The lessons learnt from the
recently concluded assembly elections in five states, which many dub
incorrectly as semi final to 2014, are many. While one can endlessly debate
about the debacle of the elephant, the nullification of a charismatic Gandhi,
the beating of anti incumbency by Badals and Parriker, the see-saw game in
Chhatisgarh and the strange political dynamics of the north eastern Manipur,
there is one fact that has reiterated itself yet again. The fact that is the
undercurrent no matter what superficial phenomenon occurs. And that
undercurrent is the subtle yet strong power of democracy.
There could be a thousand and yet
more flaws in Indian political system. For it is deep entrenched in the sub
conscious that the word politician and corrupt are synonymous. There also is
the realisation of the fact that the voter does not even have a choice of
better candidates. A situation akin to ‘caught between the devil and the deep
blue sea’ could aptly describe the dilemma of the average Indian voter. But to
annul such a downward spiralling event, multi party democracy in India provides
more choices. Unlike in nations where one has to choose between two, in India
we can choose one among many.
While the traditional belief was
that the voting ‘mass’, the weaker sections of the society, could be bought
with wad of cash, liquor and food, the spread of education/literacy/media
outreach has made that mass smart. The honeytrap doesn’t work for urban and
affluent voters. Not that it would matter given the dismal voting rate they
display. A case in point has been Tamil Nadu where such antics did not pay off.
This however does not suggest that the Indian voter has come of age and does
not succumb to pulls and pressures or for that matter to lure. But trends over
the past few years have shown an increase in the maturity of the voter, which
certainly has been boosted by the democratic fabric of the nation.
Despite the doomed picture,
especially of the political framework of the country, as presented in news
media, it is heartening in comparison to many nations of the world. India
thankfully is no Syria or Libya, or for that matter the middle east, where
dictators fuelled by oil rule the roost with religion as the plank. India
thankfully isn’t North Korea or Russia or for that matter the dragon China
where communism is the mask of exploitation, throttling of free choice and
widespread nepotism. India thankfully is not the score of African nations where
private militias call the shots. And certainly not a Pakistan.
India for that matter is
thankfully not the US where bipartisan politics, even though working
successfully, leaves less choice and limits greater diversification of ideas.
India also thankfully isn’t the UK, with a money guzzling monarchy at the top
of the ladder. The Indian elephant might take many more years to match the
development scale of these nations at its slow pace, but certainly it enjoys
more freedom to roam about. There are plenty of ills, waiting to be eradicated,
but at least in the electoral scenario, democracy, since the birth of the
nation, has provided more goods.
In this regard the focus of
pressure groups outside the ‘system’, be it NGO’s or the Anna team or any such
group, should be to strengthen this democracy. The call for inclusion for
none-of-the-above column is a welcome step, however imparting education and
motivating more and more number of people especially the urban population to
vote should be carried on with fervour. Democracy can be strengthened with
increased participation, and increased participation can be induced with
simplifying the rules and regulations that govern voting. The disenchantment of
the youth with political scenario needs to be addressed.
It is convenient to crib about
the system or the lack of it. Fault finding is a task that is carried out
almost sub consciously about nearly everything that is around us. A take home
message from the recent election results and a few prior to it should make us
look at our democracy with optimism. Because amidst all the pessimism lies the
fact that, this Indian voter, despite all the travails, can choose his
representative, can accept cash and kind from one party and not vote for it,
can overthrow a corrupt regime, can bring back a performing government and in
doing all so drive the juggernaut of democracy.
