"THE CHALLENGES FACED BY INDIAN DEMOCRACY"

KERALA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDCUATION

KOLLAM – 691 009

Web: www. Kucte.org

SEMESTER – II

EDU 09.10: THEORITICAL BASE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE EDUCATION.

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KERALA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDCUATION

KOLLAM – 691 009

Web: www. Kucte.org

SEMESTER – II

Name of Trainee: PRAJEESH RAJ.P

Subject: SOCIAL SCIENCE

Candidate Code: 13973019

Year

: 2013-2014

Certified Bonafide Record:









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INDEX

SL. NO

CONTENT

PAGE NO.

1.

Introduction

1

2.

Data of the study

3.

Conclusion

12

4.

Suggestion

13

5.

References

14

2-11









1

The term democracy is derived from „demos‟ and „Cratia‟ which respectively mean people and power; thus democracy means “Power in the hands of the people”. Democracy is a form of government where

sovereignty belongs to the people; the government is representative of the people and responsible to them; the purpose of the state is welfare of the people which includes the development of personalities of the citizens. It is thus not only a form of government but also a type of state as well as an order of society. According to Bassett, Democracy is essentially a matter of political method. Democracy is not a particular kind of civilization. It is rather a civilized way of taking political action. Democracy reconciles freedom with the need for laws and its enforce ment. It may be defined as “a political method by which every citizen has the opportunity of participating through discussion in an attempt to reach voluntary agreements as to what shall be done for the good of the community as whole”. In fact democracy is not only a

form of government, it is also a way of life.









2

DEMOCRACY

Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens are meant to participate equally – either directly or, through elected representatives,

indirectly – in

the

proposal,

development

and

establishment of the laws by which their society is run. The term originates from the Greek (demokratia) "Rule of the people", which was found from (Demos) "people" and (kratos) "power" or "rule" in the 5th century BCE to denote the political systems then existing in Greek city-states, notably Athens; the term is an antonym to (aristokratia) "Rule of an elite". While theoretically these definitions are in opposition, in practice the distinction has been blurred historically. The political political system of Classical Classical Athens, for example, granted democratic citizenship to an elite class of free men and excluded slaves and women from political participation. In virtually all democratic governments throughout ancient and modern history, democratic

citizenship

consisted

of

an

elite

class

until

full

enfranchisement was won for all adult citizens in most modern democracies through the suffrage movements of the 19th and 20th centuries. The English word dates to the 16th century, from the older











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Democracy contrasts with forms of government where power is either held by an individual, as in an absolute monarchy, or where power is held by a small number of individuals, as in an oligarchy. Nevertheless, these oppositions, inherited from Greek philosophy, are now ambiguous because contemporary governments have mixed democratic, oligarchic, and monarchic elements. Karl Popper defined democracy in contrast to dictatorship or tyranny, thus focusing on opportunities for the people to control their leaders and to oust them without the need for a revolution. Several variants of democracy exist, but there are two basic forms, both of which concern how the whole body of all eligible citizens executes its will. One form of democracy is direct democracy, in which all eligible citizens have direct and active participation in the political decision making. In most modern democracies, the whole body of eligible citizens remains the sovereign power but political power is exercised indirectly through elected representatives;

this

democratic republic.

is

called

a

representative

democracy

or









4

nation. This is due to the fact that it was under Moghul control for much of its history until its colonization by European powers, before finally gaining its freedom in 1947 after a long independence movement

initiated

by

individuals

such

as

Mahatma

Gandhi.

Elections to its Parliament are held once every 5 years. Currently, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi is the head of the government, enjoying a majority in the Parliament, while President Pranab Mukherjee, is the head of state. India is a constitutional republic governed under the world's longest written constitution, federally consisting of 29 states and seven centrally administered union territories, with New Delhi as the nation's capital. The country has six main national parties: the Indian National Congress (INC), BhartiyaJanta Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), BahujanSamaj Party (BSP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). At the level of its states, many regional parties stand for elections to state legislatures, every five years.Inrajyasabha elections will be held for every 6 years.









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Regions

India is very densely populated. Some advocate splitting some twenty nine states and seven union territories. It is the 2nd-most populated country in the world. Other factors

Factors such as education, corruption, women's issues, student politics, leadership strategies and the design of political institutions affect national and local politics. Some other factors such as the caste issue, environment policy, new long-term investment in the economy by foreigners etc., also have a bearing. Factors such as education, corruption, women's issues, student politics, and criminalization of politics, leadership strategies and the design of political institutions affect national and local politics. Some other factors such as the caste issue, environment policy, new long-term investment in the economy by foreigners etc., also have a bearing. Challenges of Indian Democracy









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and economic factors. Which are proving alarming challenges to Indian democracy. Impact of Social Inequalities of Indian democracy

Social inequality indispensable for the success of democracy. Social equality means that there should be no discrimination against citizens on the basis of caste, class, colour, creed, sex and language. But in practice social inequalities exist in India. Castism is the main reason for social inequality. Society is divided into higher and lower castes each hating the other. In Indian democracy ultimate power is vested with the marses. But majority of the people in India are poor. Efficient people keep on acquiring more and more wealth and poverty. While the poor continue to get poorer. Poverty is the root cause of various evils. The poor people do not think about the elections even. He can‟t even use his right to vote independently. During the elections the rich distribute blankets, Cycles, serving machines and other things among the poor. So that they can get the vote of the poor.









