Future of Democracy in India

“For forms of government let fools contest Whatever is administered best, is the best.”- Alexander Pope

These famous lines were written by Alexander Pope in the 18th century but they are as true today as they were when they were written for the first time. The form of government does not matter at all. What matters is the happiness and the welfare of the masses. Any form of government is bad if the people are unhappy and miserable; any form of government is good if the people are happy and prosperous. India is having a democratic form of government for the people, by the people, of the people. Everyone in a democracy is supposed to be free, responsible and happy. Democracy ensures an equality of opportunity for all.

The working of democracy in India, at times, makes one feel that there is something basically wrong with the democratic system of government. It is no child’s play to fight an election. It is a very expensive game. Really talented persons do not come forward to contest the elections. Success in the election depends upon the patronage of the corrupt businessmen, local guides, and professional politicians. Consideration of caste or religion also plays an important part. The majority of the voters are illiterate and poor. Most of the people, who manage to be elected, do not deserve the honour at all. In Assemblies and the Parliament, they enter into mud-slinging, fist fighting and useless shouting. The angry and frustrated masses come out in the streets. Their anger is exploited by the opposition parties and they start burning public property, attacking public servants and doing paralyzing work.

It was this state of affairs that the Indira Gandhi Government tried to control by imposing an Internal Emergency in the country. The people of the country rejected the idea of limited dictatorship and defeated the Indira Gandhi government. The Janata Party came into power, Democracy which appeared to be badly derailed was claimed to be put back on the rails. Everybody thought that things would change for the better. But nothing of the sort happened.

As a result, the people of India once again lost faith in democracy. They started feeling that democracy and discipline could not perhaps go together. Once again they made up their mind to pay any price for the sake of discipline and order in national life. That is why they voted Indira Gandhi, the author of the black emergency, back to power once again. Mrs. Gandhi strengthened democracy still further. She took the country to the pinnacles of glory. When she was shot dead, a wave of violence and arson swept the country. But the new government acted quickly and controlled the situation. Soon after, the General Elections for the 8th Lok Sabha were held. The people of India reposed their faith in the ruling party headed by Rajiv Gandhi. After a brief stint of opposition rule, the people of India once again voted the Congress back to power. Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao was called upon to lead the country after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. The peaceful conduct of elections proved once again that democracy had taken deep and firm roots in India. An era of coalition governments appears to be on the cards now. In our multiparty system, it appears difficult for a single party to gain an absolute majority. The coalitions, however, are going to prove stable in the country. There is no cause for worry or alarm. The country is now coming up as a great power in Asia. Democracy has certainly come to stay.

There is no doubt that democracy as a system of government does have some flaws and failings. But there is no better system of government devised so far. Totalitarian regimes have crumbled down like a house of cards one after the other. We may have to plug certain loopholes but we cannot do away with democracy. The democratic system of government in India is getting stronger and stronger every day.