The Great Democratic Exercise

The countdown has begun. 14th Indian Lok Sabha is about to be formally concluded on June 1st, 2009. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the nation will display the great democratic exercise, commonly known as the General Elections. According to Election Commission of India, 714 Millions of population is eligible to exercise their voting right and their right to elect their representative, in effect, the next elected Government of India. To put this number in better perspective, it represents almost 1.46 times the combined population of the Western Europe and the United States.

There will be voting booths in schools, colleges, public buildings. There will be voters representing all cross-section, although the percentage from each section will be differing. Voting machines will travel to and fro by you-name-it types of transportation - buses, rails, road vehicles, boats, aeroplanes, helicopters and even to the remotest of the remote places - by elephants!

There is a hue and cry from some corners about the total cost of election, which is $2 Billions. But again consider this: cost of 2008 US Elections was $5.3B. If we take the total population of both countries in to consideration, election cost per capita reduces to $17/capita for the US, the biggest democracy while $1.7/capita for India, the largest democracy. May be it is worth to consider for the US to outsource elections too! Fun apart, the simple argument, "It is the price of democracy that we have to pay", seems perfectly fitting as short but firm reply. But then question arises, if this is the only price we are paying to maintain our democracy? Off course not! There is another price we pay being democratic nation, not to get high percentage of voter participation across the entire spectrum. As Indian citizen, we have basic civil rights granted by the constitution. However, while granting these rights, fathers of our constitution didn't clarify enough the role of responsible citizenry.

Today, on one side it appears that, we are ready to take off as developed nation. Especially, in last ten years, we became formal nuclear power, our financial position has been significantly strengthen, so much so that even NY Times has to take notice while publishing articles such as, "How India Avoided a Crisis". Our military might was useful in international waters while dealing with sea pirates and at various peace keeping missions. We are building great road network. Our TATAs are building a nano-car that became international sensation. Our "IT Might" is now well accepted fact worldwide. Our space scientists are not only sending Chandrayan to the moon but also venturing in the international space market and launching successfully more than one satellite.

Regardless, it is the same nation that saw hundreds suicides of farmers, power shortage, water shortage, environmental degradation that is impacting our farmlands, our drinking water resources, air we breath and our health and the worst - rising social inequalities. However, the most disturbing and most recent memory of our times is November 26th, 2008 - attack on Mumbai, Indians, foreigners especially Americans, but most importantly on our very way of life of our nation - the life that is despite many problems and shortfalls, remained largely open, Democratic and receptive to diversity.

Who is responsible to these ills of the nation? Just politicians? Or babus who with their intellect and systemic knowledge, to some extent, even control politicians from behind the scene? Or those who vote and elect wrong representatives from the local to national level, "we the people"?

In my opinion by and large we are victims of our own inaction. The most critical aspect of democracy is civic engagement in variety of social and public affairs depending on one's liking. But, we avoid or ignore even to vote, forget the rest civic engagement (leaving aside honorary exceptions). If we ask people who don't vote, the reason for not voting, typically we will get answers: "We don't have good choices", "All politicians are thieves and useless to get elected", "nothing is going to change by my one vote" etc. Winston Churchill is often quoted by his famous words, "Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those others that have been tried." I think our inert behavior to civic engagement is catalysis to make the Democracy worst.

Hence, many times I wonder, if such a successful affair of Indian election, really represent the great Democratic exercise? The answer lies both in "yes" but with limitation and in "no" as the great democratic exercise doesn't start with announcement of elections and ends after results declaration. In fact it is just the beginning...

As we continue this journey on Bharat Votes, I would like to share and also hear from you, your thoughts, observations and experiences about India - once taunted by John Kenneth Galbraith, US Ambassador during Nehru and Kennedy era, as "functioning anarchy", but one that is set to take a leap sooner than later, in addition to as democracy by numbers, as developed nation.