Democracy is refered to as the best form of government in the world, a product of modern liberal thinking that has refined it from the days of ancient Greece (particularly Athens). It is s system wherein the people participate, electing their own government who return to them for re-election after a fixed time. But like any other system, democracy is also prone to decay and exploitation. The theoretical meaning of democracy is soon eroded with crooked politicians who take the common / citizen for a ride with many promises and after that he seldom cares about those who helped him come to power. Those are the times when anarchy sett in and there is a virtual change of government by the masses by exercising their ballot.
India is one of the largest and most functional democracy on the face of the earth. With power going all the way to the grass root level, each elections see active participation my millions of common man exercising their vote and electing their leaders. There has always been high turn out in all the elections. But like any other system, in recent times, Indian politics has been marred by divisions on the lines of religion and caste. Corruption has also become a serious issue in modern Indian politics.
The ideal image of an Indian politician is an opportunistic person who comes begging for votes at the time of elections, promising all sort of things and after he/she is elected, turns a blind eye to those who elected him until the next elections when he again makes an appearance. The Indian masses had been a quite spectator to this game. But over the years, the Indian politician has grown in arrogance and also has become a sort of omnipotent who claims himself to be even above the law. The Indian politician has sort of disconnected himself from the common man. This has led to a situation where in the political class has failed to read the mood of the nation and refused to understand what the common man wants. When asked, a politician sarcastically explained that this is how it is done in India and things will never change. But unknown to him change had been in the air for quite sometime.
India has changed a lot. Up to 1970's and say early 80's, there was not much of a media to speak off. There was the Dooradharshan and the AIR which invariably towed the line of the government. There was then the powerful print media which was independent but was lagged by penetration to the lower strata of the society due to less literacy among the masses. On those times, when a politician came and gave promises, it was believed by the masses and blindly voted for that person invariably to only be fooled. This was how it was and the politician was still living on those hay days. But times has changed.
The arrival of the television with their crop of news channels and the internet has changed the game. Now each and every move a politician make is closely followed and analysed by the media. Cases of corruption are instantly brought out, closely followed and made sure a justified end is ensured. Such has become the times. Transparency is the bussword these days. There is a social audit on every actions. The truth is that there cannot be any secrets. In that context should we analyse the election results in the 5 states. The UPA government has been riddled with one corruption case after another. There has been a paralysis of governance. Coupled with public anger over the deteriorating law and order situation, the people gave their verdict, but a verdict nobody expected. The first sign of change came from the massive protest that ensued after the Delhi rape. Such was the public out pour of anger that the government were left stunned. The question that was asked was what was happening? Why this sudden change?
The answer can be found very easily. Now with the new generation media like the facebook and other sites which brings together people from different and varied walks of life under one roof, thus entailing free exchange of idea. In such forums are the new India being made. The new generation demands transparency of governance, they demand that their voices be heard by those who elect them and they have a say in the governance. They demand an end to corruption and a sort of social audit to the actions of those who rule them. But the politician failed to understand the mood of the nation. They were still living in ancient times while the world is rapidly moving on with the advent of new technology which facilitated spreading and dissemination of news and information. That is truth behind the stunning victory of The Aam Aadmi Party. The verdict is not for any single party but for change. A change that has been long coming which India demands. Better the politician understands the same before it is too late and he is washed out and becomes antiquated and becomes the relic of old times.
It is time for newer government modes like the egovernence that brings power to the door step of common man and empowers him is adopted. That is what the country wants. The common man wants his voice to be heard, the voice that demands justice for the silent, where rule of law prevails and where India develops to be the most powerful country in the world, unhindered by the corrupt and the selfish politician. Better the political elite understand the same before it is too late.
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