| Prologue | | | | the right word. We shall call ourselves SECULAR", he |
| Democracy in India - Different viewpoints- | | | | decided. |
| [Democracy is viewed as the damsel in distress] | | | | HER make-up of secularism had to be noticed and |
| For those who have a vested interest in the | | | | HER secular credentials proved at all times whatever |
| democratic system of governance SHE is the holy | | | | the cost. Therefore Lord Shiva was not invited. A |
| cow! | | | | grave blunder indeed! |
| The Marxists to this day believe, SHE cannot deliver | | | | BECAUSE |
| the goods. Nevertheless they do contest and get | | | | The first Democratic Elections of 1952 proved to be |
| elected to indulge thereafter in back-seat driving so | | | | a replay of the good old Mythological story 'samudra |
| as to undermine HER through techniques handed | | | | manthan'. In a repeat action the great churning |
| down to them by their Guru Karl Marx. | | | | process yielded amritha (the good) and kalakoota |
| Naxalites on the other hand seem to be blissfully | | | | (the evil). If only Lord Shiva were there on the |
| unaware of the fact communism wherever tried out | | | | scene? He would have downed the entire supply of |
| has miserably failed to deliver the goods. Their | | | | kalakoota in one gulp. This was a ghastly sight for |
| behavior reminds one of Sir Winston Churchill's | | | | the damsel who had descended from the Utopian |
| definition for a fanatic. | | | | World. SHE had now no option other than to contain |
| Quote: 'A fanatic is one who cannot change his mind | | | | this deadly venom- that was to soon become the |
| and won't change the subject.' | | | | virus of corruption. |
| The libertarians although none too happy with the | | | | [Samudra manthan- Churning of the sea- According |
| kind of leadership churned out by the electoral | | | | to Indian Mythology such an incident had occurred |
| process continue to swear by HER. | | | | with a huge rock wound by a huge rope for churning- |
| SHE entered this superstitious country right foot first | | | | one end of the rope in the hands of devas (the |
| [this is how a Hindu bride enters her new home]- but | | | | Gods) and the other end in the hands of rakshasas |
| then not without a sense of trepidation. As one who | | | | (the demons) |
| survives on the daily diet of healthy discussion and | | | | Amritha stands for nectar and kalakoota for deadly |
| lively debate, SHE certainly had some real good time | | | | poison] |
| initially with great leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, | | | | Outcome being what it was the good and evil had to |
| Chakravarthy Rajagopalachari, Piloo Mody, Feroze | | | | work as a team. And it didn't take long for the milk |
| Ghandy, and many others in action. Libertarians | | | | of goodness to turn sour. The virus of corruption got |
| headed by late Minoo Masani were upbeat and got | | | | the better of HER and rendered the leadership deaf |
| busy so as to ensure a sustained and sound health | | | | and blind! The virus thereafter seeped down! Money |
| for HER. They made long-term plans such as setting | | | | started speaking. With all-round dwindling values its |
| up of institutions like Democratic Research Service | | | | flow got miss-directed. After all Constitution of the |
| (DRS), Leslie Sawhny Programme and Adult Education | | | | country- the holy cow had provided it that even the |
| Institute; all this with the purpose of training up | | | | illiterate could contest. Now with both houses replete |
| wannabe as also elected leaders in the art of | | | | with beneficiaries of this provision where is the |
| debating! | | | | question of debate? Stridency began to gain the |
| But then the unlettered contested in a big way and | | | | upper hand. When reason fails anger takes over. |
| surprisingly got elected too! And alas DRS could do | | | | Paper weights & mikes began to be used as missiles. |
| precious little thereafter because there was neither | | | | Grapevine has it that wearing helmets is to be made |
| time nor facility to start from Primary level! | | | | mandatory while participating in the proceedings. |
| Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru the most charismatic Prime | | | | Morally upright and tall leaders started getting phased |
| Minister we ever had, believed in the good old Hindu | | | | out for one reason or the other. While genuine |
| concept sarva dharma sama bhawa [Equal respect | | | | freedom fighters were left high and dry fake-ones |
| for all religions]. But then felt it would be risky using | | | | flaunting the label gained the upper hand. Hamstrung |
| any word even remotely connected to our Hindu | | | | thus, damsel democracy started limping. And when |
| tradition! Being a born Brahmin he was wary of | | | | Indira Gandhi's infamous Emergency came through |
| throwing wrong signals risking his secular image. | | | | SHE was virtually in coma! How SHE got back into |
| The correct word is NON DENOMINATIONAL | | | | HER own is History. |
| suggested late Minoo Masani. But "No. Secularism is | | | | |