Half of the world’s population will go to the polls
this year. Forty countries will be voting for a new government in 2024. That
will be 3.2 billion people exercising their democratic privilege of choosing
who will govern them. If we add the local body elections and county/state
elections, then the number of countries going to the polls will rise to 76.
Open Society Foundations of the USA conducted a survey a few months back to study the health of democracy in various countries. The survey covered 36,000 adults each (18 years and above) from 30 countries including India. That is a mammoth survey. Some of the findings may be a little disturbing for those who love democracy.
A large number of youngsters seem to
be losing faith in democracy, according to the survey results. While among the
people in the age group of 56 and above, 26% preferred a strong leader to
democracy, the percentage of youngsters (18-35 years) who made the same choice
was 35. Nearly half of this latter group would choose authoritarianism over
democracy. [Read details here.]
My guess is that the young people are
weary of the hydra-headed corruption that democracy engenders almost universally.
A strong leader with a great vision seems to be an ideal that will match the
dreams and aspirations of the youth.
Take India, for example. Narendra
Modi is quite sure to win the next elections and be the prime minister for the
third term. He has created for himself an image of a ‘strong leader’ with a ‘vision’
that appeals to the majority community in the country. He has put up colossal nationalist
icons like the Statue of Unity, the Kashi corridor, and now the Ram Temple in
Ayodhya. He is seen by the vast majority of Hindus in India as the Messiah of
Hinduism, the Redeemer of the emasculated Indian male virility, and the
Harbinger of a trillion-dollar economy.
While Modi has brought quite a few significant and welcome changes to the country’s socio-economic situation, the damage he has done and is still doing to the secular fabric and scientific temper of the country can never be ignored. It is most likely that within a year of Modi’s re-election this year, India will be declared a Hindu Rashtra and that the minority communities will be relegated as second-class or even lesser kind of citizens. True, of late, Modi is displaying some kind of camaraderie with the Christian religious leaders in the country. Will such friendship be extended to the Muslims whom Modi has virtually made to appear as the de facto enemies of the nation? Given the way history has been distorted in textbooks and other academic material, given the way institutions (including the judiciary) have been communalised, and given the way the citizens are polarised along sectarian lines, the prognosis for India’s next five years is not very promising.
Sectarianism is one of the problems
only. The economy will be another serious issue. As of now, the richest one
percent of India’s population (who are all very close to Modi and his political
party) own 40% of the country’s wealth. Oxfam has labelled it “obscene
inequality.” What is worrying more is Modi’s taxation policy by which the poor
pay far more in taxes than the rich. 64% of the total Goods and Services Tax
[GST] come from the bottom 50% of the population, while only a minuscule 4%
come from the top 10%!
The rich in India are given all kinds
of sops and tax exemptions and benefits and rewards under various guises
including mammoth bank loans which are often not repaid. These affluent in turn
make huge contributions to Modi’s political party. Modi and the affluent in
India are scratching each other’s backs while the poor are becoming poorer
though stats will show a burgeoning economy. Statistical averages are as absurd
as Modi’s spirituality. Modi’s economic stats are like the female bikini: pretending
to be very revelatory but ends up as mere tantalisations.
“India is unfortunately on a fast
track to becoming a county only for the rich,” Oxfam India’s CEO Amitabh Behar
said recently. The system ensures “the survival of the richest.” No wonder, too
many of India’s youth are leaving the country for good. No wonder, again, the
number of suicides is mounting day by day.
A strong leader may not be the best
choice unless you are on the right side of his sectarian divisions.
India is a great country, with millions of people inside. The History of this ancient country is great, and highly valuable. I think all the leaders must be possible that the country be best, and high, and that the people will be better.
ReplyDeleteI Hope India will have this next years good luck, and more increase in the quality of Life for the most possible people ever.
Let me share your optimism. India can be an ideal nation. But her rulers are the prime hurdles.
DeleteToo many people don't seem to understand this "strong" leader thing means the "little people" will get trampled in one way or another.
ReplyDeleteIn answer to your question on my blog: it doesn't get "cold" where I live. I'm in southern California. We've dipped down to about 3C a couple nights, and that's really as low as we ever get. Our daytime temps have been about 18C. For us, this is frigid, and we're all in parkas and boots. And wearing blankets. When I talk about being cold, there's a certain level of sarcasm always present.
Thanks for taking the trouble to answer me here though I'd have revisited your post for the response.
DeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteIt does seem that more and more people are seeking the presence of an iconic leader. Some places are manifesting them, Modi being one of these. The whole world holds its breath for November and the American elections... YAM xx
Many countries seem to prefer a strong leader. Wasn't Trump one of them? Russia, China have strong leaders! Israel?
DeleteA leader is one who can transform lives. Today more Indians are economically poorer contrary to what Niti Aayog may state.
ReplyDeleteThe real catastrophe is the barrage of falsehood being foisted on the nation as truths.
DeleteIn a democracy laws and policies take very long to see the light of day while in a single party rule with a single leader it's much faster and with the rapid rate of social and technological change, the latter is preferred by the latest generation who dont have the time to revel in the finer qualities of democracy.
ReplyDeleteThat is a wise understanding of the situation, I'd say. Probably, there's a need for reforming the democratic ways of doing things.
DeleteSometimes an individual (not a party) wins because there is no better alternative! I am no Modi fan, even lesser after all the fanfare around Ayodhya Temple, but what else can I do, but go with the flow? He is also human, he needs to create a succession line, but he does not seem interested.
ReplyDeleteHe thinks he's as eternal as his deities and so a successor won't be required.
DeleteWhat's happening there sounds familiar in a lot of ways to what's happening here in the US. I pray we don't lose our democracy. I pray and I vote.
ReplyDeleteYes, a lot of similarities can be found between USA and India. Conservative nationalism?
Delete