How to Set-right
the
Chaotic Democracy in India?
‘The experience of democracy is like life itself- always changing, infinite in its variety, sometime turbulent and all the more valuable for having been tested by adversity.’-- Jimmy Carter.
‘Democracy arises out of the notion that those who are equal in any respect are equal in all respect; because men are equally free, they claim to be absolutely equal.’-- Aristotle.
Every great and worthy human accomplishment engraved in letters of gold in the pages of history, depicting human civilization and progress was, in the first instance just an idea conceived by some. When nourished with hope and confidence and encouraged by ambition and aspiration, that single idea became a dream, a vision and a mission for generations to come. Similarly our forefathers who fought for the liberation from the clutches of Englishmen too had a dream – a dream in which they fantasized the enormous beauty where India would stand up to the world and where in there would be no more coercion, no more threat to the nations sovereignty and where the ultimate goal of the resurgent new land is to fashion an egalitarian state free from all sorts of evils that degrade, desecrate and defame the rights of an individual. Thus the stalwarts who invested their time and oomph in framing the constitution could think of no other superior alternative than democracy where in the inhabitants would find pure liberty and equality and collectively share in the government to the utmost.
The ancient origin of democracy can be traced back to the 508 B.C where in a political system or a form of government existed in Athens where in the power was held by the people. So the term democracy was derived from the Greek word ‘dimokratia’ which was coined from ‘demos’ which meant ‘people’ and ‘kratos’ which meant ‘rule or strength.’ In short democracy can be stated in the words of philosopher Plato i.e. “rule by the governed.” However, how far this is true in the context of Indian democracy although it boosts of being the sole largest democracy in the world is a burning question and the bone of contention in the present socio-economic-political scenario. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of democracy may be slow and inefficient as the Indian democracy is still in its infancy but surely it will gain momentum as time elapses, decades roll and centuries pass. So the paramount responsibility lies in not loosing hope in the democracy but instead uprooting the causes that corrode the essence of democracy without diluting or nullifying the concept of democracy.
Presently the mighty sea of Indian democracy is negatively charged with intractable currents that are jeopardizing the social, political and economic fabric of the nation. The soul of the nation feels as if it is been caught up in a vicious web where there is no escape. The so called world’s largest democracy is been targeted and overshadowed by various forces which have spread the darkest mantle of terror on it by making the people to raise their voices against the government. Recently there has been a huge furor among all classes of people against the democratic government which has failed in its duty to help and protect its citizens. Here the question arises, if the government even though trying its best has failed to bring in reforms in the democratic system, then who can bring in such change that would set-right the chaos in the Indian democracy? First and foremost blaming the government for its ineptitude is what all love to do but instead the answer to this problem is similar to what J.F.Kenedy said to the citizens of his state – ‘let us not ask what the government can do to set right the democracy in India but instead what can each of us do to set right democracy in India.’ This right attitude of an individual will be the first step for the new beginning of an ideal and exemplary democratic nation.
The need for change in the Indian democracy is a must so as to rectify the chaotic democracy in India. The change that the Indian democracy needs should not be just another façade or in other words just a ‘face lift’ of the exterior but rather an interior change in the whole system of the democracy’s way of proceeding. This change should be meticulously designed in the best interest of the nation in the whole. And the best way to set right the chaotic democracy in India is not by ‘treating the top of the tree for a disease at its root.’ This means not healing the wounds of the ‘effect’ but rather by striking at the root of the entire tribulations. This implies the elimination of the ‘cause’ or the unjust structures that lay hidden in the Indian democracy. If these unjust structures that are present in the Indian democracy are terminated by its roots then surely each person will cherish the bliss of being fully human and fully alive in the resurrected India’s vibrant democracy.
Nevertheless, looking at India at large with all its intellectual hegemony, social stratification and subjugation, economic disparity and religious fundamentalism it can be said that India is at the crossroads. However glorious dreams our forefathers may have had but now it’s up to each Indian to bring these dreams into reality. The first step is by citing the problems that curb the growth of Indian democracy. Although there are numerous limitations and drawbacks that need to be corrected, among these the predominant that deteriorate the Indian democracy’s functioning are – the political culture, political instability, illiteracy or lack of education, abject poverty, unemployment and lastly the politicization of religion. In the opinion of the political scientists these are the foundational causes and core reasons for the chaotic democracy in India.
First and foremost, the ‘political culture’, includes certain set of beliefs and attitudes that govern the Indian politics that affect the decisions which in turn shape the policies that are to be implemented in the long run. The political culture varies in each political party and due to which the Indian democracy has become a ‘free for all’ sort of system. This culture has evolved because the Indian democracy encourages the right to express ones thoughts and this right is been misused to pronounce highly inappropriate and detrimental proclamations. This culture has another subordinate clause of ‘caste culture’ that rules the Indian politics. This culture persuades the people to ‘caste their votes rather than cast their votes.’ This caste culture has created the hegemony of the elite class and has given them total monopoly over supremacy and wealth by suppressing the lower-caste dissent. This type of culture or mind-set of the people is the real source or the backbone for the country’s all prevailing social ills that has glued since decades after gaining independence. This culture has proven extremely resistant to change. Until and unless this political culture is not shattered the Indian democracy will not experience the grandeur of being a true democracy. Thus all united efforts should be pooled and aimed towards changing this type of oppressive political and caste culture.
