Is meaning of democracy lost on us?

APROPOS of Kuldip Dhiman’s write-up "What India means to me" (August 14), it is undoubtedly true that Independence Day has been gradually losing its meaning for the common man. It is due to the mismanagement of Independent India’s affairs by the powers that be.

The great expectations that were aroused at the time of Independence have been totally belied. For instance, poverty alleviation programmes have become matters of statistical jugglery and socio-economic problems have received scant attention.

As against this, consider the lifestyle of an average Indian politician and compare it with the way pre-Independence leaders like Lal Bahadur Shastri lived.

It may be argued that 52 years is not a long time in the history of a nation which has been under foreign yoke for 200 years. If it is so, how come it has been long enough for those who were paupers at the time of Independence to have become millionaires today?

The present scenario in the country is such that the practice of politics and the electoral process are vitiated by a host of ills which undermine the fundamentals of democracy. Parties collect money by means fair or foul and spend lavishly without any accountability. And power is taken as the licence for corruption. In such circumstances, people do not believe that the defence of democracy and freedom is worth fighting and dying for. One would have to be either an incorrigible optimist or a simpleton not to shudder at the sight of the country’s current political scenario. It has turned even more nightmarish by criminalisation, defections and multiple cases of scams and scandals.

Whether democracy can survive long enough in such an inhospitable environment is doubtful. We require men of strong character, men of vision who will not sacrifice the interests of the country for their own petty self interests. During the freedom struggle, the country produced such men in abundance. Then we did not have any conflicting claims to reconcile, no loaves and fish to distribute, no powers to share. We have all that today and the temptations are really high. We have to rise above them.

K.M. VASHISHT
Mansa

II

Is it not a great paradox that in our struggle for freedom we had great leaders of vision and idealism like Gandhi, Nehru, Patel and Bose, but 52 years after that freedom we have corrupt and criminal people as our political role models, who survive by inciting the casteist and communal sentiments of the masses? People are losing confidence in the political process.

Unfortunately during the last two decades, we have experienced a brand of politics that relies on emotional appeal. The priorities of our political parties have been ‘positive discrimination’ for the minorities; choice between swadeshi or videshi; reservation in Parliament for women etc. We have never put on our agenda the real socio-economic problems of the masses and ways to tackle them.

Since the regional and caste-based parties are dominating national politics, one cannot hope to meet the needs of an agrarian society which is changing into an industrial and technological one. Heavy subsidies to unproductive sectors at a crippling cost to the exchequer has pushed the country to the pre-Independence level of socio-economic infrastructure.

VED GULIANI
Hisar

III

The article was a fine mosaic based on the opinions culled from a cross-section of society.

I am really proud of the holy land of my birth — India — which, despite many deficiencies and faults, remains a vibrant nation about to enter the next millennium with faith in universal harmony.

An overwhelming majority of the followers of all religions is free from fanaticism. India is indeed an international oasis of spirituality.

We must not however ignore the rampant evils of corruption, immorality, greed etc in our country. It is the patriotic duty of all Indians to practice truth and righteousness. By doing so, they can render service not only to the country but also to themselves, as it would enable them to lead a long and healthy life.

S.K. SHARMA
Lucknow

Tricolour

This refers to the write-up "To live and to die for" (August 7) by Arpita Kothari. Our national flag, the most solemn symbol of our state, unifies the whole nation and gives rise to feelings of patriotism and oneness among the people of India. Indians should be allowed to fly the National Flag in a respectful manner, without any restrictions. To prevent any kind of dishonour to the National Flag, there is an Act called the Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act, 1971. Also, to prevent any misuse of the Tricolour for commercial purpose, there is another Act, namely Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1950.

NAVEEN JINDAL
New Delhi

Nirad Chaudhuri

This refers to Khushwant Singh’s column "This above all" (August 14). Nirad Babu richly deserved the compliment bestowed on him by the writer. "No Indian, living or dead, wrote the English language as well as Nirad Babu". He was a master of English prose whose writings displayed his razor-sharp wit and intellect.

As brought out in this column, Chaudhuri’s second book A Passage to England received glorious reviews in the English Press. A literary figure of the stature of E.M. Forster wrote: "Besides having integrity and courage, he possessed good English style."

ONKAR CHOPRA
Ludhiana.

Weaponry and Arthashastra

Apropos of A.P.N. Pankaj’s article "War and weaponry in the Arthashastra" (August 7), Kautilya’s Arthashastra is a significant record of the history of the Maurayan period. Kautilya (Chanakya) was the Prime Minister of Chandragupta Maurya, who reigned from 322 B.C. to 298 B.C. Chandragupta’s army consisted of 6,00,000 infantry men, 30,000 cavalry men, 9000 elephants and 8000 chariots. The total strength of the army come to about 7 lakh.

Megasthenese, a Greek historian who was sent to the court of Chandragupta Maurya by Seleukus, and remained there for about five years, noted that the duty of a soldier was to fight in the time of war, but he received his salary in peace time also. The king himself generally led the army to the battlefield.

There was a separate department for the army. The army was also provided with armours etc for the protection of horses and elephants. The physicians and surgeons also accompanied the army in the time of war. The women prepared meals for the soldiers.

In this way, the arrangements for the maintenance of the army were made methodically on scientific lines.

Anup Kumar
New Delhi