Medowe Kapfo
Winston Churchill was once asked the qualifications for a politician. Without Hesitation, he answered, “It is the ability to foretell what will happen tomorrow, next month, next year,- and to explain afterwards why it did not happen .” The Process of the growth of Democracy in the Country started with the Institution of the first representative government headed by Pt. Nehru who cherished and upheld democratic ideals. The famous quotation; “It will be more appropriate if I am called ‘The first servant of India’ instead of ‘The First Prime Minister of India.,’ by J.Nehru is a million worth proverb for any democratic set-up countries.
Though India showed a remarkably flourishing democracy yet for various reasons it did not proceed smoothly. The dissidents’ elements hampered smooth transition. Nevertheless, the Political scenario of India Democracy has undergone tremendous and dramatic changes. The most prominent among these are the states of criminalization of politics and wide spreads of corruption in the administrative machine, political sphere and occasional threats of separation from one to other party and the like. Even the last five decades of failures have been much more than its achievements. It is a fact that India has been listed as one of the most corrupt country in the world. Corruption has grown because the culprits, especially in high offices, have discovered that the long arm of the law is never long enough to rope them; the ultimate victims and sufferers are the common and ignorant sections of the society.
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose use to say that India was not fit for a Democracy yet. Slave mentality and lawlessness have gripped us tightly. This is a difficult dilemma. The experience of autocratic rules has not been very happy either. It is lamented that though India is a Sovereign Democratic Republic, yet Indians are still slave in one way or the other. There is no denying the fact that all these charges are grounded on facts. As far as our latest political trend goes;’ Seeing Is Believing’ is the natural behavior with most people but in the opinion of law-makers and natural justice, the visible may not be the whole truth and advised us to use our analytical power before jumping in to the fray. There is no guarantee to ‘friendship’ or ‘permanent enemy’ for the political gamblers in a Democratic State like ours, as far as we know. Powers can get out of hand at any moment; either for good or bad. A friend or a foe in polity is a temporary and can be replaced like a spared wheel depending on weather conditions at the central affairs or even within the state. The State level Politicians watches, analyzes depending on the strength and affairs taking places at the Central Level to see which particular Politically Party is on the lead and thereby conclude the tension. This is nothing rather than to be defined as political prostitution or prostituting politics.
Working of Democracy imposes certain responsibilities and obligation upon the people as well upon men in power. Democracy does not mean sans limits; if the people give a free play to their activities for realizing the wishes it becomes serious hindrance in the working of Democracy. The democratic government takes a lenient view of the popular risings because they fear the losing the support of the people. Leniency on the part of the government encourages anti-social elements which make life of the common men miserable. Consequently, there is dissatisfaction and frustration among the peace loving people of the country. For e.g., in India, the opposition parties wanted to take undue advantage of their right to oppose the party in power. They started provoking the different sections of the society against the Government. In some states chaotic conditions are prevailing and in others it was feared that such conditions would prevail. This type of Democracy loses its charm. Before De Gaulle came into power French Democracy was reduced to a mockery because the Government was toppled every week. Theoretically, it may be interpreted as a healthy sign of the working of Democracy but in practice administration becomes impossible. People must be aware of their obligations. In fact, Democracy demands a self-imposed discipline. The voters must realize their responsibilities while electing their representatives. The later should not fail in performing their duties. Political life demands certain ethical codes and if these go uncared for, the opposition as well as the party in power fails to preserve the dignity of the political life. The party in power, intoxicated with authourity generally starts abusing it-power, is suppressed or the public is kept in a state of ignorance. On the other hand, opposition parties’ tries to create conditions in which they may lose popular support, In India, opposition parties are not playing a healthy role. This results in agitations, strikes, bandhs and even riots. For a developing country like India, it is unnecessary and dangerous diversion. When a particular party is voted into power, we must accept their policies, at least for a period of five years. Political Parties need discipline if political life is to be kept chaste.
No Nation without discipline can work for progress. For instance, if the businessmen consider monetary profit the only aim of life, the smooth working of a society will come to an end. The distribution of wealth will be unequal and some of the sections of the society will earn profits disproportionate to their labour or investment. This economic disparity among the people becomes the source of exploitation and that poorer sections of the society would be miserable. India, especially like Nagaland is inhabited by the poor people cannot afford to have economically backward sections of the society. When we keep socialism as our goal and allow one group of our society to reap profits disproportionate to the income of others, they frustrate the ideals of democracy. They conceal their incomes and use black money for unhealthy purposes. In this manner, the whole economy of the society is upset. They also start bribing the officials, thereby imparting corruption even in administration. No doubt, laws take cognizance of these offences yet they manage to escape the grip of law by maintaining their relations with high-ups in society. Clearly functioning of democracy is impaired.
Agitation may be the Gandhian method of protest but any good method which is misused can torpedo the whole system. Whatever may be the form of discipline and however morally its aims justified may be it becomes a cancer in the body of politics. Indiscipline encourages anti-social elements and always put the proper working out of gear. Thus, Indiscipline breeds a generation of undependable citizens and gives momentum to disruptive forces. The relevance of political pattern is determined by adequacy because it stitches up aspirations, functions, needs and demands of the society into a seamless web. The social unity which includes the unity of perspective activities and aspirations fuse the divergent tendencies into semi-articulate whole. The system becomes a reflection of moods and motives and the pattern is that of behavior. Under such circumstances, if the political systems project a distorted image, it will not satisfy the people. Incase the object of reflection is itself disfigured; it will not fit in the frame work of political Institution. These institutions can function properly only if the people who establish them are disciplined in every walk of life; otherwise either the system will crack or people will lose faith in it.
Democratic ideas cannot be planted in the minds of the people through books or through lessons. Those are leant by the people through their own experiences. We have shown that with the passage of time we are learning these methods with greater maturity and better understanding. Democracy presupposes that man possess innate qualities to govern himself. They think that the people know their needs and welfare and can work for it in a more methodical manner. This supposition is based upon ideal calculations; man is greatly swept away by emotions. Liberty becomes license so people must realize their duties. They must work for the common good. For e.g. Workers in factories should aim at increasing production; people in the offices should facilitate the smooth working of the government machinery. So discipline becomes necessary.
Economy of the society is closely linked up political system that without a proper type ordering there cannot be political stability. Today, the economy of Nagas is completely disturbed by some thoughtless unprincipled sections of political society. They indulged in black-market, hoarding, smuggling and in many other activities which disrupted the economy of our poor and ignorant society. Democracy demands equal justice and equal treatment; so that their free thinkings may not be inhibited. For achieving this end, we need Discipline. For making a nation disciplined; no mechanical method can be used for a long time. Once discipline becomes a part of our thinking; we don’t have to exert for remaining disciplined. It is through psychological methods that discipline can be fostered. Renan has correctly said that political institutions are destroyed by their triumphs. So for preserving democracy; a nation has to adopt even anti-democratic methods. Discipline is the hub of Human activity and disciplined activity will strengthen Democracy.
Renan has correctly said that political institutions are destroyed by their triumphs. So for preserving democracy; a nation has to adopt even anti-democratic methods. Discipline is the hub of Human activity and disciplined activity will strengthen Democracy.
