The Constitution of India of the people, by the people and for the people whose original preamble described it as “Sovereign Democratic Republic” to which the terms “Secular” and “Socialist” were later “passed by a Captive Parliament during The Emergency in the 42nd Amendment on 18th December 1976”, ensures to all citizens Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. It envisages the general elevation in the character of the people and hence it becomes a mode of associated living, of conjoint communicated experience.
But under conditions prevailing now, instead of becoming a satisfying, affirmative alternative to man’s individual and collective progress, our present practicing democracy has become a means to reduce men to mediocrity in character and culture, to vulgarize man’s conception of life, their moral codes, manners and conduct and to endanger their legitimate rights.
The role of the opposition cannot be minimized in democracy. A strong opposition is an inevitable necessity in a functioning democracy. “In a democracy, the opposition is not only tolerated as constitutional, but must be maintained because it is indispensable.” The opposition has professed values, rights and duties cut out for them as watch dog to maintain the equilibrium of the democratic principles and good governance as much as that of the ruling government whose prime responsibility is towards perpetual implementation of good governance for the welfare of the people and to uphold the principles of democracy of Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity and to keep up the unity and integrity of the nation.
Unfortunately democracy being practiced as of now in our country as we see it, is nothing but a sham. If the opposition criticises for the sake of criticism is nothing but prejudice. If they find everything wrong in whatever the ruling government is doing, it amounts to deceit. If the actions of the opposition parties with divergent views and ideology working together for the sole aim of bringing down a democratically elected government with absolute majority, then it is not in the national interest.
All the political parties clamour for their fundamental rights particularly freedom of speech and freedom to protest, but they forget the fact that every right is derived out of a duty to be performed first and the most important duties are enshrined in the Constitution under Article 51-A on Fundamental Duties. All the political parties aspire for their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of action particularly demonstration and dharna without bothering about the inconveniences caused to the public which many times, by accident or by design, go out of control or deliberately kindled causing damages to public property and culminating in human losses.
How true when it is said, “An informed people is one of the best guarantees of a continuing democracy”? But how to make people be informed? Only through communication. The gift of speaking to one another on trust and understanding is the way for healthy democracy. Therefore, not only the ruling political dispensation but also the opponents require an effective communication channel and an open dialogue and indulge in constructive criticism and viable alternative suggestions. The aim and the objectives of the ruling party and its opponents in a democratic set up is to find ways and means to solve their differences through parliamentary debates and mutual discussions finding consensus where ever possible and demonstrate their protests through democratic peaceful means and not to indulge in violent activities to vent their feelings. “Skilful communication can increase stakeholders’ support for governance reform objectives, influencing opinion, attitude and behaviour change. Communication tools can also enhance citizen engagement in political systems. It is important to understand both communication processes and the framework for national dialogue in which these operate”
In these days of technological advancement in the field of communication and considering the importance and impact of the social media and its availability, the task of effective communication is not a problem at all. When the government interacts with people, it is imperative that they understand the power of their communication to impact those whom they are targeting. An effective communication leads to better understanding which then leads to acceptance.
Good governance of the state depends on leadership capacity and capability to deliver, accepts their responsibilities and finally acknowledge their accountability. In case of necessity and need, a course correction should be undertaken to achieve the goal. Constant and consistent communication with all stake holders will help creating good will and cooperation from all in the process of delivering good governance.
Communication cannot be a one way traffic. It must be two way traffic and up and down traffic. If it is done in the process level, it can promote support of governance reforms by creating political will in the leaders and policy makers, Organisational will among all level bureaucrats, induce public will among the citizens through influencing opinion, their attitude and necessary behavioral change to accept and implement the reforms. “At the structural level, communication links citizens, civil society, the media, and government, forming a framework for national dialogue through which informed public opinion is shaped”.
Communication is indeed the link that unite us with our fellow human beings. When it comes, it is like a miracle because it happens so rarely. It happened once and that was during our freedom struggle when we fought unitedly and in unison. Will that miracle happen now in our democracy? We don’t think so while experiencing democracy as of now. But why? It has become very difficult to communicate because the nature of communication that is being used by the various political parties ably aided by the fringe elements is based on division and fragmentation of the society on the basis of caste, creed, religion, language, regions, ideologies where saner voices are not being heard nor being felt.
