The Great Indian Democracy – Not a farce!!!

Lots have been said about the Indian Democracy – how it is a sham and workable by people in positions of power to their advantage. Most of this comes from people who haven’t had firsthand experience of what an undemocratic country is like. I had this experience of living in one of these dictatorial countries for a couple of months. It is then that I realized the strength of our democracy.

In my country, I have the right to speak against the government of the day, criticize the Prime Minister for the failures of the government, demand an explanation from the government, demonstrate against the government, file a “Right to Information” petition which the government is bound to answer. In contrast, the country where I spent some time was a dictatorship. While venturing out on the roads, I had to think before I spoke anything, before I compared this country to my homeland. I dare not utter a single word against the monarchy because the government was more interested in having plainclothes CID on the street to “quell any disturbances” rather than concentrate on the development of the country. Sure, the smell of oil and gas can bring in tons of dollars and F-16’s criss-crossing the skies to protect against external aggression. But can it ensure some accountability on the part of the government to serve the interests of their country rather than their own personal agendas? Can it ensure some sovereignty for the country and respect for the monarchy? Can it ensure that the successor to the throne is not disposed off because he tried to venture into US air bases situated in his own homeland? Can it give its citizens a security of being heard or a fair trial?

Surely, the democracy in my country is not perfect. Lots need to be done to maintain its delicate fabric. But it is definitely not a farce. It is said that the grass is generally greener on the other side. I have been on both sides and I am proud that in my case, the grass is definitely greener on my side.

The Times – Thou have Changed

Moving on from the generation of couch potatoes, we have entered an era of social networking. And so have our lifestyles changed with the times. Social networking sites have become so integrated with our lifestyles that they have made us passive observers. While a lot has been said about how powerful a tool the social media is and how it can be used to leverage upon network effects, the other side of the story is rarely explored.

Comparing today’s generation with the one fifty years ago, we can find some stark differences. While we display our support to a movement by changing our profile pic, joining a page on a social networking site, posting a status message, sharing a link or sending an SMS, the previous generation did things a little differently. They used to gather in numbers and join a march. Instead of posting 140 characters to show their support, one hundred and forty million of them went on the streets to display their solidarity. Instead of posting on their Facebook wall, they wrote inspiring books and letters from within the walls of their cells. Today our national pride is awakened on the national holidays, for them it was a matter of routine.

Shouldn't we stop restricting ourselves to the virtual platform and social media and come to the forefront to make some real changes on the ground level?