Truth and justice. People have been expected to follow these two principles, from times immemorial. The Vedas, Bible, Quran and almost all religious texts lay emphasis on these two tenets. In olden days, people expected the same from their rulers. Democracy may have changed the way we are governed, from that of a monarchy to a government of, for and by the people, but the principles of truth and justice were expected to be adhered to steadfastly. Alas, our rulers have veered far from it.
In 1962, after 15 years of Independence, the third national election was held. Our neighbour, a retired school teacher, refused to vote. Daddy compelled him to exercise his voting right, saying we should safeguard the democratic principles that our leaders stood for through great struggle. But, uncle was not happy, and gave an explanation.
‘By the people’ had become ‘buy the people’, he said. People were being bought by those contesting elections using money power, he pointed out. ‘For the people’ had changed to ‘far the people’, he said, explaining that there was a great distance between the rulers and the common man, whereby leaders were out of touch with ground realities. ‘Of the people’, he said, had turned into a state where powers of the people were now ‘off the people’; they no more had the rights envisioned in a democracy.
Daddy agreed with what uncle said, but shared with him the importance given to democratic principles by our forefathers, before, during and soon after achieving Independence.
After 15 years of Independence, only a few leaders had aimed for personal gain, but after 68 years now, only a few have any respect for democracy. The few selfish minds of 1962 have paved the way for a majority of selfish minds among our lawmakers. They have secured the chance to gain progress for themselves, while the country suffers. Progress and development are inevitable. We felt proud as Indians when Mangalyaan orbited Mars and realised the achievements of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam. But, at times, we are also witness to negative behaviour from politicians. After entering politics, they seem to forget the needs of the people, which are to be met through democratic principles, and instead, set out to fulfil their own selfish objectives.
Understanding this, some voters may go against the leaders; yet the majority seem satisfied with the monetary gain that they make at the time of election.
In 2012, I was travelling in a reserved compartment on a train from Kerala to Tamil Nadu, when a ticketless group boarded and occupied the seats. The TTE was called, but he pleaded helplessness saying nothing could be done, as the group was going to vote for a particular politician in the next day’s election. ‘Off the people’ it was indeed, with us ticket holders having to make way for them. When the election results came, I understood that victory is achieved only by those who go against the principles of democracy.