The idea of Democracy

India achieved independence in 1947 and we are now the largest democracy in the world. The vision of the founding fathers was 'Swaraj' or self-rule. In compliance with that, we elect MLAs and MPs who represent us in assemblies. This should give us self-rule, you would think. The govt. work for us, you would think. Not quite.

We do not have the power to rule ourselves. For starters, we presume that the ideas and principles of an elected representative would be in line with the interests of the majority of the population since they chose him. But history suggests that majority can never be kept united. In present times, Advani's hardcore Hindutva handed BJP a drubbing in the Lok-Sabha elections. Whereas in Bihar, MP and UP, the Lalus, Paswans and Mulayams have always kept their focus on large minorities. Hence the promises and subsequent schemes and actions are towards wooing minorities.

Even if the majority happens to elect itself a leader, it can only pick a representative for itself. The policy-makers or the ministers are chosen not by us but by the party 'high-command' which usually means the whims and fancies of at most half a dozen persons. How else could you justify the re-appointment of R. R. Patil as Maharashtra's home-minister, who termed the 26/11 attack as a minor incident. I am sure the majority of Maharashtrians wouldn't approve.

Then there are individuals who have the power to modify or change policies to suit them, perfectly under the realms of law. Without going deeper in to that, I'll just say that this class too is a minority. Perhaps keeping the majority, the 'aam-aadmi' interested while a small and powerful elite group runs the show from behind the curtains, is the game. What is our role then? At best, we have the power to pick those elites who run the show.

Totally Unrelated Note: Another heart-break for the nation as the old warhorse waged a lone battle in a sea of ruins, falling just before the line. The collective efforts of 10 others could not overcome the last hurdle. Sachin reminded us of the 90s, and so did the rest of the team.

Since Sachin's heroics and subsequent heartbreak, Tatenda Taibu and Mohammad Aameer went through the same fate, both bagging the man of the match award too. Sachin inspiration?