DEATH OF INDIA’S DEMOCRACY – Anil Machado

The Indian freedom struggle was the most important period in the Indian history. The
struggle where freedom fighters were doing everything to get rid of the British Raj, but
the elders have something different to say. I have interviewed over 100 surviving elders
from pre-independence era; they said that they were happier under the British rule.
Although they said that they didn’t have the liberties and didn’t have right to vote, yet the
civic services, water, electricity, good roads, clean environment, better living,
employment and many other administrative services were above standards.

Today India decides their government with only 40% people casting their ballots. That’s
not how a democratic society is governed. Many would argue saying that if people don’t
vote then how we can have reform. But the facts are if all the political parties are founded
on the basis of crime, corruption, fear, violence, brutality and breaking laws, then how
can sane citizen decide whom to vote. Many parties but choice is less. One example is the
Professionals Party of India (PPI), a party formed by educated people from the society.
When they contested in 2009 elections their candidate was defeated by a bigger margin
by a corrupt party candidate. Indians are so used to live in filth, crime, corruption and
destructiveness that they are still not prepared for a reformed or a decent party to be
elected.

It has been observed that in Five years no high level criminals are charged or sentenced to
punishment. They come on the news channels under breaking news everyday like havala
scam, murder, rape, bribe, terrorist links, barbarism etc., Thereafter, no news channels
cover these accused and as to what really happened to them, were they sentenced, all we
know is those criminals & politicians are free in the society.

I wont take you very far away in the village areas, but the worst example of the failures
of Indian civic administration is that just 5 kms away from Mumbai ( Bombay ) city the
adjoining towns don’t have proper water and electric supplies.

While driving in the cities of India, one can casually break the traffic rule and escape
penalty by just bribing the less than a dollor to a Policeman.

Pollution control is just not understood by the Indians. Vehicles on the road discharging
black fumes, I bet take a one hour bike ride on any Indian city and then wipe your face
with light colored cloth, you will find out for yourself. The Industries just don’t seem to
follow any procedures that declare hazardous to the environment and also dump their
toxic waste not far away from the site.

The lower middle class and the middle class have given up their rights to take rice, wheat,
oil & kerosene from the ration shops. The reason the rice & wheat will have about 10%
of small stones in it, or the ration shop doesn’t have stock, or the shop is closed, or the
ration shop owner has sold it in black-market.
Further the escalating prices of basic food items have either doubled or unavailable in the
stores. Fresh fruits & vegetables are only limited to the rich class because of the high
prices. The majority of people in India will have rice, chapatti or lentil soup. More than
5000 children below the age of five have died in last four years everyday due to
malnutrition or some sickness.

Health services are not worth discussing here as they really not worth discussing as I
consider that these services are no longer available free or minimum cost for the
impoverished class. I won’t talk about the rich class here as 80% of the Indian
populations still are poor. Just four or five cities in India don’t make up for the entire
Indian population. I guess that’s what makes many farmers & villagers to leave their
dwellings and head to cities to start a new life or if not, atleast they can beg and earn
more than farming. However, the atrocities cast upon the farmers in many states by the
local landlord’s makes life nearly suicidal as these farmers are fully cheated in debts by
those landlords. There is a high rate of suicides amongst the farming community all over
India.

Crime rates in metro cities and the fast life doesn’t allow the people to look anywhere
into the activities of the government. People have taken a false way of life as a real &
practical way of life. The voice of the common man has been lost , very much after the
Independence of India.

I can go on and on but even after reading this article many Indians will just nod and
continue with their day to day routine. No one would dare to rise against the present
anarchy and death in the face of Democracy government.

That’s why the elders say “wish we had not driven out the British”. Today news channels
are being ransacked, reporters, journalists’ is being attacked. Where is the freedom of
speech? Just because a particular party doesn’t like a news covered against them. Time &
time the Police fail to nab the real culprits. The offenders are never touched and even if
they are arrested then there is big uproar by their party members and the offender
released.

Ministers can have scams of millions of worth dollars and still claim their innocence and
never to be tried.

Terrorism is supported from within the government against its own people and we will
just blame on the neighboring countries. I don’t say that those countries don’t endorse
terrorism on Indian soil but how many of those incidents are related to our own or
supported by within. Maoists continue to kill the Indian army personnel and poor
villagers and still the government is deciding a specific strategy. Very soon this terror
will spread across other Indian cities & states and we shall do nothing.

Indian freedom fighters did not dream of such future, all they wanted was for the people
and of the people, how much has come in reality. Lets see how Indian democracy
survives the burns of anarchy and evil.