Democracy as a form of governance is essentially “by the people, of the people and for the people”. This simply implies “self-control” or “self-rule” - because without any control there cannot be any stability in the society, nor the integrity of the state; further yielding chaos and anarchy. Such a situation shall only result in the state losing its sovereignty to enemy forces. However, the question arises as to what the driving force behind the desire for self-rule is.
We find the answer to this question in our shared history of the struggle for “independence” from British rule. British colonial rule of the Indian subcontinent was nothing but the rule of oppressors. Under Imperial rule, people irrespective of caste, creed and religion were tortured in as many ways as possible, to bring both land and people under their direct control. This meant that every aspect of the lives of the people was controlled by the foreign rulers. Basic human necessities, which nowadays are termed “human rights”, were crushed by the rulers. The pain of being oppressed in one’s land and the strong will to get rid of such oppression led to the Indian’s struggle for independence and self-rule (or Swarajya). The basic essence of Indian democracy has been “Swaraj” or “self-rule” wherein the people of the state are adequately represented, can express their desires and work freely to achieve those desires. Thus, Swaraj or self-rule is required to exercise and protect the freedom of expression of thought/conscience/ freedom of speech/freedom of religion among others. Such civil liberties are recognised and protected in our own country by way of the inclusion of the “Fundamental Rights” in the Constitution. Since the first war of Indian Independence in 1857, innumerable lives were lost in India’s struggle for independence, which was finally achieved in 1947. With India's Independence, the people fulfilled their long-cherished dream of “Swaraj” by forming its first elected government in 1952, having adopted the Indian Constitution in 1949 which came into effect in 1950. As of now, India is celebrating 75 years of Independence with the tagline “Azadi ki Amrit Mahotsav”. As an Indian citizen, I feel the importance of such nationwide celebrations and the need to showcase national integrity. However, as a person born in the state of Assam in the mid-80s, I have developed a confined view of democracy in India. This is because, since my childhood, I have witnessed how the basic right to Freedom of Expression or Freedom of Speech has been suppressed now and then by the government machinery. Such undemocratic action on the part of the government has always been responsible for the fuelling of seditious sentiments among the masses, particularly the youth. It doesn't matter whether a person’s views on a particular public or state issue are aligned with or pitted against government policies. What matters most is the person's ability to express himself without any fear of any kind of oppression. In the absence of such safeguards in that direction, democracy cannot be felt to exist in a State. The survival of India as a nation shall always be dependent on the survival of Democracy; the better the democratic functioning of institutions, the better will be the progress of the country. There were and will always be differences between individuals and among groups of people on issues of politics, economy, religion, social justice, civil rights etc. But it is only our shared history of struggle for freedom, the longing for “Swaraj” and the Constitution of India that binds us together irrespective of our religion, caste, creed or gender. Survival of democracy in India will depend on how the citizens exercise his or her ability to think independently. As of 2011 census data, India's average literacy rate stands at 73%. Illiterate persons and less educated people will always remain vulnerable to manipulation by political establishments and particularly career-oriented politicians. Getting swayed away by political dialogues and election promises is a common scenario in India. Such illiterate people can only echo the same thoughts that the so-called public figures have preached them at political rallies. However, it is quite astonishing to see that even people with higher intellectual capacity also “behave like parrots - repeating the words uttered by established guardians without paying much thought to the meaning and the implications”. In this regard, it would be wise to remember C. Rajagopalachari who had stated that – “if subservient and slavish adulation takes the place of independent thinking and criticism is never resorted to but with fear and trepidation, the atmosphere quickly breeds the political diseases peculiar to democracy”. In our country itself, we have seen the outcomes of such subservient and slavish adulation on the part of elected representatives and even the common voters. The most visible outcome of such a practice is the transfer of absolute majoritarian power to a single entity in the elections. The country has suffered in the past for such blunders and shall probably keep suffering in the future, unless corrective measures are adopted. India follows the system of parliamentary democracy having multiple parties. Under such a system the democratic foundations of the nation depend upon free and fair elections, a free Press and the free movement of people and also ideas. However, in the past 75 years of India’s independent existence, there have been many instances where political parties have adopted unfair means to win elections. There have been many Andolans in different parts of the country protesting against people migrating from other states in search of jobs and livelihood. Media or the press is recognised as the fourth pillar of democracy. However, in India, the press can be hardly said to be free or fair nowadays. Again, there have been so many instances where journalists have been martyred while they were trying to establish the truth and were fighting for justice. Democracy is a powerful force that promotes equality, accountability, and citizen participation. It fosters a stable and predictable environment that is necessary for economic growth and development. By encouraging people to have a say in how their government is run, democracy creates a more engaged and informed citizenry, leading to a healthy and vibrant society. While a strong centralized government may seem like a solution to chaos and anarchy, it can lead to abuse of power and corruption. Therefore, let us embrace democracy with an open mind as the best system of governance as prescribed by the Constitution because it promotes transparency, trust, and a brighter future for all.
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