Democracy in the age of its retirement

21 August, 2012

India is the biggest democracy in the world but only in black and white - like a thousand roses without fragrance. What lies beneath is a superficial public will without any proper dimension of rights and duties - often adorned by the adjective supremacy, which remains un-enjoyed by the masses.

DEMOCRACY IN plain and simple words is public participation in nation-building to its fullest. The common and most broad platform upon which our democracy lies is opinion of masses in its own interest. Our great forefathers such as Nehru, Mahatma, Patel, Shastri, and Ambedkar all aspired to lead India not what as we see it today but to a timeless nation - followed by the world.

Though it was a great dream of the Statesman but now it has been a play tool in the hands of mere politicians who are more concerned for the next election than for decadal growth of development. Every move is more like a business strategy even in the scenario of the Five Year Plan formulation. In the sixty sixth year of democratic independence it seems as if the culture of democracy is tumbling similar to old man who’s every move to be stout leads him to dismay and shock.

Democracy in the present context is not merely a word but a psychology often misunderstood. Unawareness and illiteracy are the two most destructive elements of Indian society as a whole. What is even more astonishing is the fact that policy-making is not democratic process in Indian democracy. It is more often a decision made by a sea shore autocrat in context of drowning a ship. Those who have never experienced poverty, hunger, and famine, are given the opportunity to make a serious presentation regarding it. Drinking water and doing a Phd on water without tasting it are like two poles between which our democracy is clubbed. What people aspire from the executive is not the same what the executive expects them to be.

The bridge between hopes, aspirations and their fulfilment is not complete. Democracy should be sensed in the new scenario as an agent of change and development - and not something levied as a rigid tool to classify the rich, poor and the masses.

We are all responsible, in one or the other way, about the cold behaviour of democracy. What should be our aim at this present hour? To go by the age-old slogan “For the People, Of The People, By the People“ or shall we move on to a better alternative that is 'Participation for the Democracy, Participation of the Democracy, Participation by the Democracy' with respect to mass opinion. Before democracy retires, we must welcome participative democracy.