Friday, April 13, 2007

Is the Democracy in India, a True Democracy?

In spite of some differences of varying extent in the association or separation, one fact that remains true about the governance set up in a democracy, that there are 3 basic functions of the State and these are Legislation, execution and judicature. There are 3 arms of state in a democracy, which performs these functions in – legislature legislates, executive executes and judiciary decides the legality within the ambit of laws made by legislature. The legislature makes the laws because it represents the will of the people. People elect their representatives in the elections and send the winners to the parliaments to protect their interests, on their behalf. Thus works the democracy. However, do the legislatures truly represent the people who mandate them? Theoretically yes, but on ground, the answer is a big no.

How can a person, whom I don't meet for the whole term of legislature said to be representing my aspirations? I would say that representing the aspirations of a few crores of voters is just not possible for a single member of parliament, more so in a highly stratified and fractured society like India. Further, here the system is 'first past the post' – he who gets highest number of votes, wins. So you can have a candidate garnering even 20 percent of votes and winning the election. Actually, had there been an option of 'None of the Above' in the voting list, I am sure that those who mark on this option would have been highest in number. Further do the interests of the representative as a politician, align with his interests as a legislature? Or, do they even align with my interests as a voter? A politician would certainly be a election oriented person, because there are no rewards for remaining politician. The returns, however, pour cats and dogs, once you win the election. Further, the unmanageable number of voters in a constituency means that rather than doing the hard work of winning heart of each voter, I would rather use the short cuts to win the elections. Here, the aspirations of people and representative nature of polity – both are compromised.

Now, if this is the situation, then why citizens should be bound by the laws made by a parliament which is not representative in true sense of the term?

What can be the solution to this issue?

4 comments:

Aditya Narayan Joshi said...

Ganesh,
It was a good blog to read...
And what I am more happy about is that you are still doing something creative by writing down your thoughts here.
Let's see if I can also start blogging taking inspiration from you.
Stay happy.
-Aditya Joshi

Unknown said...

Priyank,

Democracy is not just restricted to electing a representative, but also in the current situations ,we Indians lack even the basic rights and ammenities.

We often claim to be the "world's largest democracy", but is this true ?

Just look at the example of the Quotas being implemented even after so many medical students,doctors and people from so many other fields gathered up for this cause.

The supreme court and few politicians are still bent on allocating more number of seats to the OBC/SC/ST candidates, and ven in the private sector.

This is a big question mark on the face of the term " Democratic India". How can this government be for the people, of the people and by the people.

Are we electing these kind of Education Ministers, HRD Ministers and Govt? Yes we are. Ofcourse.

A large part of the population is going out there to vote for these candidates, they stand in the queues, wait for hours to caste their votes to these candidates, without even understanding and analysing the impact that this selection is going to have on the life of the people.

Y don't we just stop going to the election booths and just stop voting for these politicians ? If we start using our democratic rights judicially ,then maybe we may have a better India tommorrow.

Sash said...

Thanx, Ganesh. It was so nice!!!

Unknown said...

India is run by mafia, Thugs and fools in that order.
Blogs cannot change the situation.
Like minded people can at the most express fraustration.Country that has discrimination institutionalized in terms of reservation, equal opportunity/merits have no meaning there. India will not be brought down by its enemy. Indians themselves will bring down india. Democracy executed by CEC that is convict of courts observation that guy is not capable of running any public office impartially. What more is a joke!!