The Indian elections have come once again! As the world says, now the power of the biggest democracy in India would be seen - the power of the people - who can turn the fortune of the "leaders" of this nation!!
Sometimes, I think, what a misconception this is - that the people actually decide who should lead the country. Does it happen that way in India? Does 90% of the Indian population really understand what type of leadership they need to take the nation forward?
Lets see some examples -
Most of the people in India either think of religion based OR caste based OR community based issues and consider that these are NATIONAL issues. Most of us blame this on the leaders and the political parties - that they are the ones who actually instigate the people to think on these lines and thus influence the voters in a wrong way! If you agree to this then you should also agree that the majority of the populace of this country actually doesn't think on its own but does what their leaders TELL them TO DO. If that is the situation, can we really say that it is the people who decide what kind of leadership they should have?
It is a common known fact that the people get a government that they deserve. Then if we say that the Indian population thinks that the above issues are national issues then the reality is that they deserve a government that projects and runs on the basis of such issues. And that's what we get. We either get a government that appeases minorities OR preaches the majority's religion OR propagates thoughts that increase the already existing caste and creed barriers.
The leaders are not to be blamed if they don't keep development, economic reforms, education, environment, citizen rights and population control as the top priorities. They don't have to do that as the voters who vote them to power don't think that these are top priorities!!
So the definition of democracy is very much applicable to India - the government of the people, by the people and for the people. Nobody is to be blamed for the inefficiencies then but the people themselves. This will be evident when the election propaganda starts.
People will vote for criminals and film stars and illiterates - thus showing that education is not the priority.
People will tolerate loud music and slogans which will pollute the atmosphere, huge signboards whether for birthdays or election campaigns that will totally make the city's landscape un-presentable - thus showing that environment is not a priority.
People will allow politicians to woo the poorest voters by handing over currency notes once in 5 years and then giving a list of promises which will never be fulfilled - thus showing that economic reforms is not a priority.
People will allow rallies conducted by one party in favor of SEZs or BRTs or new flyovers and roads and other parties rallying against it and still will not take any stand - thus showing that development is not a priority.
Many people, on the voting day will go home early from work place and go home and relax or watch a movie - thus showing that citizen rights can take a back seat!
So finally the world will still say look what the power of the people has done once again - but most of them will not even know the fact that the "thinking" voters have not even visited the polling booths!!
Welcome to the MAHA democracy!
- An Indian
(who regulary votes and thinks he made a change)
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Atul BivalkarI am a Mechanical Engineer with a passion for travel, reading and music. Forts in India, different religious philosophies, history in general are topics close to my heart. Categories
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October 2009
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