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In India, The Idea of Democracy Differs From Its Practice - The Indian Express
In India, The Idea of Democracy Differs From Its Practice - The Indian Express
In India, The Idea of Democracy Differs From Its Practice - The Indian Express
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News / Opinion / Columns / In India, the idea of democracy differs from its practice
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Gandhi did not favour the constitutionalisation of democracy which, according to him, has to be preserved in
society as an essential value.
The idea of democracy was introduced and nurtured during the national
movement. Despite its upper-caste and middle-class content, the values and
principles of democracy became entrenched in politics and thereby in the political
imagination of the people in subtle ways. Even those opposed to Gandhi, Ambedkar
and socialists converged on the notion and importance of tolerance and dissent.
In the early years after Independence, the Indian state maintained some
commitment to justice and fundamental rights but tolerance of dissent remained
an incomplete project. The state’s position as “guardian of democracy” resulted in
many unpleasant episodes, including the proclamation of Emergency by Indira
Gandhi in 1975. What makes the present situation different from previous
experiences is that the clout of certain kinds of organisations is no longer seen as
abnormal. This happened during the Emergency as well – Sanjay Gandhi’s hold on
the government is well-known. But the current regime has legitimised the sway of
organisations like the RSS through popular means. The conditions of a working
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5/9/24, 6:11 PM In India, the idea of democracy differs from its practice | The Indian Express
democracy may be the same for seven decades, but the principles and values have
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the potential to be altered.
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Our politics increasingly seems unmoored from certain human values that are
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often considered essential for democracy. Thus, another way of imagining a
democracy that is engaged with the human being and a concern for everyday life
is challenging in our situation.
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