Democracy in India: Reality and Illusion

Most of the people who do not live in India have very colorful idea regarding the democratic practices in India. Within five years after the end of the British rule in 1947 the Indian people have got the right to elect their representatives usually at an interval of five years. This system has been continuous since the first general election of 1952. Presently this country is approaching for the 15th general election. This short content is to focus on the experiences of the people.

Status of Poor People

Amartya Sen, the Nobel Laureate of India, off and on reminds the importance of entitlement and empowerment of the people. The plight of most of the people is much more deplorable than what one may assume from the occasional statements of this world-famous economist. The rulers or persons on the top chairs seem to hide a lot. But still there should not be any denying of the fact that a large number of people, more than or equal to 50% of the total population, live below the poverty line. They have been deprived of their daily meals, shelter and cotton. They have been deprived of pure drinking water, electricity, essential fuel, basic primary education and health. There is no job for them. Added are the thousands of retrenched workers to the hapless unemployed millions. Against the 5% very rich and 15% moderately rich fortunate they stand in sharp contrast.

Yes, they have voting right. Most of them care for this right and consider this right as a mark of prestige although the organized contestants play different queer games on the eve of every election and bother superficially for this section of the electorate. These people are allured easily and are bribed openly sometimes with cash and sometimes with cotton or other essential substances. There is a statutory body to conduct the election named election commission. The commission’s voice of disapproval of many unethical and illegal deeds committed by many responsible political parties and their rank and file are heard and are finally found feeble and in most of the time ineffective too.

The dire need of such people remains unaddressed. These people are addressed at the general meetings in different parts of this large country, meetings organized after spending huge amount of money that the politicians receive from the industrialists for the preparation of the battle of election. And some general opinion is formed among these voters.  We may find it hard to comprehend. They learn to support a party or a candidate and they learn to decide for whom to cast the votes. In one or more occasion they have established their unacknowledged wisdom. They have taught Mrs. Indira Gandhi a necessary lesson in 1977. Mrs. Indira Gandhi has attempted to develop herself as a dictator.