India is one of the largest democracies in the world. Everything has been in tune with the well-known definition, “by the people, of the people and for the people” for over 3 decades since independence. By and large, people in those days reacted favorably to the policies of the government in power. If at all there were protests, they were free from violence and bloodshed. May be that was why the government could cope with food scarcity, price hike, communal flare ups etc.
Slowly but steadily, India could overcome all the difficulties. Food shortage soon became a thing of the past. The transformation from the import of food and other items to a position which enabled India to export these items was such a miracle that the third world countries began to look upon India as a role model. Education too received importance with the introduction of reservation for the socially and economically backward citizens.
Gone are those days. Politics has now become an overcrowded vehicle and the destination is, of course, power at any cost. Every other day a new party crops up seemingly aimed at safeguarding the interests of some castes or region but with the sole purpose of making its leader an MLA or an MP so that he could dictate terms to this alliance or that front when there is lack of the required majority. These smaller parties have no principles as such since they thrive on some problem or the other (mostly created by them). The result is violence and arson. The live telecast of these incidents adds fuel to the fire and troubles spread to the other areas as well. The venues of certain national or international events have to be shifted at short notice in order to ensure safety of the participants. Too many parties and the resultant coalition government and the opposition coalition who are busy conducting protest rallies every now and then can only land the nation in utter chaos and confusion.
If this kind of situation continues democracy will be replaced by ‘mobocracy’ and everything will come to a standstill. If the nation is to make any progress there must be absolute discipline and patriotism.
