Politics is
the art of influencing people on a civic or individual level. And, democracy is
the relationship between people and politics.
The history
of India takes us back to the individual republics of the 6th
century BC, that is, the sanghas and
the ganas which closely resembled a
democracy. India has been following democratic rule since the year 1949. But is
the system followed by our government really democratic? Is the common man
being given rights the constitution claims to bestow on him? If yes, then why
is politics a bad word? Why is a politician seen as some corrupt, sadistic
individual who knows nothing, but thinks he knows everything?
Take the
example of Rahul Gandhi who is being considered for the prime minister’s post
by the Congress. After almost three generations, we think that the Gandhis
might give it a rest. But, no, they just
have to run a monarchy in disguise. Our constitution boasts about the right
to equality, however, it was flushed down the drain long ago when it became a
ritual for rape victims to wait for a decade to get justice. Educational
privileges and the right against exploitation are violated every time a kid is
forced to beg on the streets with the notion “pity
pays”. And the suicides in Gujarat due to penalising of farmers are a sorry acceptance
of the “right” to life and property. Democracy
in India allows us to break laws which guard these civil liberties, to name a
few.
The answer
to all questions lies at the root level. The bug is in each and every
individual who votes and in each one of us who does not vote. It is nice to
write an article on what a pathetic excuse of a democracy our country is. It is
nice to blame the system for all its loopholes which fail to prevent
trafficking, suicides and the growing difference between the haves and the
have-nots. It is great to read such articles and reflect upon them. But, it is
not nice to accept the victims of this system as our own. It is not nice to put
ourselves in their shoes and stand up against the prevalent corruption as long
as our needs are satisfied. And, due to some mental barriers, it is just not
nice to vote with a rational mind. An empty stomach is not a good political
adviser. Think about it.
SANJANA
MAHABALE,
LITERARY
MEMBER,
IBC
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