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Democracy! My Foot

Machendranath, is an old student of our college in Mumbai. Every time he gets wild, he would blurt “You, my left foot”, indignance writ large on his face. So whenever you have something, to convey of displeasure, “its like Machendra’s left foot”. In the college this was in vogue for quite sometime. Then of course, relentlessness of life takes all tolls. This too was forgotten. Years having passed, we have no idea whatever has happened to our Machendranath.

Of course Machendranath or no Machendranath, ‘my foot’ as a harsh remark to indicate outright rejection has come to stay and is prevalent in the routine discourse among homosapiens the world over.

We Indians, claim ourselves to be the largest democracy in the world. But frankly what constitutes democracy anyway?

Word democracy comes from words-demo and cracy. Demo meaning people and cracy meaning rule or governance. So it is rule by people. Thus, it is regularly quoted as, democracy is a form of government, of the people, by the people and for the people. Oxford dictionary defines democratic, as related to please masses of the people. It infers favouring and practicing social equality.

Thus, it is absolutely clear that democracy means the empowerment of people, the ordinary masses, the faceless multitudes by a form of political government.

Of course, it is impossible that whole of a nation’s population can take part in the legislation that is required to make a nation run. It has to be through the people’s representatives, who are elected through the adult franchise, in vogue in all democratically formed public administrations called governments. And governments are both in federal as well as lower levels called states. Of course it does percolate down to villages, passing through, jilla panchayats, taluk panchayats and village panchayats. So democracy per se touches the entire people of the country.

So, in India, for all the 64 years of its post independence, it has been a democratic system of government, except those emergency interlude of some 21 months, when all democratic functioning were suspended.

Yes, we do breath democracy, at least apparently. Every five years, or as the exigencies arise, we do go to polls to elect our legislators, who include parliamentarians, who make our laws. These laws decide the future course of socio-political and economic life of the nation.

While the system has worked well for all these years, except that brief cessation in the seventies, HAS IT BEEN FAIR TO ALL OF US! IT IS INDEED A DEAFENING NO!

It is very true, that it has greatly failed in favouring and practicing of social equality, which is truly the corner stone of any democracy.

Go back in time, see how larger interest of the masses was compromised at the alter of family interest. These families, who wielded power either by accident of birth or by design of manipulation, used the system to their advantage to perpetuate their hold over the political power and hence the resources of the country.

Abraham Lincoln who coined the definition, ‘government, of the, by the and for the people,’ must be feeling bad wherever his soul is wandering. In India it has been the government of some people, by some people and mostly for some people.

Earliest family to have tasted political power, has been that of Nehru’s. No wonder the family is called ‘the grandest political dynasty of India’. It was not the fault of the Congress party that Nehru belonged to it. But sadly, even after both Nehrus (Motilal and Jawaharlal) were out of the scene, the monolithic political party of India sustained this family culture at the cost of democratic principles. Truly speaking, it is this oldest political party of India, that really killed Indian democratic institutions.

Although Motilal Nehru did not live to be part of the ruling elite post 1947, his son and heir apparent Jawaharlal Nehru became Prime Minister in 1947 soon after independence. He remained there until his death, in 1964. So continuously for 4th term he remained the most powerful politician in the country. Of course he was, prima facie, elected and selected democratically. But, the so-called very democratic Nehru, did not demit the office of Prime Minister, in favour of any of his second-in-commander. It is true that he did not groom his daughter to take over. But the Congress leaders adapt by now, in trying to please the first political family of India, promoted Indira Gandhi, Nehru’s daughter, on the sudden and extremely untimely demise of Lal Bahadur Shastri. Here, it needs to be reiterated that Lal Bahadur Shastri was the cleanest and the most transparent Prime Minister, India ever had. Neither did he promote any of his progeny, nor had he left any money for the family. He was a true servant of people in every sense of the term, and therefore a true democrat. It was indeed a national loss that he died so early within just two years as Prime Minister.

