into an Ivy League university, receiving praise from Western media, or winning an Oscar or Booker Prize, Indian elites often viewed these accolades as superior to local recognition.

This mindset created a hierarchy of value: achievements that got international attention were seen as more significant than those that emerged organically from within the country. Thus, when Indian scientists succeed abroad, they are celebrated; but when they innovate in India without global limelight, their work is often ignored. This hunger for external validation persists in many layers of Indian society.

5. Urban-Centric Media and Elitism

Indian media, especially English-language outlets, has often been urban-centric and elitist in its approach. It tends to celebrate cosmopolitan success stories while ignoring grassroots achievements. Movements like the Bhoodan Movement — where millions of acres were voluntarily donated by landowners to landless farmers — rarely make headlines or documentaries. But the moment Western journalists write about Indian poverty, caste, or social issues, it becomes national news.

This selective amplification reinforces the narrative that real change or recognition must come from outside, rather than from within.

6. Failure to Build Institutional Memory

One reason India doesn’t celebrate its heroes and movements adequately is the absence of institutions that preserve and popularize them. The United States, for example, has presidential libraries, the Smithsonian museums, and detailed archives that honor scientific and cultural achievements. In contrast, India has done little to institutionalize the memory of many of its nation-builders, reformers, and scientists.

Where is the national museum for Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan Yatra? Where are the archives showcasing Bhaskaracharya’s contributions to mathematics and astronomy? Why isn’t there a civilizational museum tracing Indian achievements from the Harappan era to the digital age? The lack of such institutions contributes to collective amnesia.

7. Generational Self-Doubt

Generations of Indians have grown up with a mindset of self-doubt. Middle-class families, conditioned by decades of scarcity, often prioritize survival, security, and conformity over creativity and confidence. Children are taught to aim for government jobs or foreign opportunities, but rarely to take pride in India’s own legacy. The result is a technically capable population that often lacks cultural rootedness or national pride.

This self-doubt perpetuates a cycle: if you’re not taught to value your roots, you’re unlikely to celebrate them, and you may even look down upon them in pursuit of foreign ideals.

8. Changing Value Systems

India’s civilizational values emphasized duty over rights, harmony over competition, and inner growth over material excess. But in the race for modernity, many of these values have been replaced by consumerism, individualism, and transactional thinking. In such an environment, spiritual or ethical achievements — like the voluntary land donations of the Bhoodan Movement — seem irrelevant or impractical.

Instead of drawing inspiration from selfless service, society increasingly idolizes material success. Consequently, many of India’s most moral and visionary contributions are dismissed as idealistic relics.

Toward a New Cultural Awakening

Despite these challenges, there is growing awareness — especially among youth — that India must reclaim and celebrate its own legacy. The success of ISRO, the global impact of yoga and Ayurveda, the resurgence of Indian languages, and renewed interest in epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata are signs of cultural revival.

To accelerate this process, India must:

  • Revamp its education system to reflect a cohesive, civilizational narrative.
  • Build public institutions and museums that preserve the memory of indigenous achievements.
  • Encourage local storytelling and history writing in regional languages.
  • Promote pride with humility, not arrogance — an informed and confident identity.
  • Recognize everyday Indian heroes, not just those validated abroad.

Conclusion

India does not lack achievements — it lacks the institutional and cultural framework to celebrate them. From ancient wisdom to modern innovation, from ethical reformers to unsung scientists, India has a rich legacy waiting to be honored. The day we begin to see ourselves through our own lens — not through the eyes of the West — is the day India will truly rise, not just as an economic power, but as a civilizational beacon once again.

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