Challenges to Democracy

series of weekly lectures at 5 p.m. on every Friday

at Sahitya Academy Vyloppilly Hall, Thrissur

from 21st September 2007

Friends,

Indian democracy at the age of Sixty!

We take pride in that defining moment in 1950 when, despite a recognition of the enormous challenges of knitting together a 'nation' out of a staggering diversity of communities, ethnicities, languages and disparities, we decided to take the bold political step by pledging India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic.

Integral principle of democracy is the commitment to strive for social, political, legal and economic justice. Any assessment of our democracy must start with an assessment of that commitment. It is also true that effective democracies must ensure that governments function in an efficient, effective and accountable manner. Hence grass root level participation is essential to make good governance.

Contrary to this the development scenario of our country shows that we are poor in literacy and the per-capita income, where else top in internal conflicts, communalism, and fundamentalism etc.India in many circumstances had the temptation of falling into the shackles of autocracy . Yet Indian democracy is very much alive and remains in tact not because of the efficient democracy but simply because of the effort of the poor and illiterate people. They are the custodians and guardians of Indian democracy. The contributions made by media and NGOs are also to be appreciated.

Jananeethi in the last one and a half decade, in its own humble way could be the guardian angel of democratic values. Jananeethi conducted a series of lectures on different topics on different occasions. In the context of the demolition of Babri Masjid, Dr. Sukumar Azheekode delivered his speech on what is ‘Bharathiyatha’ and later on various luminaries spoke on the  following topics like GATT Agreement, New World Order, Police and the People, Power and Politics,  War and Freedom, Bandh, The Anxieties of 21st Century, American Terrorism on Iraq, Minority Rights etc.

Again in the light of the contemporary realities Jananeethi come forward to analyze and to bring to the notice of the general public the challenges faced by the Indian democracy, by a series of weekly lectures at 5 p.m. on every Friday at Sahitya Academy Vyloppilly Hall, Thrissur from 21st September 2007.

Function was inaugurated by Dr. Sukumar Azheekode on 21st Sept. 2007 at 5.30 p.m.

21-9-2007

28-9-2007

5-10-2007

12-10-2007

19-10-2007

26-10-2007

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