Is this the Democracy that India Deserves?

C.V.G. Krishnamurthy

When the rest of the world was sleeping, India awoke from the British rule on the midnight of August 14th, 1947. ‘The sun never sets in the British empire’ became a myth with the ushering of the independent India. The Indian people forgot their diversity of religions and castes and fought for freedom with one voice. Amidst great rejoicing, the national tricolour flag of India replaced the time-long Union Jack.

Bloodshed and horror was the first phase of the freedom movement. Under the fool-hardy hasty decision of Dyer, hundreds of freedom fighters became fodder for the guns at Jalianwala bagh. The great Hero Bhagat Singh was executed. Chandra Sekhar Azad was one of the martyrs. Bala Gangadhar Tilak who proclaimed ‘swaraj is my birth right’ was put in jail for a number of years. Alluri Sita Rama Raju of Andhra Pradesh was cunningly trapped and shot dead. A number of selfless patriotic leaders were mercilessly shot down.

With the entry of Mahatma Gandhi on the scene, the strategy was completely changed. ‘Nonviolence and non-cooperation’ were two chief weapons with which Gandhi fought. Nethaji Subhash Chandra Bose thought for a direct military attack against the British through his ‘Azad Hind Fouz.’ Though the paths of Gandhiji and Netaji were different, their aim was one and the same -to relieve the motherland from the clutches of the British. Thousands of the Indians inspired by the message of Mahatma Gandhi participated in the ‘Dandi Salt Satyagraha.’ Bonfire of bundles of foreign cloth to discourage the foreign goods and to encourage the Swadeshi goods was another offshoot of non-cooperation.

Cotton from India was exported to British Cotton Mills and the finished cloth was dumped into India, thereby causing unemployment to the weavers in India and filling the coffers in Britain. Mahatma Gandhi being moved by the poverty of the people set an example by wearing a small piece of cloth around his loin. Many journalists and writers contributed their mite for arousing the patriotic feelings of the people about the urgent need for the liberation of the country. Swami Vivekananda was thoroughly upset by the poverty of the masses and visualized the independent India in the near future. Andhra Kesari Sri Tanguturi Prakasam Panthulu lay bare his chest to the raised guns of the police during the ‘Simon go ’ movement. The guns were lowered and simultaneously echoed the voices ‘Andhra Kesari zindabad.’ Quit India Movement determined the British to set India free in the near future.

The five year plans, the erection of huge steel plants, the construction of major irrigation projects, establishment of scientific research centers in India were successfully completed by the government headed by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The progress of the country was uppermost in his mind. Spectacular development in the field of Education, Health and Transport etc. also was the result of the selfless dedicated team of Ministers and government of those days.

The wheel of time rolled on and after more than 56 years of Independence, we may take stock of the achievements and sets. The political leaders now need tight security wherever and whenever they move. As if it is a mockery to Gandhian principles, new bars and wine shops are opened sometimes on the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. A motley of parties with diametrically opposite political ideologies now form the government. The majority ruling party is always under threat by the minority components about their withdrawal of the support if the desired number of ministries and portfolios are not allotted for them. A heterogeneous government could not always look after the welfare of the people and the progress of the country, as they may have to be busy in cajoling and satisfying the constituent parties thereby caring for the preservation or continuation of the government.

The recent elections, which witnessed the flow of money, wine and the caste animosities, speak about the rotten atmosphere in the political arena. The insecurity to the people, especially women, focuses the present pathetic picture of the degenerated democracy in India. The cinema and television present violent scenes of bloodshed, crime, horror and indecent acts of morality in the guise of heroism. Of course, here and there, they may present the ideals of human behaviour -like love, affection, sympathy etc. But the modern youth are prone to catch up and adopt only the vulgar and violent deeds in real life, as they may not have the discernment of judging the good and the bad. For example, the advertisement about the control of ‘AIDS’ through the publicity media and the television is quite repugnant to the norms of decency and it is a clear violation of the fine sentiments of modest women. Unsuccessful attempts are made by the women welfare organizations to put a halt to such indecent publicity.

The few veteran freedom fighters who may be now living witnesses to the present decline of political atmosphere exclaim with frustration, ‘Is this the land that launched a number of freedom fighters?’ ‘Is this the land that had in the past selfless principled leaders of a democratic India?’

Democracy in India is at cross roads and almost derailed. The opposition parties both in Assemblies and Parliament unreasonably stall the proceedings thereby causing unnecessary waste of public time and people’s money. The hard earned freedom with sacrifices of patriotic selfless freedom fighters is thus at stake.

For setting right the undemocratic ways
(1) Polarisation of all the parties to form into one or two political groups with specific ideologies should be done.
(2) The indiscriminate defections lured by power or money should be arrested.
(3) The Reservation policy in respect of employment has to be reviewed periodically and the actual needy alone should get the benefit.
(4) The cinema and the electronic media should help to make the society better.
(5) A band of selfless political leaders should be trained from the youth.
(6) The punishment to the offenders and criminals should be proportionate to the intensity of crimes; otherwise they go scot­free into the society to perpetuate the crimes.
(7) Persons with crime history should not be allowed to participate in the Elections as their corrupt and criminal ways would percolate into the society. “Yedha Raja Thadha Praja” is a popular saying.

The above loopholes at least in the present democratic system are to be plugged hoping to secure ‘semblance of good governance’ in the near future.

‘When Thomas Jefferson came out of the Constituent Assembly, people asked him what is the form of government they have decided for America. His answer was ‘Democracy, provided you keep it.’ –Editor