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Challenges
to Democracy:
First lecture in the series on Sept.21, 2007
By Dr.Sukumar Azhikode
Rulers who forget that
the people who voted them to power are their true masters and the
belligerent people who fail to behave as civilized citizenry are
equally liable for human rights violations. Politics shall not be
mere sharing of powers; what is important is the quest for good
governance. Iqbal, Tagore and Gandhiji always spoke and wrote about
“our Bharat”, where as the new generation of power brokers are
always concerned of “my authority”, “my rule” and “my government”.
Those who are expected to ameliorate the pain and agonies of people,
climb on their back and torture them in manifold ways. The
professionals devoid of apathy and the business magnets of
educational market speak same language, that of corruption and
profiteering.
We have to recapture,
revitalize and reinterpret the great ideas and ideals that animated
those who laid the foundations o four democratic institutions. The
road to wisdom is candid and intrepid thinking about fundamental
issues with a view to action in the here and now. This is the object
of any democratic movement or initiative.
“The most serious damage
has been done to the legislative branch. The sharp decline of
congressional power and autonomy in recent years has been almost as
shocking as the efforts by the Executive Branch to attain a massive
expansion of its power ... the legislative branch of government
under its current leadership now operates as if it is entirely
subservient to the Executive Branch". |