Next comes ‘political instability’ which arises because the policy of the Indian democracy is heavily rooted in which the people collectively form opinions and decisions. This pushes the people’s power to a great extent. This is very good but due to corrupt politicians who because of their egocentric motives try to misuse this constitutional freedom by unnecessarily delaying the process of decision making by never ending and boundless debates in the parliament. This leads to political instability through constant arguments and confrontations and consequently implementing the better policies at the eleventh hour. The political instability in the Indian democracy is caused by several reasons like corruption, bribery, theft, cheating, losing moral high ground, party conflicts and disagreement with certain issues by the opposition party, lack of reliance among the coalition governments and so on. This drops down the political stature of the Indian democracy. Hence measures should be taken to eradicate such vituperative activities. This will add vigor to the political stability throughout the nation.
Thirdly ‘politicization of religion’ has threatened the very heart of the country. With rising religious fundamentalism the nation has become a breeding ground for various terror activities. Lukewarm and apathetic reaction towards this issue in this secular state has made the common man to loose faith in the government. Politicization of religion by the politicians has divided the people of the nation in communal grounds and has sowed the seeds of abhorrence in the hearts of the brethren of the same motherland. Ethnic unrest, religious turmoil and communal strife have marred the nation with severe repercussions and has even threatened the unity and oneness of the country of which it was proud during the freedom struggle. This communal virus that has entered the blood stream of the nation has failed in all counts to perk up the lives and status of the masses in India. In addition to this India’s outstanding democratic hallmark unlike communism and capitalism are compassion, unselfconscious fellow feeling and non-violence. In spite of possessing such great dogmas imbibed in our secular constitution; each decent Indian would feel ashamed of the fate of the nation vis-à-vis the religious fundamentalism that is profaning the sanctity and peace between its siblings.
Furthermore illiteracy and lack of education in the general masses is a serious concern. Right education helps one to reflect upon oneself, stimulates the discerning and reasoning capability to see what is right and what is wrong. The educated citizens are really an asset for the nation as they do not really fall prey to the false propagandas and ideologies that are widespread in the Indian politics at the moment. Presently it is disheartening to see that nearly thirty five percent of the population is still not literate and millions of children do not go to school. The nation might face a dismal future if literacy is not taken into consideration. More and more organizations should rise up to educate the poor masses as education is a liberative tool according to Dr.B.R.Amberkar. Ever since few decades, the idea of achieving total literacy has become popular but the implementation and the strategy for universal education has not seen satisfactory progress. The lack of education is not just among the masses but even among the elected politicians who extremely lack severe intellectual competence but ostensibly hold power over the intellegencia of the nation.
The daily chores of most of the Indians who live in the slums and villages or the suburbs have become a hardcore reality as they have seen the unacceptable face of abject poverty and unemployment hovering over them to devour them. The nation has given top priority in the defense sector making it the forth largest army in the world and third largest manufacturer of major weapons. But it has failed to open its eyes to see people living in squalor, sewage and in inhuman conditions. Given India’s striking poverty, this is a stinging satire and a mockery of the Indian democracy that places human rights above everything else in its sacred constitution. Even after sixty years of political independence, the nation has not really experienced economic freedom for twenty eight percent of the Indian population still lives below the poverty line. For many Indians who are deprived of various necessities have no alternative to survive in the inflating prices of goods and thus resolve to suicides so as to cut the misery of living as a subhuman. Measures should be taken so that the allocated government funds are put to maximum use as profitable to the deprived section of the society and thus truly make India a democratic nation that is ‘by the people, of the people and for the people.’
In conclusion, the democracy in India has stumbled across various odds in the past. It has gone through the throes of revolting change since several years of its independence. Yet the rich odyssey of the Indian democracy is an inspiration to the whole world as the sweat and blood of various protagonists have not gone in vain. These have ignited the sparks capable of creating beams of revolution in the nation. The pandemonium in the democracy is an expression of insecurity by the powerful who perceive power slipping their hands. But if all citizens irrespective of their political affiliations, regional ties and ethnicity stop paying lip service to our problems set a road-map and a productive plan of action to stop political polarization, India will surely reconstruct reality. India is blessed with intellectual acumen and spiritual morale when compared to the litany of the nation’s success when it started from a scratch. The nation will raise high to something nobler, purposeful, sublime and ultimate only if the citizens are ready to under go a paradigm shift in the nation’s policies. The Indian democracy is neither deprived of thoughts or of strategies, people need to be conscientized and then the same fire will be reignited in the hearts of all which once burnt in each during the freedom struggle. In that case the day will not be far away when each citizen in his heart will visualize the future that will be thousand folds greater than the past.
- Bryan Francis Rego.
Bibliography
- Asker (2008, October), Challenges faced by Indian democracy?
- (2003, march 3), Religious bigotry is poisoning Indian democracy
- S.Pavithran (1995, January 29), Letters Critical of Indian Democracy, The New York Times
- Gerrit Kischner (2005, November 21), Democracy in India.
