Democracy and Governance

Democracy and Governance - replacing exploitative by Gandhian democracy
SK Sharma

Round Table on Democracy and Governance

A Round Table on Democracy and Governance is being organised by the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial Foundation and People First at the India International Centre on Saturday, November 15, 1997 from 9 am to 5 pm (excluding 1.30 to 2.30 pm). The Round Table will be chaired by Justice PN Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India. Subhash Kashyap, Former Secretary General of Lok Sabha will be a Coordinator. A document “Remembering Gandhiji” is being circulated. It has a statement highlighting the myths about our Constitution and practices, the reality about our failures and the reforms proposed. The invitees can come for an hour or so to give evidence and also respond to the statement in writing.

Those interested to give evidence may contact People First by phone or fax indicating the hour convenient to them. If they only want to respond to the statement they can ask for the form. The forms are also available at the India International Centre.

Najma Heptullah, Deputy Chairperson, Rajya Sabha, has very kindly agreed to inaugurate the Round Table. All are cordially invited for the inaugural session from 9 am to 10.30 am.

PA Sangma, Speaker, Lok Sabha, had circulated our document “Democracy in a Globalising Economy” for consideration in the golden jubilee special session of Parliament. In his message, he had stated that the thoughts contained reflected Gandhian ideals and deserved nation-wide debate when we celebrate the golden jubilee of our independence. While many leaders agree with our analysis, the political system represented in the parliament was unresponsive. Obviously, the political system having acquired colonial/feudal power under an exploitative centralised democracy, is now not willing to give effective power to the village and district governments over all local matters including land, police and forests as wished by the Father of the Nation.

We are now organising a Round Table on Democracy and Governance chaired by Justice PN Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India, at the India International Centre on Saturday, November 15,1997 from 9 am to 5 pm. Subhash Kashyap, Former Secretary General of Lok Sabha, will be a Coordinator. Political leaders and citizens will be expected to respond to our document “Remembering Gandhiji” which has a statement highlighting the myths about our constitution and practices and the reality about our failures.

In democracies, the political leadership is expected to encourage such open debates and respond to issues raised by the citizens. If the political system still does not respond, we will file a public interest petition in the Supreme Court on Martyr’s Day, January 30, 1997, seeking recognition of right of the sovereign people to choose how they may be governed.

In democracies, the people have an implicit sovereign right to information, consultation, participation, and referendum. These sovereign rights exist even if not provided for in a constitution. The government has been denying these rights for the past 50 years and, notwithstanding promises made, has not promulgated even an effective right to information law so far. It is thus obvious that the political system wants to misuse authority assumed by it under an exploitative centralised system and foster wastage and corruption.

Our main prayer will be that Sovereign Rights Commissions be instituted at the national and state levels to properly institute the sovereign rights of the people and monitor that they are not violated, if need be, through referendum held with the next general election.

We will also pray for referendum on village and district governments which as per Gandhiji’s vision, command adequate resources to handle all village and district level matters including land, police and forests. It is obvious that the common people will overwhelmingly vote in favour of such reforms. This being so, who are the representatives to deny them to the sovereign people?

An important function of the Commissions will be to process people’s proposals for reforms including desired legislation through referendum. They will examine proposals received from the people, hold public consultations and if convinced that an issue was of common concern, order a referendum on it. Such Commissions will thus become vital institutions of twenty-first century democracy —- as important as an independent judiciary, audit or press. People First is raising these issues at the South Asian and global levels as well. It is time that the people of South Asia join hands for peace and prosperity.

We will also be raising specific issues of violations of the constitution, such as, (1) unconstitutionality of centralised planning, and (2) violation of local jurisdictions by legislators.

The elected representatives have, during the past 50 years, exploited the people and the nation through a democracy in which the power is controlled by a handful of them and the vast majority have no control over their lives. It is time that the people raised their voice against such oppression.

We have an intellectual as the prime minister. He is already under notice of withdrawal of support by his coalition partners. We request him to endorse the plea of PA Sangma, Speaker, Lok Sabha, for a nation-wide debate on the issues raised by us so that the real cause responsible for the degeneration of the nation is not pushed under the carpet and the political ledership joins the people in their fight against oppression. We assure him that in the end, the entire political system will immensely benefit —- political power and presence will increase at all levels. What will go down is bureaucratic stranglehold, excessive overheads, misuse of authority and corruption. q

A tribute to Sanjoy Ghose

Sanjoy Ghose, an activist with the Association of Voluntary Agencies for Rural Development in the North East (AVARD-NE) and Urmul, was a well known name in NGO circles. His kidnapping by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and later death in captivity created shockwaves throughout the nation. Geeta Vaidyanathan, senior architect at TARAGram, Orchha, reminisces about her close association with him.

I opened my telephone directory and suddenly staring out from it was this address: Sanjoy Ghose, C 110, South Extension II, New Delhi. Tel No: 64444701.

I have been reading so much about him and ‘Majoli’, the movement that he was a part of, that my feelings were once again stirred. I had wanted to attend all those protests and marches organised for him, but could never be part of it. Something in me constantly rebels at offering condolences: “It can’t be!!!” I believe he is still out there somewhere.

Sanjoy happened to me just like everything else in my life: Architecture, Auroville, Ashok and D.A.....

My first meeting with him is still vivid. We were seated around the dining table: Sanjoy, Sumita, his mother, with the children racing around the table and a cockatoo shrieking away at the back, making its presence obvious. The conversation centred around the recent yatra that Urmul had taken along the Indira Gandhi Canal. We were discussing the possibility of a study and action programme for the settlements along the canal side, where the once migrating pastoral population had taken to a more stationary lifestyle. This study never materialised, but what did was my entering into the Urmul fold for a brief period, during which some houses were being designed at one of the Urmul campuses. The experience has been a major milestone for me.

I have always wondered about the two of them: Sanjoy and Sumita, and how their lives just flowed out of their house in Lunkaransar into the campus outside, and further into the desert. They were there because more than believing in a cause, they were part of bringing momentum to a process. So much so that as the movement matured they gradually could wean away without adversely affecting the foundations. When he told me that he was moving out of everyday involvement in Urmul, my reaction was: “Isn’t Urmul Sanjoy and Sanjoy Urmul?” His reaction has been the basis of all the work that I am doing today. He said: “If that is so, I have failed.”

In the initial periods of his Arid Zone Research Centre at Bajju, it was very enticing to go where the challenges beckoned and work with such a dynamic person, who by his unassuming charisma, did not tower over you but could bring out the best in you. Inspite of his vast experience, we were always equal when we talked and although I cherish every moment I shared with him and Sumita, I remember him most for bringing out the “Me” in me. He touched me through his humanness.

My encounter with him has driven me to go beyond what I though I was capable of. Today, we have a small centre near Orchha, and I often lie feeling guilty not admitting that partly it was their inspiration that drove me to Bundelkhand and aspire with the people here to be “part of a process”.Sanjoy, I believe, is the kind of person who will attend his own funeral. He Certainly Lives.