what is your opinion about democracy in india
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
Indian democracy can be equated to a train that holds an incredibly diversified social strata in different compartments without going off the rails. For a country with 1.3 billion mouths, 330 million gods and 3000 castes, this is a surprisingly excellent achievement - almost an anomaly in the scheme of things.
Of course, this train hasn't been able to deliver the speeds of 300 kmph, hasn't been known to be particularly punctual or hasn't won awards for cleanliness, but it has ferried the dreams of billions of Indians for more than 70 years with unrivaled consistency and renewed determination.
It met a major accident in 1975 which mared the otherwise impeccable reputation it enjoyed after being liberated out of long and painful slavery. This accident did not derail the train, but it was enough to jolt travellers out of deep slumber.
Post accident, people and especially their representatives understood the ills of centralised power. Slowly but steadily it crawled from one station to another and gave rise to regional powers and coalition politics. It heralded the end of Congress hegemony and shifted the balance in favour of nationalism.
In 1991, a significant date in the journey, the then finance minister, Manmohan Singh argued that the train needed to be steered into a new direction and government alone can't be in the driving seat - it needed the private sector to pitch in and help improve the economic infrastructure of train and make the journey rewarding for passengers.
Since then the train has picked up the speed and surprised the world. Of course, it hasn't matched the speed of her neighbor. Because, China does not enjoyed the benefit of labour rights, free trade unions or a free press. Despite slow and laborious pace, it has provided for equitable development, economic liberalisation and social cohesion. The journey of this train has been truly remarkable.
Today, this train has made India the world's largest free market economy. But not without compromises. Corruption is rampant, women safety remains a concern, inequality is stark despite years of hard work, political class is compromised, corporates have propped as the new power centers, and freedom of expression remains a distant dream. Yet, it has managed to linger on. Thanks to its small but active civil society.
But, this train is in danger now. The current motorman is hell bent on driving it off the edge. His recklessness might derail the train if the passengers are not alert. Cheered by a section of first-class hate-mongering passengers, and intoxicated with power, he is cutting corners and making the journey potentially hazardous for second-class and third-class passengers.
I too am interested in knowing whether this train lands on a platform or in the ditch. In 2019, I hope passengers vote to change the motorman before he drives it off the cliff.
Fingers crossed.
democracy is the of the people by the people for the people