Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site cavell.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!alberta!cavell!prasad From: prasad@cavell.UUCP (Prasad Srirangapatna) Newsgroups: net.nlang.india Subject: Re: Re: Political maturity of the masses Message-ID: <380@cavell.UUCP> Date: Thu, 14-Mar-85 19:08:18 EST Article-I.D.: cavell.380 Posted: Thu Mar 14 19:08:18 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 16-Mar-85 01:43:28 EST References: <2458@hplabsc.UUCP> <173@sbcs.UUCP> <413@crystal.UUCP> Organization: U. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Lines: 71 > > > > > > Sir, - As a political scientist - with the University of Washington - > > > on my first visit to India, I have been amazed to witness at first > > > hand, the virility and maturity of Indian democracy in the general > > > elections. ... > > > > Give me a break! Does this guy have any idea of what factors influence joe > > villager's vote? Weighty non-issues such as the candidate's religion, caste, > > community, mother tongue, and whether or not he pees facing the wind are > > all important factors; thugs passing for "student leaders" are at their > > persuasive best (count how many candidates died in pre-election violence > > these recent assembly elections); and booth-capturing is common enough to > > merit but passing mention in newspapers (yes, the last parliamentary > > elections were remarkably free of this, but that, to me, speaks of good > > organization, not necessarily of political maturity). > > > Does it occur to you that every one of your arguments applies equally well > to this country and Reagan? Lots of Americans feel Reagan lacks "political > maturity", and that his forte is that he is able to create an illusory "TV > reality" much like the "celluloid reality" that you speak of. But that is > no reason to say that this country is not democratic! What about the reaction > here to Jesse Jackson's candidacy? Were you not flabbergasted at the racist *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** Sub: Indian Politics and Democracy It has become a cliche to claim that India is the most populous democracy in the world and to seek to show how much it has in common with that other great liberal democracy - the United States of America. On a superficial level it is, of course, perfectly possible to defend or deny this postulate depending upon one's inclinations. In its favour, India has a reprsentative parliament, an elected leader, an egalitarian constitution and elections every five years. And so does the U.S. Conclusion: two model democracies! On the other hand, we also have a largely illiterate and gullible electorate, self-serving politicians, a corrupt bureaucracy and an unproductive & mismanaged economy. If the U.S. cannot be faulted on any of these counts it has other damning attributes - street crime, violence and drug abuse etc. Evidence enough to conclude the hollowness of the democratic premise! More rationally speaking, however, it is short sighted to make judgements based on the symbolics trappings or otherwise of a political system. Election rhetoric, for example, can often be inane and designed to appeal to or appease emotional issues. But it should not be taken as a measure of how effective a democracy or how enlightened an electorate. It is sometimes meaningless to compare India to the U.S. given the vastly different socio-economic environments and to insist that what works in one set up should also work in the other. Ours is a relatively young democracy and it needs time to evolve and mature, and we need to adapt it to our socio-economic environment. There are, however, some constants. I believe that a true democracy is characterized by: 1. A real and perceived balance of power between the Executive and Legislative wings of the government. 2. An independent Judiciary. 3. A free press and broadcast media. 4. A honest and non-partisan bureaucracy. Present day Indian democracy leaves much to be desired on all four counts. Let us hope that the new leadership brings a refreshing and much-needed change in style to the country's political scene. 14 March 1985 S. Narayana Prasad prasad@cavell.UUCP