Unfortunately the judicious, prudent and sensible law abiding and progressive thinking silent majority of the citizens stand helplessly as mute spectators to the deteriorating situation without raising their voice and not taking any counter action subjugating themselves on account of fear perpetuated by the radicals and extremists. The present day happenings have obliterated the oldest ancient Indic values, its culture, ethos and faith leading to a fear whether history is going to be repeated. But it should not be allowed to happen.
Those who are taking law into their hands should be dealt with sternly and firmly to show them their proper place and make them realise that such kind of violence and anti-constitutional activities cannot be and shall not be tolerated to protect national interest, national security and integrity of the nation at any cost.
Every country has its own culture, ethics and values which are to be preserved and propagated throughout History to create a distinctive identity of the respective country and their citizens which can be termed as their civilizational identity. Scanning the pages of history an interesting and an undeniable feature can be found that when all of the old civilizations came up and perished, the Indic Civilization which is the oldest of all the civilizations survived the test of time and is the oldest living civilization of the world based on the Hindu Dharmic concept of SANATHANA DHARMA, the oldest ancient wisdom and a way of life learned through the Hindu holy books of VEDAS, UPANISHADS, BHAGAVAD GITA and a host other holy Hindu SHASTRAS whose origins are not yet conclusively arrived at. But the Vedas are the oldest of all existing religious texts dating back nearly to 5000 years. This fact cannot be denied nor can it be erased.
India is a Heritage country. “A conserted effort to preserve our heritage is a vital link to our cultural, educational and economic legacies – all of the things that quite literally makes us who we are”. We shall not hide our identity and obliterate as to who we are. Our culture, our heritage, our identity, that’s what make us unique. It is our lineage that distinguishes us from others.
That raises the point as to what is the basis of our culture and civilizational identity.Can it be related to an alien identity or a mixed identity? No and not at all. The civilizational identity of India that is Bharat can only be related to the VEDAS, UPANISHADS, BHAGAVAD GITA and other HINDU Holy books. This identity cannot be manipulated and changed. It is well entrenched in our civilization. The greatness of our civilisation and its propagandists is that there is no single prophet as seen in Abrahamic religions of Christianity and Islam and there are no dogmas that preaches that their religion is the only religion worth practicing.
The Islamic “Shahadah: (Testimony of Faith) states, “The first tenet, which is also the most important, is a declaration in which one verbally proclaims that Allah is the one and only true God and that Muhammad is God’s messenger. This declaration must be recited with conviction and sincerity. Only after this testimony of faith is publicly made can an individual be accepted as a member of the Islamic community.” Christianity also is monotheistic and preaches that through their beliefs only one can attain salvation.
But the only major non- monotheistic religion that accepts the universality and human brotherhood of all humanity which teaches “Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu” (May the entire universe ever be filled with peace, joy, love and light), Satyameva Jayate (Truth alone Triumphs), Vasudeva Kudumbakam (World of one family), āno bhadrāḥ kratavo yantu viśvato (Let noble thoughts come to us from all directions) and more such divine sermons for the welfare of humanity. In fact the various principles of Hinduism and SANATHANA DHARMA represent the purest form of SECULARISM AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
But when the fundamental foundation of Hinduism with its culture, ethics, values and ethos of our heritage nation are subverted, debauched and deliberately mocked and undermined in the name of secularism and freedom of speech, it leads to anarchism and vandalism making our nation vulnerable to outside sabotage and destabilization of our very existence by a certain section of vested interested people of our society with the connivance of outside powers who are interested and involved to keep our nation under perpetual chaos and conflicts.
The only hope that we can cherish is what history has taught us that when other ancient civilizations of the world perished, our Indic civilization stood firmly and survived the test of its times and we have to make our resolve that we will survive and triumph in all our endeavors to preserve our unity, integrity and national interest and so also our democracy keeping alive the idea of India that is Bharat with its glory, heritage, Indic cultural identity, Bharatiya ethos and values intact. The only way we can achieve the glory of our heritage status is through the rediscovering and restoration of our religious believes, culture, ethics, values and ethos of our heritage nation.
Last but not the least, an attempt should be made to initiate a reconciliation process to help and heal the country and bring about a reconciliation among the people of this nation by uncovering the truth about human sufferings of the people of India, that is Bharat, underwent during the period of Islamic invasions and British rule spanning over nearly thousand years by appointing a Truth and Reconciliation Commission so as to assuage the ill feelings and remove the mistrust prevailing between two major religious groups of India to pave the way for understanding and amity between them for peaceful co-existence ensuring progress and development of the nation and preserving the national integrity and security of this heritage nation.
JAI HIND-VANDE MATHARAM.
