Future of the Republic
‘Rejuvenating the Republic’: Future perspective
Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao
Hans India (16-07-2020)
Millennium Post, New Delhi
(16-07-2020)
(At a time when populism is on the rise and the people
growing ever more dependent on the Government, the idea of Indian Republic must
be revitalised-Editor)
“Majority of Indians,
particularly the youth, are unlikely to know the kind of Institution Building or of the foundational efforts made
for a modern democratic state. They would be concerned more with proof of
pudding aspects of democracy, constitution and the Republic. The affairs in the
country have not remained constant or uniform over the decades. In the first 25
years, the Republic witnessed hegemony of a single party. After another 25
years of coalition politics at the helm, the country had returned to ‘one leader–one party’ syndrome”.
“Whether
this phase lasts next 25 years appear to be any one’s guess. Populism has been
on rise and citizens are becoming eternally dependent on the Government more
and more. And yet every time a new leader emerges a ‘New India’ becomes a
promise or a claim. Such populistic rhetoric is taking roots in political
culture. It is against such trends rejuvenation of the trajectory and the
Republic is relevant” writes Dr N Bhaskara Rao, a pioneer of social research in
India in his forthcoming publication Rejuvenating the Republic, the first of
its kind political fiction. Dr Rao popularly known to the media as CMS Rao is a
mass communication expert and founder Chairman of Centre for Media Studies
(CMS). He built the ORG as its CEO earlier. He is an acknowledged expert in
public opinion, feedback and market research methodologies.
The
book being published by ‘Speaking Tiger’, New Delhi, is in its final stage of
print, and contains nine chapters covering various aspects. Chapter one is
the overview, two what is the dilemma, three the idea of the Republic, four
ambiguity on fundamentals, five sustaining representative character, six
citizen activism-reliable bet for the republic, seven rejuvenating the
republic, eight initiatives that are a compulsion and nine transformational
interventions. The book throws light on various facets of Indian Republic, its
cherished goals, expectations and aspirations of Constitution, the great
strides India has made etc.
Dr
Rao answering the question as to why yet another book on India as a Republic
confesses that, the Republic as an idea, as a framework to become a better
country is fading, remains a formality and remains as a public rhetoric of
politicians. He feels that, Republic is not so much an important concern of the
young and with political parties becoming all pervasive and dominating, this
trend should be a concern in the country. This was the backdrop of the author for
his taking to this idea of ‘Rejuvenating the Republic’. His anxiety is that
when the Republic becomes hundred in 2050, India should catch up and stand out
as a country of opportunities for everyone.
The
chapter on transformational interventions is the heart, quintessence and
epicentre of the theme of the book. Each and every aspect of excerpts from this
chapter are mindboggling. To run through few of them makes a very interest
reading.
The rejuvenation of the Republic
should be viewed as an opportunity. In 2050 when the Indian Republic completes
hundred years, it is going to be a new record and India becomes a model for the
world. Transformational initiatives will have far reaching consequences with
ripple effect and are based on the experience of 70 years of Republic. The
‘Republic at Hundred’ should have an agenda wherein a national committee headed
by no less than a person like the Vice-President of India to look into three
tasks namely e-voting, relevance of continuation of symbols system and
elections on a non-party basis in an experimental way.
Upholding constitution as federal
character and its basic principle ‘we the people of India’ is of utmost
important. Thought should be given whether we change to ‘Union’ concept instead
of continuing with ‘Centre’ concept and thus doing away with the policy of
centralisation. It would be better to shed responsibilities to states. Idea of
checks and balances should be promoted, pursued and upheld. If there would be a
broad-based support for Presidential form of Government it may be pursued
formally.
An ultimate goal of the Republic is
to have good governance. Good governance comes from a trajectory view of
the Republic. That is democracy, development and governance. It is however,
not three or four pillars or estate view that matters but the civil society
should be viewed and considered as the fifth pillar of the State and the
political parties who are not legally framed otherwise should be as the sixth
pillar of the state. Republic is more than a three-legged race. Governance is
sum total of activities of the six pillars of the state.
Free, fairness, and transparency in
the process having a representative form of governance are essential features.
The real root of democracy is effective local governance at village, block and
district levels. The least that a development model is expected is corruption
free delivery of basic Public services like health, education, food, etc. The
kind of role and responsibility to be played by Civil society and the political
parties will be of paramount important. The media also needs to play its role
with equal responsibility.
‘We the people’ is the basic premise
of the Republic. only to the extent this fundamental principle is
honoured and kept up, the Republic sustains in its true spirit. Political
parties will have to be people centric which requires internal democracy of
holding party elections periodically as per their own constitution. This should
be the prerequisite to nominate candidates. Dramatic rejig in the outlook and
priorities of political parties is necessary for Indian Republic to become
lasting one. Party manifesto should form the basis for poll campaigns. Elections
schedule, duration of campaign as well as the polling process to be the shortest.
Flow of funds from corporates which is beyond limits now needs to be curbed so
that contestants do not become obligatory for funds taken.
Public confidence in the Republic and
the Government gets reflected the way the legislatures function. The
functioning in future could be apolitical. The business should be the
seriousness of issues beyond parties’ interests. It is a compulsion for
Rejuvenating the Republic. The way the Government is referred as of an
individual by members of different affiliations, and ministers should be
restrained so that it is referred every time as ‘Government of India’. The
Leader of the House could be someone who is elected by the entire legislature
but from the majority party. Parliamentary Committees need to be strengthened
by including subject experts.
Rigid party line should not be so
obvious in every discussion at least in Upper House. Reiterating Independence
of Judiciary is highly desirable. The emerging new political leadership should
be exposed to key features of the constitution so that the tendency of defying
judges, courts and court judgments by political functionaries is avoided.
Election Commission which reflects the stature and responsibility, should set
example not only for other independent institutes in the country but constantly
assert to do better every time.
Promoting relations between Union
and States; holding on to their independence and professional standard by
public institutes; prior sharing of information about the appointment of
Governor with the concerned state Government; citizen led initiatives as the
ultimate safety value in democratic functioning etc. are some more
transformational initiatives to rejuvenate the Republic according to Dr N
Bhaskara Rao. He suggests that -right now, at a time when we have a Prime
Minister who is in a better position to take initiatives, it is the best time to
put forth these transformation initiatives for New India.
A highly worth reading book indeed by
every political and social scientist.
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