Claiming Participatory Democracy in India: From Political Capture to Citizen Empowerment
I. Political Capture and the Erosion of Democratic Spirit In a democracy, theoretically, power belongs to the people. But in India, as in many other developing countries, after independence a class of politicians has emerged to capture and usurp political power, dominating the governance of the entire society. Formed into political parties, they are not empowering citizens but, on the contrary, spreading a political culture that distances power relations from human and social relations. As a strategy, they are diverting the attention of citiz…
Rise, Challenges, and Decline of the New Class of Politicians
Origins of a New Class: One need not be a Kautilya or a Marxist to understand that in all human societies, there has always been a class of active members of the community that dominated the other members and enjoyed some privileges, prerogatives and advantages because of their power and wealth. From priestly elites to monarchs, aristocrats and merchants, different classes have directed the affairs of state. The governance activities of the state are called ― politica‖ by the Greeks and the term politician later came to describe those who are…
How to Redeem Ourselves from a Curse: Constructive Approach to the Caste Census
I. Caste Consciousness Remains a Curse for the Emerging Open Society Since Gandhiji’s return to India, i.e., for the past 90 years, we have been fighting to liberate India from the clutches of the caste consciousness. Under his leadership, the crusade was largely led at that time by upper-caste Hindus and the elite in other religions. The founders of the Constitution aimed to bring equality in dignity and provide equal opportunities for all residents in their social, economic, and cultural relations. But, they proposed ten years of affirmative…
How to Improve Communication between the Civil Society and Media
Dr Rao VBJ Chelikani How can communication between the media and civil society organisations, including the Resident Welfare Associations be improved? Relations between these two entities is being debated worldwide, but we might say that the situation is worsening in India, since successive governments have been showing incremental authoritarian tendencies. Further journalism as a profession is in crisis. As N. Ram, former Editor-in-Chief, the Hindu said in Kozhikode in his lecture in memory of M.R. Veerendra Kumar, former MD of ‘Mathrubhumi’…
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India has to be a Pacifying State, Internally and Externally
Rao V. B. J. Chelikani I. The State is for the People: When Sir Arcot Ramaswamy Mudaliar on behalf of India, along with 49 other countries signed the Charter and joined the United Nations Organisation on June 26, 1945, in San Francisco, USA, a new world order was born with the promise of lasting peace among the states. It is an appeal for ―a general international organization, based on the principle sovereign equality of all nations.‖ Since then, there are now 193 states that claim to adhere to the UN Charter. It is a declared realization t…
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