Democracy :: Billions Meanings :: Billions Hopes
Author: Pradeep Shanker
We are celebrating 65th Republic day. It is a day of when we accepted Democratic Republic form of governance. Though it may take some more time to be mature in democratic system but in these 65 years, we must have understood meaning of Democracy at least. So what is meaning of democracy in eyes of we, Indians? Experts may have some definite meaning of democracy, but as I understand, there is no ONE meaning of democracy in eyes of we, Indians. Perhaps we, more than Billion people, have billion unique meaning of democracy as per our conditions, hopes & aspirations.
If you ask a budding youth, he may describe democracy as a tool which opens up new sky before him. For a poor man, struggling to meet two ends of the day, democracy may mean as a suitable job opportunity providing him enough income to feed his family with honour. For an expecting mother from a downtrodden family, it may mean as suitable food for her yet to born child & safe but free hospitalization for delivery. For small, young girls/women, student or office going or working somewhere else or just house wife or mother or sister, democracy may mean a society secure enough for them & it may mean a society which does not discriminate between sons & daughters. For poor parents, it may mean as a tool which provides free but best schooling to their children. For a good student, it may mean as scholarship for higher education. For a business person, it may mean as a tool which provides him an opportunity to do his business honestly but with good profit that too without any unnecessary monitoring authority. If you ask Revenue collection Official, democracy may mean as a tool by which he may collect 100% revenue even without going out of his office. The policing authorities may dream it as a crime-less state. For Poor Family, democracy may mean Food, Cloth & suitable house to live in. For Labor, it may mean enough income from labor he does. For Farmer, democracy may mean suitable priced within means seeds, fertilizers, irrigation etc. For School Going Children, democracy may mean a nearby school with good classes, noble teachers and good library to read more book, good Mid-day meal & large field to play. For Sportsmen, it may mean world-class sporting, training & competition facility at door step & good job on the basis of their sporting talent that too without any reference from some Minister or some top bureaucrat. For Scholars, Artists, Writers & Poets, democracy may have meaning as suitable patronage from the State so that they may pursue their heart contents without worrying for their house expense & cost of raising their children. For Scientist & Engineers it may mean best research faculties, hefty pay & honor they deserve.
For Builders, Planners, Contractors & Service Providers, democracy may mean as building world-class infrastructure at the minimum cost & at good profit with minimum interference from government authorities & it may also mean protection against land Mafia & other criminals. For these infrastructure users, democracy may mean best of best services at reasonable cost. For Taxpaying People, democracy may mean most simplified friendly tax system with minimum tax. For Teachers, teaching administrator & Students, democracy is a way to impart & receive the best of best & latest education & educational facilities at minimum cost. For peaceful & law-abiding Citizens, democracy should be heaven with maximum governance with minimum government. For senior citizens who have done their due to their nation, democracy may mean maximum social security & healthcare without worrying for the cost. For Honest Politicians & Officers, democracy may mean a system where they may serve their beloved country with their full potential & in the process gain name, fame & wealth as per their talent & status. For Religious people, democracy may mean a state which facilitates them to pursue the path they believe that too without interference from other religious groups living in the same vicinity. For Minority, democracy may mean as the safest hands providing them safety & all the privilege and facilities without discrimination without depriving majority group’s due they deserve. At the same time Majority group may perceive the meaning of democracy as a system with works as catalysts between majority & minority groups in increasing love & cooperation. For Defense forces, democracy may mean a system which does not encourage war between countries but always remain alter with best of best warfare systems in the world.
For general public, democracy means a state which provides security to all, healthcare at minimum cost, schooling to their children, suitable living-in facilities, 24 x 365 electricity, safe drinking water & sanitation facilities, suitable roads, infrastructure, & job opportunists to all. For Corrupt Politicians/Officers, mafia, gangsters, terrorists, law breakers & other people having criminal bend of mind, democracy should appear as Yam Raj, most strict police in the world.
We, The billion people of this great democratic country, may perceive Democracy as having Billion Meanings with Billion Hopes. Now it is time to ponder why our democratic system is not able to fulfill the hopes & aspirations of the people of India. Have some undemocratic system taken over for this system to have person gains? It is also time to meditate over that how much we, the people, are at fault to let them hijack our democracy by not choosing correct political leaders.
In my eyes, the true meaning of Democracy may be expressed in Gurdev Ravindranath Tagore’s word as below.
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
Jai Hind
Related articles
- बोया पेड़ नवजोत सिंह सिद्दू का तो जीत कहाँ से होय - January 23, 2017
- Modi government Concedes to Win - January 19, 2017
- नरेन्द्र मोदी का राजनैतिक बनवास कमरा तक छिना - January 19, 2017
Excellent Post 🙂
Maximum governance, minimum government has become a dream. Excellent post…HV shared on twitter. Keep writing more such insightful stuff!
Thanks Amrita jee
Brilliantly written Article Pradeep ji. One of the Best so far. India has one of the best Democratic System and We still continue to evolve ourselves. One day, I am convinced all the Democracy thoughts through myriad of perceptions will combine/transform into one single Force which will propel our Nation towards New Heights. Jai Hind. Jai Bharat.
Thanks Vijay ji
When there is no clear cut meaning assigned yo a word,we mean it differently to suit our interest and purpose.Preamble to our Constitution refers to democracy but no meaning is assigned.Seculerism is also a word finding place in preamble without defining it resulting in abuses of the word by political parties.This a diachotomy to be resolved in infinitive period.At least you have brought it to the fore.
Yes Sir..That is what I want to tell.
Oh..I never imagined there may be different meaning for different people. By accepting democracy, we have accepted greater responsibility for which we must be aware and work.
Best article on Yugvani so far.