India is the largest democracy in the world.
Population wise, it is the second largest, next only to China.
The democratic experiments in India have attracted worldwide attention.
General elections conducted once in five years, electing Members of Parliament, the true representatives of the people and selecting the Prime Minister among them, are really great events of the world.
By this way, people's participation is there in the formation of the Governments.
People of India perform the silent revolution by throwing out the Governments when they don't perform or do things wrongly.
So far, 16 general elections were conducted in India and the Indian National Congress was given a stunning defeat in the general election held recently.
Politics apart, this is a great achievement of democratic methods that a party ruling the country for sixty years was totally defeated.
Yet, the democratic experiment in India is facing lot of perils and sometimes people tend to think that dictatorship is better than democracy.
First let us have a look of the perils and evils faced by democracy: 1.
India got its independence after untold sufferings by freedom fighters and the incomparable sacrifices made by them.
But, the moment the British rulers decided to give freedom to India, the 'freedom fighters' became power mongers.
When Gandhiji was having his hunger demonstration for communal amity, his own leaders were seen travelling in luxurious cars approaching pillar to post for ministerial berths.
The tendency for power which started in early 1947 multiplied several times and nowadays we seldom see a politician who is not for power.
They will stoop down to any level for power.
Once got the power, they never care for the people who vote them to govern.
It is true not only for Congress, but also for any Tom, dick and Harry party across the length and breadth of India.
How long they can cheat? In India people were cheated by power hungry politicians for sixty and odd years.
Though late, people gave a fitting reply in 2014.
This is the power of democracy.
If the newly elect Government does not deliver, they will also meet with the same tragic end.
2.
If a question is asked, "Whether Indian politicians are only after money", the answer will be a categorical "No".
They are equally power hungry like being money hungry.
Power and money are synonyms for them.
Power brings money and vice versa.
They are not satisfied with mere money.
Precisely they want that they should be celebrities like Mahatma Gandhi without doing any sacrifice but doing only the opposite.
No party, whether national or regional is exception to this.
They want roads to be named after them, their statues everywhere and they should be given prominence where ever they go.
A very famous dialogue by a politician was, "If I attend the marriage, I should be the bridegroom, if I attend a funeral.
I should be the dead man" meaning that he should be given primary importance where ever he goes.
Incidentally many of them are polygamous, contrary to Indian tradition.
As long as this polygamy remains a personal affair, there is no problem.
But it is seldom so.
Only the better half (this is the least damaging term) rules the country after the leader's demise.
Family control and hereditary positions are quite common.
Rules and regulations are only for the law abiding simple citizens and not for them.
They don't attach any value to Indian systems and culture.
What they want is 'power' and the direct outcome of power 'money'! 3.
People of the country are very much gullible and can easily be purchased with means.
It is a famous saying by George Washington that "Democracy is of the people, for the people and by the people".
But in India, Democracy is 'off' the people, 'far' from people and it is there to buy people with means.
Certain very common means by which common men are purchased include; a.
Offering freebies like free television sets, fans, cycles, electric fans, free ration etc.
b.
Opening liquor shops in all the places including villages.
This has another advantage too.
The income lost in freebie distribution can be compensated by that earned in liquor sales.
c.
Arousing narrow regional and parochial feelings like languages, regionalism etc.
d.
In all India level creating religious chauvinism and in state level, caste feelings.
Caste is the biggest trump card in a politician's hands.
e.
Above all, in India, especially in South India films play the major role in shaping people's opinion about leaders.
The gullible common man mistakes film hero as real life hero and obeys whatever he says.
Silver screen heroes start their own parties and enter politics.
Seldom they get defeat in elections.
f: Though the system in India is called Democracy, only dynastic rule prevails.
The best example is Nehru, Indira, Rajiv, Sonia and now Rahul is waiting in the queue, all belonging to Nehru dynasty.
An interesting point to be noted is that though Indira Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and others in Nehru dynasty have the suffix Gandhi, they do not have any connection whatsoever with Mahatma Gandhi.
All the points pointed out above will show how Indian public are very easily cheated by politicians.
Each and every sentence in the above can be expanded to a separate full article explaining the contents in that sentence.
'Some people can be cheated for many days, many, for some days, but ALL can not be cheated for all the days.
'.
Indians do not resort to arms for a change in Government.
But they have a very powerful weapon in their hands known as the voting right.
The mark in the tip of the left thumb with black ink after voting indicate that they have voted, but it is also an indication that they have painted black in the faces of politicians who take them for granted.
That is what they did in May 2014.
They decided in a single mind and gave a fitting reply to the rulers who took them for granted for sixty years.
But, let the new rulers not remain content with the results.
They will also meet the same fate after five years if they do not deliver goods.
Latest news indicate that they have started losing in some of the bye elections.
This is the power of Indian democracy.
Till the time the power of throwing out the wrong doers is alive, Indian democracy will survive and it will never vanish.
So, in spite of various ailments Indian Democracy is facing, it is a success and it will survive any onslaught.
LONG LIVE INDIAN DEMOCRACY!