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Impact of Illiteracy on Democracy

Education is the very basis of good life and it is all dark in the absence of democracy. Democracy survives on the basis of the support from national minded citizens and national minded intelligent citizens are

prepared

through

education.

An

uneducated

person

lacks

confidence and possesses no capacity to understand and solve the problems facing the country. An illiterate person has a narrow outlook towards life and believes in castism, communication and religiolism. In India, healthy public opinion can‟t be developed because of

illiteracy. So the masses in India should be literate and alert for the success of Democracy. Impact of violence on Democracy

Violence is becoming a dominant aspect of political life of our country. In extreme form violence may cause death of individuals. There are are several forms of of violence in evidence evidence in India. India. 1. Inter communal violence. 2. Political violence











8

The following following steps would minimize minimize the Role of violence violence in Indian politics. 1. The factors which give rise to violence must be clearly identified and dealt without their proper identification the use of violence can hardly be checked. 2. Religious fundamentalism must not be encouraged, Religious freedom must be allowed but religious fundamentalism should be tolerate in any way. 3. Political parties based on religious and casts must be banned because

their

activities

often

become

responsible

for

communal and caste roots. In order to such violence during election a magistrate should be designated

in

every

constituency.

He

should

have

the









9

1.

Education: - Democracy will be success in a state where

people are educated. Lack of commonsense is dangerous in a democracy.

This

defect

can

be

remedied

by

universal

education and wide dissemination of knowledge. 2.

Vigilance: - Alertness of the people is essential condition

without which the true idea of democracy can‟t be realized. Constant vigilance is the price of liberty. 3.

Civil Sense: - The citizens should possess a high degree of

civic sense. They should take a living and healthy interest in the public life of their country. 4.

Peace and order: - Democracy is a success is a society where

peace and order prevail. 5.

Spirit of Toleration: - A keen spirit of toleration is essential









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9.

Absence of poverty:- In a society where the majority are

living in poverty democracy can‟t be a success. 10. Removal of gross inequalities of wealth: - Extreme wealth impacts the success of democracy to a great extent. Strength of Indian Democracy 1. Common Welfare: -Only in a democratic society, common

welfare can be promoted. The government will respond to the needs of all, since power of sovereignty vested in all. 2. Rule of law: - It is only in a democracy that the rule of persons and classes is replaced by the “rule of law”, where fundamental

rights are guaranteed and treated as limitations upon the government. 3. Develops the spirit of patriotism:- Democracy strengthens the









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Weakness of Indian Democracy 1. Inefficiency: - The The political political leaders are more busy in forming

political alliances and there by maintaining their position rather than looking after the administration. 2. Expensive: -

It

is

very

expensive

type

of

government

parliaments, cabinets, election, machinery are all a costly affaires and a burden on the tax payers. 3. Wrong political Education: - Democracy provides political

education, but the type of education it provides is wrong on certain occasions. 4.

Can’t meet

emergencies: - It is pointed out that democracies

are unfit to meet emergencies like economic depression. The government had to assume dictatorial powers in democratic









12

To conclude, the future of Indian democracy democracy hangs in the balance. It is standing on cross round, leading to people‟s democracy. There is no denying fact that the political political democracy democracy as it exists is most of the capitalistic states of the world today, suffers from various drawbacks. But democracy itself is not at fault. The defect is laid on the socio economic system in which it is made to fit. It will take time to remove all the challenges in Indian democracy. The new generations bear the responsibility laid upon them by the fathers of the constitution to make this experiment a success. The whole world is watching India‟s experiment in democracy.











13

1. Political parties based on religious and caste must be banned because their activities often become responsible for communal and caste riots. 2. Establishment of social equality 3. By executing the plans successfully, by developing our economy rapidly, that employment will be possible and comfortable









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

S.L. Kalely, „ Political Political science theory ‟ .



Prof. T.R. Kuttikrishnan, „ Political Political Science ‟ .



Khatri, Naresh, „ Anatomy Anatomy of Indian Brand of Crony Capitalism‟ , 2013.



Kohli, Suresh, ‘ Corruption Corruption in India: The Growing Evil ’ , 1975.



’, 1967. Dwivedy, Surendranath, ‘ Political Political Corruption in India ’,



Gupta, K. N., ‘ Corruption Corruption in India ’ ’ , 2001.



Halayya, M., „ Corruption Corruption in India, ’ 1985. 1985.

"THE CHALLENGES FACED BY INDIAN DEMOCRACY"

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