Democracy

Finally Mr. Musharraf has taken over as the 'civilian' President of Pakistan. The whole thing was the neatest farce I ever saw in my entire life. It was so disgusting!

Quite honestly, I am more glad to be an Indian than ever. If any of our leaders would have ever tried to remove even a lower court judge so that an adverse judgement may be delayed, his/her government would have fallen the very next day. What a hue and cry it would have aroused! There, in Pakistan, almost no one else barring the lawyers and some students protested. I wonder how a ruler can impose an emergency on his country for such whimsical, vague reasons and people submit to it, without complaining.

I believe the reason clearly lies in the strength of our democracy. Though we speak 0f it in the most unforgivable terms, I shudder to think of the situation under a dictatorial rule. Our neighbouring countries seem to have developed a magnificent degree of tolerance for such regimes, which disgusts me.

Democracy, with all its pitfalls and failings, is the most legitimate form of government that man has ever known. It gives power and voice to the millions; the ruled have their say in the government. Revolutions are bloodless and it gives the citizens a much needed confidence.

I must admit that politicians become power-hungry and corrupt, but at least people can have a check on their activities. What happens in the case of a dictator - you cannot imagine him/her to be just and benevolent always. People are left helpless if s/he decides to resort to inhuman tactics to suppress the opposition against him/her. Moreover, democracy, in almost all cases supports and is supported by an independent and impartial judiciary which will save the citizens' rights even if the government takes wrong steps.

All Indians must be really grateful to leaders like Nehru, who could have turned our institutions into mere stooges by the charismatic hold they had on the public. They chose to strengthen them instead. Whatever the follies they are accused of, we have a duty to be thankful to them and our dear motherland for giving us this free air to breathe.