Indira Gandhi remained in power for 12 years from 1966 to 1977, and lost it to Sampoorna Kranti of J.P., to come back again in 1980 and ruled up to 1984, when she was killed by her own body guards. That brought Rajeev Gandhi, the reluctant politician into mainstream national politics. Rajeev remained Prime Minister for a full term from 1984 to 1989 and lost to V P Singh wave, post Bofors scandal.

V P Singh did not promote any of his family members but Rajeev Gandhi and his media friends, like M J Akbar, planted stories of now infamous ‘St. Kitts case’, in an innocuous Kuwaiti paper to discredit V P Singh. Of course nothing came of it. However he was Prime Minister only for one year, Dec. 1989 to Nov.1990. Before he could stage a comeback, Rajiv Gandhi was killed by Sri Lankan Tamil terrorists. In the election that followed Congress managed to cobble up enough support to form govt. at the centre with P.V. Narasimha Rao as P.M. He ruled a full term, the only non Nehru/Gandhi family member to complete the term as PM. He managed to keep the distance from 10 Janpath, the Gandhi residence. Congress men could have rallied round PVN to truly usher democracy into the party. But that was not to be. For the distance PVN tried to create between the govt and the 10 Janpath, he was unceremoniously dumped. An intellectual by his own right, he died a sad man. Congress party remained powerless until 2004, and Sonia Gandhi, the wife of Rajiv Gandhi came back to power to be the de jure head of the state. As was their culture Congress party only promoted the family loyalty. In the process, Congressmen completely forgot the ‘aam aadmi’, whose cause they never fail to make noises about, was left in the lurch.

Then there were other Nehru’s who used the name for political exploitation. Uma Nehru, a cousin of Indira Gandhi was an M.P. Arun Nehru, the nephew of Uma Nehru, was an M.P. and a Minister. Then we cannot forget Vijay Laxmi Pandit, a sister of Jawaharlal Nehru, an M.P. and a diplomat. Unfortunately for Congressmen, using Gandhi name, you have now Rahul Gandhi, an M.P., Priyanka Gandhi waiting in the wings. Besides, two other Gandhis, Maneka, M.P. and a former minister in NDA and Varun Gandhi, an M.P. are in BJP, courtesy, of course, the Gandhi surname.

So Rahul Gandhi, who is aspiring to be the Prime Minister of India, had his father a former Prime Minister, had his grand mother, a former Prime Minister and of course there is the towering personality of Jawaharlal Nehru, the great grand father of Rahul Gandhi, the P.M. in waiting.

So you can imagine, how one family usurped the power to rule and reduced the word democracy into a huge farce.

If Nehru-Gandhi family exploited the political system to their advantage, there were many others who heaped similar indignities on Indians, by taking our great public for granted.

You have this Mishra family from Bihar. Lalit Narayan Mishra (LNM) was a Railway Minister under Indira Gandhi, but had died rather mysteriously. His wife contested for the 7th Loksabha. Vijay Kumar Mishra, the son of LNM, is a BJP-MLA in Bihar was an MP and MLC. Brother of LNM, Jagannath Mishra was Bihar CM so also Union Cabinet Minister. His son Nitesh Mishra, is an MLA and Minister in Bihar. Then you have Gauri Shankar Rajhans, husband of LNM’s niece. He was an M.P.

You have Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family. Laloo has been in active politics for over 4 decades. Has been Chief Minister of Bihar for 3 terms. Under ‘Chaara Ghotala’ scam he resigned and made his illiterate wife Rabri Devi, the Chief Minister of Bihar. Sadhu Yadav and Subash Yadav, both Rabri’s brothers are members of Parliament. Hoisting an illiterate woman as Chief Minister of a state is perhaps the most humiliating insult of Indian democracy.

