Our democracy is in real danger : Shantonu Sen @narendramodi @arvindkejriwal

SMART DEMOCRACY

What is the state of our democracy? After Dadri, after the vile name calling of depraved proportions in Bihar and after the spate of resignations from the Sahitya Academy this question is alive and quickening the pulse of the cognizant. This question is spreading into the inner recesses of our country, from the urban denizens to the rural populace, despite the and in spite of the vast size and diversity of this great country. Along with all this is fear, great fear, that is slowly and surely gripping the enlightened..

When dispensation changes, when new regimes are ushered in, it brings, in its wake, changes. These changes are inevitable as the old order must give place to the new. The 2014 General Elections had drummed up enthusiasm, ecstatic and sheer in dimension and numbers. The prospect of a changed milieu replacing the stifling stinking present was a great feel. The buzz word was good days or rather the more popular “ acche din”. Gone would be the lethargy, stagnation and corruption! It was electric atmosphere . Skill and development entwined , it was felt, would ride over the rough, the ugly that was bedeviling the country . The promise that this , much wanted and acclaimed in words wondrous, growth would be inclusive. Its mantle would be generous and magnanimous spreading its gifts over Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs ,the Jains on one side and the Dalits, the farmers, the urban poor , the urban rich, the homeless in equal measure.

Some where love , brotherhood, respect, cooperation and most vital, the willingness to give space to each other has been lost. No permanent growth is possible with out these redeeming qualities of human nature. The feeling that their( ruling class) incumbency is threatened appears to have dented all sincere attempts at growth. Instead “ populist, irrational and opportunistic practices that justifies itself in the name of addressing historical injustice and looking after electoral advantage” has foisted itself on our democratic society. Nothing could be more damaging to developmental exercise. With bonhomie scarce and fear creeping into replace it what will be fate of growth? Will it survive? Will it be a casualty? Will our democracy, even now nascent and struggling to find its roots in the eyes of many in the world, take shape in a way not anticipated by our founding fathers ?Willl it be able to find its place in the sun?

This democracy like the elites of the present time is different to its past avatars. It can be called smart. After all, smart is the new catch word .Smart phone, smart television ,smart car and now the smart city. Our democracy , already enjoys being called feudal and dynastic. Pejorative, it well may be, but its toll is there for all to see. Now, smart democracy? Much like smart aleck. is it derisive? Yes and rightly so. Smart phone has given call drops, smart car the fudging of emission data, the smart city dipping security levels What will smart democracy be like? One thing , it surely will be. Lying and wagging tongues? There is grave danger of it. These wagging tongues and then the ominous silence after the damage that it has caused has already extracted heavy toll in several instances. Unless we gird our loins and face up to the devastating consequences of lying and wagging tongues immediately, our democracy is in real danger.