Is Indian Democracy Feudalistic?

(Against the Motion)
Respected chairman, learned teachers and awakened audience, I stand before you with a firm conviction to oppose the motion. I congratulate my good friend for his ‘unsuccessful’ effort to make a point that of Indian Democracy is feudalistic. I can see more pessimism and less of logic in the arguments.

I agree with the point that no man made system is divine perfect. Anyone can wean out sufficient arguments out of evolutionary failures of a system but that should not mean to devise a totally ridiculous definition such as calling a democracy feudalistic.

Chairman sir, democracy is a complex system of governance because as far as its application is concerned in a country of 115 crore population. There is a possibility of some people not getting their due in the process. Democracy evolves through people struggle and matures with time.

My friend jumped in haste to compare Indian democracy with that of US. Can you compare a 60 years man with a youth of 20 ? US the democracy is more than 200 years old. It has witnessed caste and colour discrimination of worse kind. There have been scandals and blunders. But it learned from the mistakes every time. The same is happening in India!

In past three decades, people have rejected politicians who try to weave political organizations built around families. The cases of Bihar, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Maharastra are self-evident. The principals of freedom and equality have enabled the so far marginalized castes to unite and claim their share in power. If still we notice some hereditary transfer of authority in politics, it is because of people’s support and not because of the nature of democracy.

Mr Chairman, two pillars on which the ability of democracy stands are equality and freedom. These two features are eminently present in our democracy. Some landmark decisions by the Supreme Court in public interest litigations where it directed govt. to take action are the praise of democracy. Few quotable example are - emancipation of child labour from carpet industry of Varanasi, removal of polluting industries from Delhi and Agra, cessation of mining activity in Aravali Hills and removal of diesel buses from the capital. The list is long.

On the side of law, numerous political magnets and influential people have been humbled and brought to book. Introduction of Right to Information Act has proved an effective antidote to corruption. Would that be possible in feudalistic democracy?

In democracy, electoral competition is bound to happen among political parties and winning the election is the most important criterion for candidature. This is why muscleman and big tycoons get party tickets. But be sure, democracy has the capacity to get rid of such weeds.

The fourth estate has played a major role in strengthening Indian democracy. What escapes the notice of the courts and the system of administration, media throws it open to public scrutiny, ultimately leading to justice and public awareness.

It is an established fact beyond doubt that Indian democracy is not at all feudalistic.

It is not by chance that India is being recognized as an emerging global power in just sixty years of independence. The successful operation of democracy for the past six decades is the testimony of an ever evolving and strengthening, true Indian democracy.

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