Democracy

Right from the evolution of human beings there evolved two traditions spiritual and technical, and there is a form of government governing the people. A quick glimpse from the stone age to date, reveals monarchy, dynasty rule, priest and common men and landlords & tenants often trying to put forth that they are right and thus proving their superiority, or getting things done.

Today the main form of governments that we see the world over is either democracy or military rule. Dynasty rule and monarchy is also seen at places. But democracy is largely accepted.

Democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people collectively and is administered by them or the officers appointed by them. Abraham Lincoln has aptly defined democracy as the government of the people, for the people and by the people. Sanjay Gandhi, in an interview taken by Uma Vasudev and published in The two faces of Indira Gandhi aptly says that by democracy one does not mean the freedom to destroy everything there is in a country but the freedom to built a country. Every individual in a democratic country has the freedom of expression and has many fundamental rights as against that seen in countries with presidents rule or military rule.

In the year 1947, India achievd freedom, but it became a sovereign socialist republic only in the year 1950. This was accepted keeping in mind the great population and limited space in India.

One of the basis of democracy is the recognition of equality of rights and privileges to all people. And for its success its important that all should practice ‘equality’ and be disciplined, to make use of the things given to them. A person should not discriminate people and ideologies. ‘Respect others, not only our faith’. This is a very important factor. One should not think that only his views or ideas are right and others are wrong. Men should not consider women to be intellectually stagnant, physically weak and economically a parasite. Each should remember that there is so much of good in the worst of us, and so much of bad in the best of us, that it ill behoves any of us, to find fault with the rest of us.

Each individual should be conscious of the activities going on around him for the success of democracy. Moreover one should solve problems by peaceful means and country should be free from economic insecurity.

At times we wonder if it is democracy, or dynasty rule that is found here......Its SUNNY DAYS FOR SONS.............Whether it be politics, profession, or Bollywood............It is a matter of great shame that in India democratic principles are married by ghastly incidents like corruption at all levels especially in the top bureaucracy, assassination of our great leaders etc. moreover irrespective of her-Indias rich & varied heritage and great many natural resources, she is in the clutches of poverty, unemployment, communal disharmony etc. Plutocracy and not democracy is seen to be ruling our country today though she is the biggest democracy in the world. Hoping that in the future with the infusion of time, talent, imagination, money and manpower, India will emerge as a super power. It is a matter of great pride for all of us, to see, unity in diversity here, with many numbers of languages, religion, and people, rich and varied heritage, geographical, and cultural differences.

To quote Rabindranatha Tagore: 'It is not the parliamentary system that guarantees democracy in a state, but certain specific virtue in the citizens namely, courage to stand up for ones right, tolerance of opposition, moderation in passion and a sense of humour which refuses to take a politician at his face value. No people who lack these virtue can ever be democratic whatever their political institution.'

The essay written for essay writing competition held by VAST on 26th March 2001.