Damsel Democracy in Distress
Prologue Democracy in India - Different viewpoints- [Democracy is viewed as the damsel in distress] For those who have a vested interest in the democratic system of governance SHE is the holy cow! The Marxists to this day believe, SHE cannot deliver the goods.
Nevertheless they do contest and get elected to indulge thereafter in back-seat driving so as to undermine HER through techniques handed down to them by their Guru Karl Marx.
Naxalites on the other hand seem to be blissfully unaware of the fact communism wherever tried out has miserably failed to deliver the goods.
Their behavior reminds one of Sir Winston Churchill's definition for a fanatic.
Quote: 'A fanatic is one who cannot change his mind and won't change the subject.
' The libertarians although none too happy with the kind of leadership churned out by the electoral process continue to swear by HER.
SHE entered this superstitious country right foot first [this is how a Hindu bride enters her new home]- but then not without a sense of trepidation.
As one who survives on the daily diet of healthy discussion and lively debate, SHE certainly had some real good time initially with great leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Chakravarthy Rajagopalachari, Piloo Mody, Feroze Ghandy, and many others in action.
Libertarians headed by late Minoo Masani were upbeat and got busy so as to ensure a sustained and sound health for HER.
They made long-term plans such as setting up of institutions like Democratic Research Service (DRS), Leslie Sawhny Programme and Adult Education Institute; all this with the purpose of training up wannabe as also elected leaders in the art of debating! But then the unlettered contested in a big way and surprisingly got elected too! And alas DRS could do precious little thereafter because there was neither time nor facility to start from Primary level! Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru the most charismatic Prime Minister we ever had, believed in the good old Hindu concept sarva dharma sama bhawa [Equal respect for all religions].
But then felt it would be risky using any word even remotely connected to our Hindu tradition! Being a born Brahmin he was wary of throwing wrong signals risking his secular image.
The correct word is NON DENOMINATIONAL suggested late Minoo Masani.
But "No.
Secularism is the right word.
We shall call ourselves SECULAR", he decided.
HER make-up of secularism had to be noticed and HER secular credentials proved at all times whatever the cost.
Therefore Lord Shiva was not invited.
A grave blunder indeed! BECAUSE The first Democratic Elections of 1952 proved to be a replay of the good old Mythological story 'samudra manthan'.
In a repeat action the great churning process yielded amritha (the good) and kalakoota (the evil).
If only Lord Shiva were there on the scene? He would have downed the entire supply of kalakoota in one gulp.
This was a ghastly sight for the damsel who had descended from the Utopian World.
SHE had now no option other than to contain this deadly venom- that was to soon become the virus of corruption.
[Samudra manthan- Churning of the sea- According to Indian Mythology such an incident had occurred with a huge rock wound by a huge rope for churning- one end of the rope in the hands of devas (the Gods) and the other end in the hands of rakshasas (the demons) Amritha stands for nectar and kalakoota for deadly poison] Outcome being what it was the good and evil had to work as a team.
And it didn't take long for the milk of goodness to turn sour.
The virus of corruption got the better of HER and rendered the leadership deaf and blind! The virus thereafter seeped down! Money started speaking.
With all-round dwindling values its flow got miss-directed.
After all Constitution of the country- the holy cow had provided it that even the illiterate could contest.
Now with both houses replete with beneficiaries of this provision where is the question of debate? Stridency began to gain the upper hand.
When reason fails anger takes over.
Paper weights & mikes began to be used as missiles.
Grapevine has it that wearing helmets is to be made mandatory while participating in the proceedings.
Morally upright and tall leaders started getting phased out for one reason or the other.
While genuine freedom fighters were left high and dry fake-ones flaunting the label gained the upper hand.
Hamstrung thus, damsel democracy started limping.
And when Indira Gandhi's infamous Emergency came through SHE was virtually in coma! How SHE got back into HER own is History.
Nevertheless they do contest and get elected to indulge thereafter in back-seat driving so as to undermine HER through techniques handed down to them by their Guru Karl Marx.
Naxalites on the other hand seem to be blissfully unaware of the fact communism wherever tried out has miserably failed to deliver the goods.
Their behavior reminds one of Sir Winston Churchill's definition for a fanatic.
Quote: 'A fanatic is one who cannot change his mind and won't change the subject.
' The libertarians although none too happy with the kind of leadership churned out by the electoral process continue to swear by HER.
SHE entered this superstitious country right foot first [this is how a Hindu bride enters her new home]- but then not without a sense of trepidation.
As one who survives on the daily diet of healthy discussion and lively debate, SHE certainly had some real good time initially with great leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Chakravarthy Rajagopalachari, Piloo Mody, Feroze Ghandy, and many others in action.
Libertarians headed by late Minoo Masani were upbeat and got busy so as to ensure a sustained and sound health for HER.
They made long-term plans such as setting up of institutions like Democratic Research Service (DRS), Leslie Sawhny Programme and Adult Education Institute; all this with the purpose of training up wannabe as also elected leaders in the art of debating! But then the unlettered contested in a big way and surprisingly got elected too! And alas DRS could do precious little thereafter because there was neither time nor facility to start from Primary level! Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru the most charismatic Prime Minister we ever had, believed in the good old Hindu concept sarva dharma sama bhawa [Equal respect for all religions].
But then felt it would be risky using any word even remotely connected to our Hindu tradition! Being a born Brahmin he was wary of throwing wrong signals risking his secular image.
The correct word is NON DENOMINATIONAL suggested late Minoo Masani.
But "No.
Secularism is the right word.
We shall call ourselves SECULAR", he decided.
HER make-up of secularism had to be noticed and HER secular credentials proved at all times whatever the cost.
Therefore Lord Shiva was not invited.
A grave blunder indeed! BECAUSE The first Democratic Elections of 1952 proved to be a replay of the good old Mythological story 'samudra manthan'.
In a repeat action the great churning process yielded amritha (the good) and kalakoota (the evil).
If only Lord Shiva were there on the scene? He would have downed the entire supply of kalakoota in one gulp.
This was a ghastly sight for the damsel who had descended from the Utopian World.
SHE had now no option other than to contain this deadly venom- that was to soon become the virus of corruption.
[Samudra manthan- Churning of the sea- According to Indian Mythology such an incident had occurred with a huge rock wound by a huge rope for churning- one end of the rope in the hands of devas (the Gods) and the other end in the hands of rakshasas (the demons) Amritha stands for nectar and kalakoota for deadly poison] Outcome being what it was the good and evil had to work as a team.
And it didn't take long for the milk of goodness to turn sour.
The virus of corruption got the better of HER and rendered the leadership deaf and blind! The virus thereafter seeped down! Money started speaking.
With all-round dwindling values its flow got miss-directed.
After all Constitution of the country- the holy cow had provided it that even the illiterate could contest.
Now with both houses replete with beneficiaries of this provision where is the question of debate? Stridency began to gain the upper hand.
When reason fails anger takes over.
Paper weights & mikes began to be used as missiles.
Grapevine has it that wearing helmets is to be made mandatory while participating in the proceedings.
Morally upright and tall leaders started getting phased out for one reason or the other.
While genuine freedom fighters were left high and dry fake-ones flaunting the label gained the upper hand.
Hamstrung thus, damsel democracy started limping.
And when Indira Gandhi's infamous Emergency came through SHE was virtually in coma! How SHE got back into HER own is History.
Source...