This has reference to Seema Sengupta’s article “Tarnishing the dignity of Indian democracy” (March 13). The honorable vice president of India finally showed some courage in calling a spade a spade.
I wonder why did he take so long to see the truth or to gather the courage? Every Indian who is interested in politics knows well that our democracy is for the first among equals. Among the “first” also there is a competition to be the first, this competition is the dilemma of the Indian democracy.
To be the first among the first, malice and chicanery are the means and the end is not different from the means.
Our democracy is the extension of the feudalism which is still present in many northern parts of India where slavery still has not died out. Complete cleanliness in the system is required, but who will clean the system, as those who are supposed to do it are all part of it. Something new should happen and the new should be spontaneous, not evolving from the present.
If evolves from the present, then the new system will have all the characteristics of the present one. The “super” election commissioner T.N. Sheshan tried to clean the mess but the task was quite arduous for him.
We are hearing slogans for better democracy like intra-party democracy, right to recall and state funding of elections for many decades. For these things to happen in a democratic state, the people should be aware of the good and bad of the politics.
Democracy can only function effectively and smoothly if the politicians and the people who elect the former are educated. Being educated doesn’t mean holding a diploma or a degree in political science, but educated enough to recognize the right of the individual in a democratic setup. — A.S. Ansar, Shuqaiq, Jazan
Dignity of Indian democracy
