Assignment 01

Download as docx, pdf, or txt
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1of 2

Constructing Post-Colonial India

National character and The Doon School

Chapter 6 - The order of men: sentiments of the metropolis, settlements of civil


society
Subtopic - The heirs apparent, the minions of destiny, and the vertical invaders
Assignment 1 - Critic Review and Analysis

Ishan Shukla
220BARCH019 | 3B

Chapter 6 part 5 of Constructing Post-Colonial India titled “The Heirs Apparent, the
Minions of Destiny, and the Vertical Invaders,” and the themes discussed in this
chapter explore power, identity and social hierarchy in post-colonial India. This
chapter explores the strategies of various groups fighting for dominance and the
struggle for power in society and analyzes historical and cultural patterns that define
the Indian territory. The Heritage of Power, The term ‘appellants of succession’
represents those who inherit power and privilege in the framework of the socio-
political reality of India. This group may consist of people from higher classes, who
have some form of capital that allows them to preserve their position, get education
and even connect with other individuals in similar positions. The chapter points out
that the heirs are not only the passive beneficiaries of power, but rather they
participate in maintaining and building their status in society. This dynamic poses
questions on meritocracy and equality in the society which is yet to overcome the
effects of colonization and the caste system.
The Minions of Destiny, On the other hand, the “minions of destiny” are those who
are at the lowest level of society and have no voice in society. These people do not
have the means or the chances that the next in line has, and this creates a fight for
identity. This chapter also shows how these groups are excluded from the national
identity and progress discourses. The accounts are valuable for the analysis of the
post-colonial society since the characters disrupt the colonial discourse and seek to
promote a more inclusive concept of the Indian self.
The Effects of Globalization, The concept of “vertical invaders” is the penetration of
external forces such as globalization and foreign capital into the Indian society, which
tends to destabilize the vertical order. This invasion could be viewed as a threat and
also as an opportunity. On the positive side, it introduces new ideas and
technologies but on the negative side, it leads to the deterioration of cultural
heritages and social inequalities.
According to the chapter, the contact between these invaders and the local people
produces a new cultural terrain and new cultural identities, but they are not without
problems.
Standing against the heirs apparent, I claim that their power prolongs the oppression
that does not allow for the actual progress of post-colonial India. This is because the
heirs have direct control over the resources and decision-making processes and
hence come up with policies that will benefit them while the minions of destiny are
left with no say. This inequality is not only unfair to social equity but is also a negative
factor in the development of the country as a whole. This makes the society a
privileged one since the heirs are given the privileges in the society without having to
work for it. This situation is well illustrated in education, employment, and political
representation in which the elites are often dominant. The actors of fate, however,
continue to stay in their cycles of low income and powerlessness regardless of their
possible positive impacts. In addition, the vertical invaders deepen this problem by
partnering with the heirs apparent, which consolidates power. It becomes evident
that with the increased flow of foreign capital, the emphasis is shifted from people to
profit, and hence the policies that are formulated reflect this aspect by ignoring the
plight of the vulnerable in society. This dynamic poses a need to rethink how power
is wielded and exercised in society.
Thus, the themes of “The Heirs Apparent, the Minions of Destiny, and the Vertical
Invaders” give the reader a rather deep look at post-colonial India’s society. Even
though heirs remain rather powerful, it is high time to listen to the voices of the
minions of destiny and analyze the effects of vertical intruders. That is why only the
more liberal distribution of power and resources can help India build an effective and
inclusive national identity that would embrace its cultural and historical diversity.

You might also like