Karunanidhi family from Tamil Naadu, ruled Tamil Nadu as their personal fiefdom. The DMK, the political party, is run on whims and fancy of octogenarian Muthuvel Karunanidhi. His sons M K Stalin and M K Azhagiri are fighting it out to be the boss of DMK. Stalin was Deputy CM under his father and Azhagiri, was Union Minister in UPA govt. He never attended the parliament since he could not speak any language other than Tamil. Karunanidhi’s daughter is a Rajya Sabha MP. Karunanidhi’s sister’s son Murasoli Maran was a former Union Minister in NDA govt. Dayanidhi Maran, son of Murasoli, was a cabinet minister in UPA until recently.

The Abdullah family of Jammu & Kashmir (J & K), had Sheikh Abdullah, as the first Chief Minister of J & K. His wife Begum Akbar Jahan Abdullah, was an M.P. Son Farooq Abdullah and son-in law G.M. Shah, were both Chief Ministers at different times. Currently Farooq Abdullah is a union Minister with UPA govt., and his son Omar is the CM of J & K. Both father and son were earlier part of NDA and were ministers. Abdullahs never failed to harp on democracy, but they continuously promoted their own family members.

Another Yadav family of Mulayam Singh, he was the Minister in Janata government, was CM of Uttar Pradesh. His nephew Dharmendra Yadav is an MP. His cousin Ram Gopal Yadav is a Rajya Sabha M.P. Son Akhilesh Yadav is now the Chief Minister of UP and his wife Dimple has been elected unopposed to parliament only weeks ago to the seat vacated by her husband. That she was elected unopposed to the Loksabha is truly a joke of our electoral politics.

Scindia family of Gwalior had Rajmatha Vijayraje, a BJP MP. Her son Madhavrao Scindia was the former Union Minister in Rajeev Gandhi govt. His son Jyothiraditya is a Minister in UPA. Rajmatha’s daughter Vasundhara Raje was the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, her sister Yashodhara is an M.P.

Then you have this story of 3 Lal families of Haryana, Devi, Bhajan and Bansi. Devi Lal family, had him as Deputy PM of India. His son Om Prakash Chautala was the Haryana C.M. and both his sons are MLAs. Not lagging behind is Bhajan Lal, who was ex-CM of Haryana. His son Kuldeep Bishanoi is an MP from Hissar. Kuldeep’s wife Renuka is an MLA in Haryana assembly. Chandra Mohan, another son of Bhajan Lal was deputy CM of Haryana. Became infamous for his second marriage by converting to Islam. Bansi Lal family was equally ‘democratic’ in pushing its family members and their interest. He was an ex-CM. His son Surinder Singh was an M.P from Bhivani. His daughter-in-law is an MLA. His grand daughter Shruthi is an M.P. from Mahendragarh. His another son Ranbir Singh Mahendra is an Ex-MLA so also was ex-president of BCCI.

We cannot forget our tribal leader from the north east. He was the Loksabha Speaker. His daughter Agatha Sangma is a minister in UPA govt. One son is CM of Meghalaya and another son a minister. Now Purno Agitok Sangma is hankering to be the 1st citizen, the president of the country, because he is a ‘tribal’. Surely he prides himself as a democrat, but ‘unfortunately’ did not find any other tribal good enough to replace him as a presidential candidate. May be he want to be the ‘greatest’ servant of India and its people. And mind you, nobody is complaining.

Thus there are close to 100 families for whom Indian democracy has been a very fertile ground to profligate and plunder, all in the name of serving the nation and its people.

Theory of political economy, reliably, suggests that ‘Sons & Relatives Pvt. Ltd.’ or dynasticism, should be economically harmful, arguing that, a less competitive political space is likely to deliver less efficient use of public resources. In other words, a writer insists, ‘dynastic politicians who treat their country or state as a family fiefdom are more likely to use public office to enrich themselves rather than promote public good’. More subtly, the stranglehold of a few families on political offices might deter capable members of public from entering politics fearing "No chance" of making it in the hustings.

