FOREWORD By S Narsing Rao, IAS Retired To the book ‘Democracy and Governance Through Lens and Blurred Glasses A Journey into Distorted Visions of Modern-Day Politics’

 FOREWORD By S Narsing Rao, IAS Retired 

to the book ‘Democracy and Governance 

Through Lens and Blurred Glasses

A Journey into Distorted Visions 

of Modern-Day Politics’

By Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

India is the world’s largest democracy. We, as Indians, should rightly feel proud to say so, and to hear it echoed both within India and across the world. More importantly, however, Indian democracy is much more than the superlative adjective of being the ‘largest.’ It is also relatively young and extraordinarily complex, socially, culturally, geographically, ethnically, and politically, when compared to most other democracies. The fact that it has not only survived about eight decades, but also going strong on a macro sense speaks volumes about how the democracy has been imbibed by its citizens, though it was some kind of an alien concept to India.

Post-independence, India proved its sceptics wrong. Those who predicted that Indians were incapable of managing a united, let alone democratic, nation had to correct themselves. This is undoubtedly a very big achievement in itself. That India has not only survived but thrived for nearly eight decades is a remarkable achievement. Around one billion eligible voters, the majority of whom participate enthusiastically in periodic elections, peacefully change governments. This feat deserves admiration, especially in contrast with events such as those at Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021.

In this background, a natural question arises: how is Indian Democracy evolving over time? The answer is not straightforward. Every Indian holds a personal view, ranging across the entire spectrum. Obviously in a pluralistic and democratic polity this is expected because every individual would have right to form and express their own impression and interpretation.

Yet, there are some basic tenets by which every democracy must be judged. Two fundamental pillars define it, namely, Representative and Participative Democracy. The representative form is well established in India, at least in letter if not always in spirit. Periodic, timely, and largely peaceful elections to State Assemblies and the Lok Sabha testify to this, despite challenges such as money power, muscle power, and low voter participation. The worrying aspect, however, is the near extinction of the participative element of democracy, and citizens’ active engagement beyond elections.

Another disturbing trend, seen not only in India but across South Asia, is the transformation of ruling and opposition parties into enemies rather than political opponents. The culture of dialogue and consensus has nearly vanished, a decline visible since the mid-1970s. It is ironic that political parties often oppose, while in opposition, the very policies they proposed while in power.

Today, India’s democratic practice often appears reduced to a mathematical equation: (X/2) + 1, where X denotes the total strength of the Legislature. Such a narrow conception, winning just enough to govern, renders democracy a licence to rule rather than a mandate to serve. Most parties now support what is politically expedient, not necessarily what is morally or socially equitable. The recent Constitutional Amendment providing reservations to Economically Weaker Sections is one such instance of broad but politically convenient consensus.

A vibrant civil society is a ‘sin quo non’ for a thriving democracy, and contemporary India fares poorly on this count. Since the embrace of liberalization four decades ago, material success has overshadowed civic responsibility, mirroring the Chinese model, where wealth often substitutes for citizenship. Politics has become outsourced to parties; citizens merely renew or change their ‘contracts’ once in five years through voting in elections. This disengagement poses a serious threat to India’s democratic health.

Effective and Efficient Governance is the natural outcome of a healthy democracy. As the quality of democratic functioning declines, so too does the quality of governance. The bureaucracy, an integral part of democratic machinery, therefore plays a pivotal role. An Efficient, Professional, Responsive, and Credible Bureaucracy is essential for Good Governance.

A fundamental principle of bureaucracy is its loyalty to the Constitution, in letter and spirit, but not to the government of the day. Unfortunately, India fares poorly here. Even constitutional and statutory institutions often fail to inspire public confidence. Innovative frameworks such as Local Self-Governance, the Right to Information, Education, and Citizens’ Charters have fallen short of their intended potential.

The Rule of Law which is one of the basic tenets of democratic governance, must be ethical, moral, and oriented toward public interest. Democracy is not merely about electing a government; it also requires all institutions to function objectively, efficiently, competently, and with integrity. Beyond written codes, democracy depends on countless unwritten conventions and moral practices that sustain its spirit.

When the Rule of Law weakens, Civil Society disengages, and Public Institutions falter, governments risk becoming semi-autocratic rather than truly democratic.

Few individuals write about democracy and governance not merely as observers but as participants. Fewer still do so with the clarity, consistency, and courage that Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao brings to his work. His writings, spanning decades and diverse themes, reflect a lifetime immersed in the institutions, struggles, aspirations, and ideals of public service. Having known Jwala both professionally and personally for over a decade, during our years in the Government of Telangana, I have witnessed his rare ability to perceive governance as both an art and a discipline.

