DEMOCRACY IN INDIA

Is India fit for democracy?

British did not consider India capable of democracy – too traditional, dynastic, illiterate, fatalistic, etc. It was a philosophy and practice alien to India where a monarch of dominant group exercised power while the rest accepted and followed it. Thus when democracy was introduced in India it did not grow / develop as a response to people’s needs.

Yet the overall assessment over 60 years is that India has adopted democracy. The parliamentary system, independent judiciary and electoral process etc. was seen as the only workable type of government for such a diverse country. Therefore it was adopted even before independence.

FACTORS THAT PROMOTE DEMOCRACY / SIGNS THAT DEMOCRACY IS HEALTHY IN INDIA

-         Regular elections at the municipal, state and national level since 1950

-         Growth of several political parties representing and expressing the views of different sections of society

-         Largely uninterrupted parliamentary government (especially when compared to Pakistan, Burma etc., which have frequently lapsed into dictatorship) (Except 70s emergency)

-         Non political Armed Force – not interested in political power (therefore no coups)

-         Increasingly assertive press – much freer than most afro Asian countries

-         Decentralization and strengthening of local government bodies – Panchayati Raj – taking democracy to the grass root level.

IMPEDIMENTS

-         Illiteracy – information cannot be verified, manipulate voters, people not aware of their rights, cannot use the law to protect themselves, unaware of political practices, duties, etc.

-         Poverty – subsistence level cannot be bothered by politics / easily exploited / voters are ‘bought’.

-         Over population and migration – very expensive elections, huge numbers of voters, personnel, booths, counting, etc., movement of population, voting lists have to be reviewed, huge no. of people cannot vote because they are not in their constituencies.

-         Group interest over national interest – voting for parties for the benefit of a group, narrow interests rather than national good, regional parties, reservation, bartering of votes for benefits etc, parties only concerned about single issues etc.

-         Criminalization of politics – candidates with criminal records, use of unfair methods for votes, booth-capturing, intimidation, corruption (continues within the government)

-         Apathy of voters – falling percentage of voter turnout especially in urban, educated, middle class areas.

-         Extraneous influences – religion, caste, language get mixed up with politics

-         Democracy does not guarantee the best government – voters could be duped, post election alliances, splitting of votes can result in a third party becoming the majority.

ROLE OF EDUCATION

‘Democracy can never be successful without education’. The process requires one to understand one’s rights, duties, information on how the system works, to live as civilised citizens – exercise franchise with maturity, understanding and analysis of the agenda of each party.

‘Democratic government demands an educated people’ – Hetherington

‘Democracy in its modern form would be quite impossible in a nation where men cannot read – Bertrand Russell

Also required for social equality (doing away with prejudice) and economic opportunity.

ROLE OF PRESS

-         Extremely important

-         Education about democracy and political system, mass education

-         Enables communication – people to their government and parties / government to carry their message to the people

-         Highlights, debates important national issues

-         Watch dog on the government and parties

Free Press – not a government mouth piece

Free press should exercise responsibility, sensitivity, should not instigate trouble especially against communities or castes etc.