A+| A| A-
How Democratic?
The three articles in your issue dated 27 July 2013 by Anand Teltumbde (p 10), Ranjana Padhi (p 15) and N Venugopal (p 22) have a common but highly disturbing thread that raises a fundamental question about what was oncethe proud foundation of the Indian Constitution, through which a “Sovereign Democratic Republic” was created in 1950. The cornerstone of that creature was democracy. But the State, which is itself a wing of the republic, has consistently been an instrument for stifling democracy.
The three articles in your issue dated 27 July 2013 by Anand Teltumbde (p 10), Ranjana Padhi (p 15) and N Venugopal (p 22) have a common but highly disturbing thread that raises a fundamental question about what was oncethe proud foundation of the Indian Constitution, through which a “Sovereign Democratic Republic” was created in 1950. The cornerstone of that creature was democracy. But the State, which is itself a wing of the republic, has consistently been an instrument for stifling democracy.
Dissent and debate are the imperatives for a functioning democracy. But the State increasingly resorts to extra-judicial execution of citizens through managed encounters (like Ishrat Jahan in Ahmedabad), prolonged imprisonment without trial (like the struggling workers of Maruti Suzuki in Haryana) and the killing of political dissidents (like Ganti Prasadam in Andhra Pradesh). This creates serious doubt about the kind of democracy we have evolved into over 60 years.
Dear Reader,
Or
To gain instant access to this article (download).
(Readers in India)
(Readers outside India)
