The basic argument of the above article, is that democracy is on the verge of failing in India, and that it is a part of the problem and hence cant be the solution, and so either our leaders should take this initiative to change this crumbling system, or we shall see the disintegration of India.
At the very outset I would like to state that I agree with the fact that there are huge problems facing this country, and there is a need to change, but I disagree with people who put the onus of change on the system, and this post is to explain my disagreement and show possibly the better way forward.
The Preamble of our Constitution, starts with the terms 'We, the people of India', and its we the citizenry who resolve to do a host of things, which incude securing all its citizens, justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. The thing to be noted here is its the citizens of the state making the resolve and not the State.
Yes our system is corrupt and we need to change it and everyone seems to agree with it. But, why is it that when its our personal interest which is at stake, then paying that bribe or making that call is ok. I have heard the argument before, if we dont pay our work will not get done, but what if no one pays? Which state functionary has the will or the power for that matter, to stop the advancement of our country? What we need to understand is, that a system is as corrupt as the citizens constituting it, so lets become honest at the individual level, before we root for a change in the system.
On the recent issue of rights to women, yes the crime was barbaric beyond words, and yes I am proud of a civil society which came up the way it did, in protest. But my problem lies elsewhere. Rape is an extreme manifestation of our patriarchal ethos and the culture of violence against women it perpetrates. So why is it that our society needs an extreme manifestation of it, to come out in support of our women. Why dont we as a civil society abhor the parctice of drunk husbands beating their wives and daughters, of female infanticide, why cant we as a civil society give the same sexual and relationship licenses to our womenfolk that we give to our men, why is it that taking and giving of dowry is acceptable even amongst the 'liberal' middle class. Let us change our patriarchal values, let us give real equality to women, an equality where except for biological differences, there is no other difference between a man and a woman, let us strive for such a society, before we blame the system. The rapists should be hanged, but please let us not be hypocritical and protest against rape, and say 'chalta hai' for wife beatings.
On the issue of democracy itself. Why is it that getting into politics is a strict no for children coming from middle class backgrounds. Yes it might not get you the 'posh'? lifestyle of a good corporate job, but had that been the thought in the heads of our freedom fighters, we would still be chanting 'god, queen and country'. Let us send educated middle class children into politics, and this same system of democracy which seems to be failing right now, would be an envy of the world. And the reason why I am referring to the middle class is that they have the most at stake with the success of this system in the long run, and its this class which has become highly vocal in protests in the last few years. Again, let us not be hypocritical, but lets change our attitudes and that will change the system.
I can go on and on with examples, but I think I have made my point by now. As is aptly stated in the Sermon on the Mount,
"And why beholdest thou the mote
that is in thy brother’s eye, but
considerest not the beam that is
in thine own eye ?
Or how wilt thou say to thy
brother, Let me pull out the mote out
of thine eye ; and, behold, a
beam is in thine own eye ?
Thou hypocrite, first cast out
the beam out of thine own eye ; and
then shalt thou see clearly to
cast out the mote out of thy brother’s
eye."Let us change ourselves first, and the system which is constituted by us will change.
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