            The present volume, Democracy and Governance through Lens and Blurred Glasses, gathers seventy-five of his articles written over a fifteen-year period, covering nearly every facet of India’s democratic experiment. These essays are not bound by chronology; they converse across time, revealing how ideas of democracy evolve, falter, and renew themselves. Reading them together, one recognizes the author’s conviction that democracy is not a static achievement but a perpetual act of vigilance.

The early chapters remind us that democracy’s endurance in India has depended on its remarkable capacity for self-correction. Through his essay Democracy is Capable to Save Itself, Come What May, Jwala sets the tone for the book: democracy, he argues, survives not by accident but by the moral choices of its citizens and institutions. From this premise, the subsequent articles unfold naturally, each addressing a pillar of democratic functioning and the interplay between politics, governance, and ethics.

Running through all reflections is a clear message: governance without ethics is hollow exercise. Jwala’s commentaries reveal an unwavering belief that moral integrity is not ornamental but operational; it is the lifeblood that keeps institutions from degenerating into instruments of convenience.

A refreshing dimension of the book is the voice accorded to the citizen. Beyond welfare schemes and development projects, the essays remind us that people yearn for dignity, courtesy, and genuine choice in their dealings with the state. In doing so, the author expands the canvas of democracy from being a system of periodic elections to a culture of everyday respect and responsiveness. This perspective is perhaps the most valuable, for it re-centers governance on its true sovereign, the citizen.

The decline of ethical conduct in politics and public life is another theme that receives candid treatment. Without moral compass, even the most carefully designed institutions can be reduced to instruments of manipulation. By tracing the trajectory of this decline and juxtaposing it against historical standards of political decorum, the author calls for a revival of the three indispensable Ds: Decency, Dignity, and Decorum, in public life.

The role of the bureaucracy is also examined with characteristic nuance. Far from being either glorified or demonized, the bureaucracy is portrayed as indispensable to the functioning of democracy, provided it retains impartiality and is insulated from whimsical transfers and undue pressures. The emphasis on training, ethics, and accountability makes these chapters particularly relevant to practitioners of administration.

By weaving these seemingly modest but deeply consequential themes into the larger canvas of democracy and governance, the author demonstrates that the strength of our system does not lie in grand pronouncements alone, but equally in the quiet observance of conventions, courtesies, and continuities that preserve trust between state and society.

Taken together, the range of themes covered in this work is truly vast. Yet what binds them is not just the variety of subjects, but the coherence of a vision, that democracy, with all its flaws, remains our best hope, provided it is nurtured with vigilance, ethics, and humility. That is why this book, in my opinion, is destined to remain a classic reference for anyone who wishes to understand the strengths, weaknesses, and future trajectory of Indian democracy.

In conclusion, this compilation stands as both a chronicle and a conscience, faithful to fact, yet bold in its questioning. It chronicles India’s democratic journey with fidelity to fact, but also serves as a conscience that asks uncomfortable questions. It urges readers, especially those in public life, to restore to politics its sense of purpose, to governance its sense of service, and to democracy its sense of dignity. In doing so, Democracy and Governance through Lens and Blurred Glasses affirms what its author has always believed: that democracy, though sometimes blurred, remains the clearest lens through which a nation can examine itself.

(S Narsing Rao was a Former Principal Secretary to First Chief Minister, Telangana; Former Chairman, Coal India Ltd, and Former Managing Director, Singareni Collieries Company Ltd besides.

Narsing Rao’s areas of interests have been Rural Development, Poverty Alleviation, Environment and Ecology. He held various key positions both at District and State Administration. His wide international exposure and expertise made him as Consultant to the International Fund for Agriculture Development; Chief Technical Advisor to UN Offices of Project Services, Chief Advisor Poverty Alleviation and Rural Development in South and South Esat Asia, Technical Advisor to Governments of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and Myanmar etc. among others. He passionately worked for Reforms in Administration)-Author

 

CONTENTS

·       Author’s Acknowledgements

·       An Appraisal: By Justice V Ramasubramanian, ‘Distinguished Legal Luminary’ and former Supreme Court Judge, and now the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

·       FOREWORD, By S Narsing Rao, IAS (Retd), Former Principal Secretary to First Chief Minister, Telangana; Former Chairman, Coal India Ltd, and Former Managing Director, Singareni Collieries Company Ltd

·       PROLOGUE: A Chronicle of Democracy, A Companion in Governance: Perspective of a Master Trainer on Journey of a Visionary, by MP Sethy, Former Chief Consultant and JDG Dr MCR HRD Institute

