We, the People
WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;
and to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation
Constitution of India
Democratic government is for the people, by the people. But is it truly? Or the better question is, has it really been? And if not, then what now?
Globally, we have bought into the idea of the constitution and democratic governance. We believe that it has the highest chance of ensuring justice, liberty and equality. But in reality, we are increasingly seeing global citizens turn to more authoritarian rulers in the hope of a better life; one that is markedly better in the economic sense but it comes at a cost to human rights. And in this process, we relinquish our power to dictate what the government should do, and how they should, ensure our rights.
History is something that very few people have been doing while everyone else was plowing field and carrying water buckets.
Yuval Harari
It is not a new phenomenon that the journey of the world or a civilisation has been dictated by a few. Whether it is expanding territory through war, building pride in one’s nation or debating ideas like liberty, justice and equality, it has been on the backs of everyone else who has built the foundations of the civilisations: the farmers, the builders, the sanitation workers, the ones who keeps a society ticking, the majority. This is not to say that other than people like Aristotle, the farmers of his era were not also debating justice; their words just did not reach the pages of history. But the thinking, conceptualising and enacting were done by the few who were in power. And not much has changed since then.
Human cooperation is on the basis of oppression and exploitation
COVID-19 has really been showing this to us. The people who were valued the least, like cleaners and waste collectors, even teachers (as a result of homeschooling) are the ones who are needed the most; the ones who are now termed as “essential workers”. But neither the economy, nor the government rewards them. 50 % of world is still fighting for food, shelter, air and water. Yet 1% of the world control 45% of the world’s wealth. So if we look at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, assuming debates about liberty, justice and equality is above the basics, is it not natural to relinquish their power to at least get the basics?
The Government has Monopoly over Violence
This is not a disputed statement. Whether the use of the police or army, we have relinquished all rights to commit violence and accepted that the government can commit violence. Trevor Noah said it brilliantly while talking about the recent Black Lives Matter movement: that we have all entered into a social contract where we agree upon certain common rules to get something back. We have agreed to relinquish committing violence so that the police can protect us, if necessary by committing violence themselves. But in this social contract, the expectation is that the citizens will be able to assert their other rights; that the police and the State will in fact ensure that.
The Government has monopoly to other things as well like who is “Indian”. Legally, the State grants citizenship or nationality. But today, the State also demonstrates clear preference and thereby provides a stamp of approval of who is “Indian” enough, by terming all others as anti-national. The government shows preference that anyone who dissents is not “Indian”. In fact the passing of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill allows the government to declare anyone as a terrorist without much evidence.
The State is interested in keeping its power, not working for the people. Democracy or not. This was demonstrated by the total disregard of the 250 million people’s voices who spoke up against the CAA/NRC/NPR. So it is not really a government by the people, for the people. Does the majority of Indians still back its Government and what they do? I think it doesn’t matter because while we have globally bought into the idea of the constitution and democratic governance, for the average person, it is simply a carrot that we are chasing.
So, Let Anarchy Rule
That’s not exactly what I believe. But the current systems must be torn down. People are thinking about going back to normalcy after COVID-19 but what was so great about that life? The oppression? The capitalist system that let a few thrive on the backs of others? And can’t we really make it better?
There is no “back” to go to”
Michelle Obama
So let’s look at it this way: this global pandemic has irrevocably changed the map of human civilization. So, if there is no back, then let’s move forward together and claim back the concept of for the people, by the people. Those in power, must work for the needs of all of us citizens or get out of the way.