Politics, ethics and democracy
NARESH GUPTA
Democracy is at stake if the loudest voice counts as the voice of
wisdom or when coercive pressures take the place of reason and
persuasion
Democracy was never alien to India. In fact, India could be
considered to have been the cradle of democracy. The roots of Indian
democracy can be traced back to as early as the Vedic age.
There was a time when India was studded with republics. Even where
there were monarchies, they were either elected or limited. They had to
function in accordance with dharma, or the rule of law.
Mahatma Gandhi |
Jawaharlal Nehru |
Pali texts provide interesting details of how the assemblies of
republics in the post-Vedic period functioned like parliaments and
followed highly sophisticated procedures. However, the parliamentary
system in its modern connotation owes its origin and growth to India's
British connection for some two centuries.
The Indian Independence Act, 1947, provided for the setting up of two
dominions of India and Pakistan with effect from August 15, 1947. It
was, according to Lord Samuel, "an event unique in history - a treaty of
peace without war."
The Founding Fathers of the Constitution chose the system of
representative parliamentary democracy with universal adult franchise.
Freedom brings responsibility. Building on the traditions of the
national movement, Indian leaders strengthened the foundations of
democracy in the country by the manner of their functioning. They gave
due importance to the institutional aspects of the democratic system and
adhered not only to the forms of democratic institutions and procedures
but also the spirit.
From an electorate of around 173 million in 1951 when India went to
the polls for the first time under the Constitution, the number of
electors swelled to nearly 672 million in 2004.
The fair and peaceful conduct of elections periodically with a large
turn-out of voters, especially of the rural folk and women, and the
participation of all groups with differing ideology and religious faith,
is an indication of the acceptance of the framework of the Constitution
and the growing political awareness among the people. India is the
largest democracy in the world.
These elections have demonstrated that the democratic urge is very
deep-rooted among the people of India and their faith in a
constitutional system of government very strong.
Jawaharlal Nehru was quite amazed at democracy functioning so
successfully in India. On the last day of the second Lok Sabha, he could
say with some satisfaction on the floor of the House: "Democracy... is
the hallmark of India at present. But democracy does not consist of 210
million people voting.
Democracy, ultimately, is a way of life, a way of reacting to
circumstances, a way of thinking and a way of putting with the things we
dislike even. And I think we have done fairly well... and considering
the state of the world today when every other day we read bout coup d'
etats in various countries, it is surprising how we have carried on in
our normal way."
If we are to live in peace and happiness, every nation, community,
and the individual must envision universal and humanitarian ideals and
must strive to practise them in thought, speech and action. Religion and
even politics must be founded on moral and spiritual fundamentals. In
ancient India, politics was regarded as a branch of ethics. Peace,
justice and liberty for all were the prime purposes of politics.
Mahatma Gandhi recommended that politics should be a branch of
ethics. While there has been considerable progress on the economic
front, there has been regression of the values in the society and
devaluation of the institutions.
The expectation at the time of Independence that public men would
sacrifice their personal interest for public welfare has not been
fulfilled. Mahatma Gandhi did not want the constructive workers, the men
and women who had directed the several organisations over the years to
remove untouchability, extend basic education, improve food cultivation,
develop village industries and encourage hand spinning, to go into power
politics. That would, he felt, spell ruin.
Democracy is at stake if the loudest voice counts as the voice of
wisdom or when coercive pressures take the place of reason and
persuasion. Referring to his tours, especially concerned with the
general elections that were approaching at that time, Nehru wrote:
"Elections were an inseparable part of the democratic process and there
was no way of doing away with them.
Yet, often enough, elections bring out the evil side of man and they
do not always lead to the success of the better man."
In his address on October 18, 1951, Nehru laid great emphasis on the
importance of the right means to achieve right ends. He said: "... [I]f
in our eagerness to win the elections, we compromise with something that
is wrong, then we have lost the fight already and it matters little who
tops the poll..."
(Naresh Gupta is an Indian Administrative Service officer serving as
Chief Electoral Officer, Tamil Nadu.)
Courtesy: The Hindu |