Politics of national renewal

Source– The post is based on the article “Politics of national renewal” published in The Hindu on 13th December 2022.

Syllabus: GS2- Polity

Relevance: Democracy related issues.

News- The article explains the issues related to Indian democracy and the need to renew the spirit of democracy.

What is the current situation of our evolving democracy?

A report by the Pew Research Center on social hostilities distressingly ranks India first. On several indices, our democratic deficit needs urgent introspection, even as we celebrate the resilience of our elective processes.

An economy in which the top 10% hold 77% of the nation’s wealth is not in sync with foundational principles of an egalitarian democracy.

Abandonment of civil conversation on the core challenges is a sign of flailing democracy.

A political culture which promotes unfettered abuse, ignorance, egotism and reflexive bigotry across parties has disabled the nation from reaping the full dividends of a constitutional state.

Politics that thrives on persecution of adversaries in an abuse of the state’s coercive processes negates the essence of justice.

Opposition’s compulsive disdain for every action of the government regardless of its intrinsic merit has weakened its credibility as a countervailing democratic force.

The concentration of power in executive hands has unsettled institutional power equations.

What are the solutions to renew our democracy?

We can rescue our democracy as long as the freedoms are valued in our hearts.

Search for leadership is critical who are driven by a big cause rather than being self-centered.

We must restore humility in democratic politics. Gandhian tradition of politics that emphasizes the importance of means to achieve political goals, is the need of the day.

Our democracy must address a flawed system that enables manufactured consent, manipulated majorities and perversion of the ends of democratic politics.

The decline of democratic institutions can be arrested through a politics of national renewal based on reasoned conversations and a collective political assertion in favour of freedom over fear, inclusion over exclusion and justice over injustice.

There is a need for politics of accommodation and conciliation inspired by political magnanimity and honesty of purpose.