·       Author’s Preface by Jwala Narasimha Rao Vanam

·       Introduction of the Author by Venkat Parsa, Senior Journalist

·       Democracy is Capable to Save Itself, Come What May: Despite ‘Perils’ Replacing ‘Pearls’ of Democracy

·       Dawn of Administrative Reforms in Indian Democracy

·       Erroneous Decision of Apex Court During 1975 Emergency, Violated Fundamental Rights

·       Parliament Accountability is on the decline: Study on ‘Democracy, Governance and Human Rights’

·       UK Experience-Resignations of Law Makers

·       Parliament should be Accountable

·       Genesis and Evolution of District Administration

·       Civil Servants, Shoulder Shared Responsibilities

·       Fluctuating Knowledge, Skill, and Attitude of Civil Servants: ‘Training for Ethics in Administration’ is Challenging

·       Polls a Vibrant fete of Democracy

·       From Financial to Calendar Year

·       Empowering Citizen’s Right to Information

·       Activate Cooperative Federalism

·       Policy Consistency is the Beauty of Democracy

·       Push for Ethics in Bureaucracy

·       Making India Great Again

·       Qualitative Change in Indian Polity

·       India in want of a New Direction and Script a new Narrative in Polity

·       Adhere to Lakshman Rekha

·       Need Nationwide Debate on Checks and Balances

·       Election Manifesto Must be SMART

·       Do not whine, enable voters

·       Protecting Federal Autonomy in Democracy

·       Parliament must get back primacy

·       More Citizen-Centric Responsive Governance: Why Citizen Charters are a must in a Democracy

·       Democracy: Evolution of Electronic Voting Machines

·       Gubernatorial gimmicks of modern democratic times

·       In India’s Parliamentary Democracy, President of India, an Authoritative Institution

·       Think and course-correct to sustain democracy

·       Democracy and Governance need to clarify: To Whom Does the Scheduled Area Belong?

·       Lessons from Sri Rama’s Raj Dharma

·       Trinity of Gods and Pillars of Democracy

·       How TS has become a model state in India

·       Reform initiatives in KCR’s TS governance

·       Decline of ethical behaviour in politics

·       Follow in footsteps of Presidents

·       Heralding Administrative Reforms in Amrit Kal

·       If democracy is bought in India, what next?

·       Why resurgence of secular, democratic forces

·       Justice is not delayed are denied for some

·       Tech-based solutions can check poll abuses

·       Uphold Constitutional spirit, follow customs

·       What makes election of President important

·       Declining Role of Parliament

·       Evolution of Election Process and the way forward

·       For a Good Life Beyond ‘Welfare, Development’: Citizens Plead ‘Treat us with Courtesy, Give us Choice and Voice’

·       Frequent Transfer of Public Servants Impede Responsive Government

·       How fair and unbiased are the constitutional bodies?

·       Poll Code needs easing in case of lengthy schedule

·       ‘Prevention Better than Cure’ true in Economic Crimes too

·       A travesty of ethics in Indian politics and Democracy

·       A vision for better governance: Facilitators for last-mile connectivity

·       Democracy not a perfect mode, but must prevail

·       Facilitating Delivery of Good Governance

·       Prime Ministers varied approachesto ‘press meets’

·       Policy moves by new governments must be in public interest

·       Probe into exorbitant poll spending

·       Raj Dharma vital for peace and prosperity

·       Democracy and Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s SMART Governance, a Model

·       When Cure is Worse Than Disease

·       Significance of New Criminal Code Laws for a Lay Person

·       Judiciary’s Directive to Governors and President: Constitutional Check or Institutional Overreach?

·       Constitution Supreme and highest legal doctrine

·       Improper Educational Policies, Stymie Professional Faculties

·       Critics of Governance should be patient and genuinely constructive

·       Intellectual Cowardice Dismantling Community

·       Life lessons from Puranas for modern times

·       Political Leadership is all about respecting and Honoring conscientious well-wishers

·       Political Realignments and Strategic Positioning

·       Balancing Between ‘Candour and Discretion’

·       ECI’s Ineffectiveness: The Watchdog on a Leash

·       Tragicomic Political Theatre-Beware of Gatekeepers Guarding Doors too Tightly

·       Conventions of Continuity and Consultation Symbolize Constitutional Morality (Governance is a Relay Race, not a Sprint)

·       Parties in Power, Power in Parties: from Roots to Routes

·       The Infectious Culture of Power Proximity: Frames Without Substance

·       Unprincipled Defections by Lawmakers define the Theatre of Politics

·       Vibhishana the ‘Defector’ with a Difference

COUNSEL BEFORE DEFECTION, CONSULT BEFORE ADMISSION