Principles of Democracy - Part two

This is the second part of my series of essays on democracy. In part one, I had restricted myself to the meaning of democracy in an Indian context. In this part, I will write on what ails us and why we have not instilled democracy to perfection.



As I let my mind drift, the first reason I can envisage, is our 200 years of British rule. One thing the British indeed achieved was the imposition of their ideals and culture on the Indian psyche. So, it follows, that English dominance is not only inevitable and unquestionable, but your acceptance of everything English is a yardstick of achievement. If you studied at Oxbridge or Bristol - Wow ! But if you studied at Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyala, or the University of Trivandrum - Who cares ?! This acceptance of western ideals, unfiltered and unbiased and unquestioningly, is actually a mark of English dominance persisting on us even today.



But I do not wish to draw a conclusion at this point that English dominance is the sole reason for an imperfect Indian democracy. Far from it. Let us not forget that the British taught us democracy. The emphasis of my argument is the "unfiltered, unbiased and unquestioning acceptance".



This means that while it isn't wrong (as it can never be wrong) to accept an idea from anywhere in the world, we mustn't apply it blindly. Our circumstances, our world must be considered while we instill an idea, even democracy. Even modernism.



Democracy in India is very much unlike democracy in the west. Vox populi is much more complicated in India. It begins in the tehsils and taluks of Kanyakumari and Kumarakom, and not in the big skyscrapers of Delhi and Mumbai. Unless we realize this, we may not be able to feel the pulse of India.



India's pulse lies in all her people - high and low, rich and poor. It doesn't make a difference if the citizen is old or young. Indian-ness is explicit everywhere. We approach any problem not just keeping in mind the end result, but how the end result will affect us ! I find that self emphasis missing in western ideals, where almost everything is institutionalized.



We may understand here, that what ails us is not an idea, but an act.


So while democracy is fine, our understanding of it is flawed. Take for instance, our understanding that the reservation system in educational institutions helps the scheduled castes of the country get represented in a better way. Our understanding that talks are the best solution to every problem. Our understanding that no matter what happens, the private sector is always right.

In fact, these are so fundamental that my questioning these bedrocks of thought is going to be looked upon with disdain. More on these factors in part three. I invite criticism - constructive and enlightening.....