Commenting on the study-‘The Impact of Dynastic Politics in the Philippines’, Prof Ronald Mendonza had reportedly observed “Political inequality is the mirror image of economic & income inequality.” Mr Mendonza, reportedly notes that ‘political inequality generally and dynastic politics in particular is ‘pernicious’ in so far as it retards a democracy’s ability to respond to its citizens’ needs and people’s empowerment in general.’

If there are these families which are ruling the roost at all levels of political management, there are others, who think they are the only one’s who are born to serve the people, and do not think others too deserve a break.

Long time ago, some 10 years may be, I was sharing the dias with an MLA from coastal Karnataka. He was speaking as one of the guests of honour at a function in Kaapu, near Udupi. In his usual flourish as a politician he said ‘I have already won 6 times, this shall be my 7th attempt to get into the assembly.’ Sadly he took pride in saying so. When my turn came, I posed a question, “While I congratulate our honourable MLA, for all his victories, what about the political future of all those faceless party workers who toiled, day in and day out, to return him victorious to the assembly time and again? When will their turn come to become MLAs?

Of course, it is another matter, MLA was visibly incensed at my chicanery for such an ‘outlandish’ suggestion.

And he is not alone, there are easily hundreds of MLAs, MLCs and MPs of both Loksabha and Rajya Sabha, who are there warming the seats interminably in assemblies, councils across the country and both houses of parliament.

Mr. George Fernandes, a respected name in the political life of the country, too did not think of democratising his political aspirations. He too is an MP for the 8th time. Presently he is very unwell. He has not been in good health since many years. Yet he contested and lost, and courtesy Nitish Kumar, he is made a member of the Rajya Sabha. To-day he is past 82 years, why this hankering for, even to serve the country? When there are younger people, who are mentally alert, physically fit, and equally morally committed, and are waiting in the wings to serve Mother India and her citizens?

Recently, there was this election to Legislative Council of Karnataka. At least 2 of them were contesting for the 5th time. One of them won comfortably, one of them with lot of hick-ups. Both are in their 70’s. They were elected from the graduates constituency. Contesting with one of them was Ashwini Mahesh, a young and qualified technocrat. He had reportedly enlisted some 15000 graduates in his constituency. All that he wanted was 50% of this list to win the seat. But only 4000 plus came and voted. So whom do we blame? If there is rot in the system, it is everybody’s baby. If graduates have failed to vote after registering very freshly, by a competent young candidate, endorsed by no less a person than Justice Santosh Hegde, of Anna Hazare team, where is the hope for young democratic India?

Incidentally one of the above two, who contested from Bangalore Graduates Constituency, who won for the 5th time, had to resign as a minister in BJP government, due to his alleged involvement in the irregularities (read illegal gratification!) in the appointments of faculty members to medical colleges.

Recently one Anshuman Mishra, a Rajya Sabha aspirant wrote a letter to Shri Lal Krishna Advani, the octogenarian BJP leader. He writes, “It is time for you and Dr Murli Manohar Joshi to hang the boot, read books and spend time with your grand kids”. Referring to Shri Advani’s remark that film actor AK Hangal came back to movies at 97, this Mishra countered “Country is not keen on having Hangal but Amir Khan or Ranbir Kapoor, accept this fact and move on”. It is harsh, but is it wrong?

Yes, whether we like it or not, it is time that opportunities should be available politically to a larger section than those who have been tasting it and enjoying it for decades on, without let or hindrance.

Looking back over the 6 decades plus journey of India as a Sovereign Democratic Republic, committed to secure socio-economic & political justice, and ensure equality of opportunity, it is a profoundly mixed feeling of a vast section of our population remaining dependent on the whims and fancy of elected representatives, bureaucracy and sometime even judiciary, making democracy irrelevant. The jinx need to be broken in the overall interest of the nation and the better empowerment of our people, so that the justice enshrined in the constitution becomes a reality.

J. Shriyan