Democracy under the pure form of capitalism and socialism cannot be termed as proper democracy because both are at the end of the spectrums and therefore as Gandhi ji had suggested a middle path needs to be taken. The common man needs to be empowered to understand and utilize the rights that they have constitutionally received.
The problem that people like me have with the present version of democracy is that in the name of "people's rule", illogical things are thrust down our throat. We need that the incumbent government in its present term talk of the "people" that it represents. The state has a certain responsibility towards the masses which it cannot overlook the benefits of the bourgeois. I feel that the most important thing or sector that needs to be worked upon is education because empowerment will come from education and awareness. Right now entitlement has been given but the real power will come only when people are conscious about their rights and duties. The dichotomy of the society can be understood from the fact that though literacy rates have gone up, the percentage of people exercising their franchise has come down. The part of the cities where the elites inhabit are the ones which have the least voting percentage because they are sure that in the name of "democracy", it is feudal who will rule whether they vote or not. Parties have become more important than issues, certain people have been given cult status which is very much against the very grain of democracy which says that everybody is equal and there has to be a collective leadership. The Election Commission has to be realistic when it comes out with figures of what a candidate can spend because we all know what mockery it is. People too, have to be proactive when they elect their representatives because they are the ones who will get funds for the constituency and take decisions on behalf of the masses which according to them are "best" for the people.
A very important part of democracy is that state does not have a religion (in case of India, this has been mentioned in Indian constitution) but this is not visible in today's time. In India, the word "secularism" is the most abused. It surely does not mean minority appeasement (read Muslims) but it also does not mean that the majority would incite religion in the name of nationalism and worst the state stands as a mute spectator. This is facism and it is better to stick your neck out and call it so. The legislative has to be very strong and firm in its decision making if we do not want to become a fascist state. People too should not include politicians and parties in religious affairs for their petty benefits.
The opposition has to play a very active role if the democracy is to be conserved because they represent 62 percent of the voters who have not voted for the present government. Currently the opposition is in a mess as they are playing opportunistic politics and are being run as fiefdoms. The Left needs to reinvent itself in the present age when regional parties have become a reality and there hardcore voters are shifting not to the like minded parties but to the right. The intellectual arrogance has to make way for pragmatism and plurallity. The law needs to play its role because as I write this blog, the legit government of Karnataka is being destabalised through horse trading. Goa and Tripura are the wrong precedents which have been set by the ruling party.
Freedom of speech is the fourth pillar of democracy and now with a few media houses ruling the roost, the alternate media needs to be exploited to the fullest. And this is where the "libtards" or the intellegentsia have to let go their egos and instead of humiliating the representatives have to raise valid questions and talk in a language that is understood by all. Most importantly people have to be critical and the state has to take in the views of the critics too because otherwise there will just be an echo chamber.
Democracy is just not about fighting and winning elections, it is also about serving people whom you represent. The political class has forgotten this and therefore civil society has to now enter into this realm, call the representatives amidst themselves to involve these representatives in their day to day issues. The plans need to be localised and questions raised in the parliament.
As this is the budget season, it is imperative that shayari be interwoven in the narrative. I end with the famous lines of Shailendra
The problem that people like me have with the present version of democracy is that in the name of "people's rule", illogical things are thrust down our throat. We need that the incumbent government in its present term talk of the "people" that it represents. The state has a certain responsibility towards the masses which it cannot overlook the benefits of the bourgeois. I feel that the most important thing or sector that needs to be worked upon is education because empowerment will come from education and awareness. Right now entitlement has been given but the real power will come only when people are conscious about their rights and duties. The dichotomy of the society can be understood from the fact that though literacy rates have gone up, the percentage of people exercising their franchise has come down. The part of the cities where the elites inhabit are the ones which have the least voting percentage because they are sure that in the name of "democracy", it is feudal who will rule whether they vote or not. Parties have become more important than issues, certain people have been given cult status which is very much against the very grain of democracy which says that everybody is equal and there has to be a collective leadership. The Election Commission has to be realistic when it comes out with figures of what a candidate can spend because we all know what mockery it is. People too, have to be proactive when they elect their representatives because they are the ones who will get funds for the constituency and take decisions on behalf of the masses which according to them are "best" for the people.
