---Independence Day
As we enter
the 70th year of freedom from colonial rule, a few gaping questions
remain for “We The People”. We are dutybound to resolve them for our next
generations from whom we ha ve borrowed this world.
Compare
Japan with India. Both were devastated by the western powers. However 70 years
later today, Japan is miles ahead of India in terms of economy, democracy and
world stature.
The key
differentiator between South Asian countries like India, Bangladesh, Srilanka,
Pakistan etc and other developed countries is that in the latter, democratic
values in lifestyle has taken root whereas in the former,mere political
democratization has occurred.
India, until
the 18th century, was a net exporter of ideas to the world. However,
progressively under colonial rule, the rich democratic tradition of 2000 years starting
from Vaishali’s republics was strangled. Post 1947 independence, India sadly
continued with a similar Westminster model of democracy which centralizes power
with States & the Central governments.
Centralization
of power results in stunted initiative taking endeavors from the citizenry. Power
centralization dwarfs creativity. It is indeed lamentable that in the last 70
years, except Kailash Satyarthi, there is no Nobel laureate from India whose
workplace has been India.
The hallmark
of any robust democracy is freedom of its citizenry to commit mistakes and an
indomitable spirit of taking new initiatives. Present Indian laws neither authorize
We the people to take initiatives nor give us freedom to err. On the contrary,
present Indian System authorizes the governments to do both.
The only way
to real independence is to completely overhaul the present Indian political system
by ushering in laws which curtail the power of governments and give those
powers to We The People. Decentralization of power will be our truest tribute
to the multitude of Gandhis, Boses, Bhagats, Ashfaqullas who laid down their
lives for us to live in an independent India where initiatives, new ideas and
creativity belong not to the governments, but to We The People.
…..Because
we haven’t inherited this world from our ancestors, rather borrowed from our
children.
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