A very important part of democracy is that state does not have a religion (in case of India, this has been mentioned in Indian constitution) but this is not visible in today's time. In India, the word "secularism" is the most abused. It surely does not mean minority appeasement (read Muslims) but it also does not mean that the majority would incite religion in the name of nationalism and worst the state stands as a mute spectator. This is facism and it is better to stick your neck out and call it so. The legislative has to be very strong and firm in its decision making if we do not want to become a fascist state. People too should not include politicians and parties in religious affairs for their petty benefits.
The opposition has to play a very active role if the democracy is to be conserved because they represent 62 percent of the voters who have not voted for the present government. Currently the opposition is in a mess as they are playing opportunistic politics and are being run as fiefdoms. The Left needs to reinvent itself in the present age when regional parties have become a reality and there hardcore voters are shifting not to the like minded parties but to the right. The intellectual arrogance has to make way for pragmatism and plurallity. The law needs to play its role because as I write this blog, the legit government of Karnataka is being destabalised through horse trading. Goa and Tripura are the wrong precedents which have been set by the ruling party.
Freedom of speech is the fourth pillar of democracy and now with a few media houses ruling the roost, the alternate media needs to be exploited to the fullest. And this is where the "libtards" or the intellegentsia have to let go their egos and instead of humiliating the representatives have to raise valid questions and talk in a language that is understood by all. Most importantly people have to be critical and the state has to take in the views of the critics too because otherwise there will just be an echo chamber.
Democracy is just not about fighting and winning elections, it is also about serving people whom you represent. The political class has forgotten this and therefore civil society has to now enter into this realm, call the representatives amidst themselves to involve these representatives in their day to day issues. The plans need to be localised and questions raised in the parliament.
As this is the budget season, it is imperative that shayari be interwoven in the narrative. I end with the famous lines of Shailendra
Humare Karwan ka Manzilon ko Intezaar Hain
Ye Andhiyon, Ye Bijlion ki Peeth par Sawar Hain
Jidhar Padenge ye Kadam Banegi ek Nayi Dagar
Agar Kahin hain Swarg to Utar la Zameen Par
Democratic form of government as adopted in the constitution will continue till we or the world finds an alternate. No form of governance is perfect and so are the people who are part of this political system.
ReplyDelete2. We as the voters have to become more involved, Indian middle class and so called intellect class can be vaciforous in the drawing rooms at best.
3. Present dispensation has made elections so costly affair that it is increasingly becoming difficult or beyond the financial reach for the honest tax paying individual to fight an election. This is more or less an perfect understanding between ruling diaspora and the corporate diaspora on quid pro quo.
Who bother whether you represent the masses or not. So long you are serving few masters you are going great guns.
It would have been better if I would have know who has commented but the points that you have raised are very valid. Thank you for giving a detailed response
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ReplyDeleteIncumbent is under-articulated. For the people, by the people and of the people is all together a relationship. India is both in power and in opposition. A paradox like none. Society per se does not necessarily solve the problem: It provides an incentive to switch, but it cannot force to be better off. The solution lies within the former aka 3-people phrase. That's the challenge where ironically assymetric information acts like a cherry on top. Act is acted upon by behaviour, practice, and is staged over time. Ask a journalist! Give the people what they want - that's how India acts to this day.
ReplyDeleteVery well written Tani👍
ReplyDeleteWe need to maintain the democratic values in decentralised way and overall Streesing on Gandhi one need to understand this fact that Gandhi was against the parliamentary democratic system. To him it is centrilization and work against the egalatarian doctrine of socialism
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