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E-Pao! Governance Opinion :: Public is equally responsible for a messed-up Democracy

Public is equally responsible for a messed-up Democracy

Thangkholun Haokip *


Democracy the legacy of Abraham Lincoln is the Government of the people, for the people, and by the people. However, this beautiful quotation is wrongly interpreted and regulated as if... Democracy means "might is right"... and not the Government for the people, and by the people but the Government of the politicians, for the people by the politicians who could only gain the blessings of those armed-groups (who reign supreme).

The theory of Mao-Tse-Tung is always in force in this insurgent regime state of our society. Where many politicians of today are really misguided by his (Mao's) theory of... "Power comes out only from the barrel of the gun".

As a result every Jack and Jill becomes a Patriot overnight if he has got a gun under his belt. Because of that gun with the power he becomes to reign supreme as a saviour of the society and started indulging with manipulative roles in Election Politics with the aim solely of their chosen candidates to get elected.

Of course not! People dare say anything against their dare-devil act... and their chosen candidates (not on People's mandate) naturally get elected. Who then becomes the king makers (the makers, may be of MLAs and Ministers etc).

Obviously those MLAs with the blessings... neither Heavenly (of God's) nor of People's mandate, but of those who reign supreme in the sublime of their "Parvenu" overnight hardly cares for none other than bringing damnation to the people.

Nothing, but to rob Peter to Pay Paul, and to seal one's fate... where many Potential and Promising leaders are sealed and fated is a common phenomenon in this insurgent regime State of our society.

I do not mean to say that all the MLAs are running with the hare and hunt with the hounds for these scene of much hateful game for getting into power. But only on any Tom, Dick and Harry who jockeyed for a position to strike the arrow home.

Of course, there are many honest and noble-hearted Ministers and MLAs elected on people's mandate and really taking up the people's cause with the charismatic spirit of sacrifice not even sparing the MLA-LAD fund..., "which is meant for the people and not to be misappropriated for the MLAs' own selfish gains".

It's a true visualization as I have mentioned that politicians of today are misguided by Mao's theory. What Mao had said was to use the gun properly with a true sense of Patriotism to achieve freedom from the oppressors with the help of the power that comes out from the barrel of the gun, but not to direct that barrel to the oppressed for whom they are fighting.

Let the Legacy of Mao's theory of gun barrel be well crusaded with analytical thought to fine tune the vision of all and sundry. Lest, we'd be the Captain of our destiny to put the cart before the horse. "It is in Democracy that puts the horse before the cart, and it is the Dictatorship that puts the cart before the horse."

Election the most vital factor in Democracy as I understand : Election being the most vital factor in Democracy without which nothing could be initiated, sustained nor reformed would be a system in which all the people of the country can vote to elect their representatives with a fair and equal treatment of everyone, and their rights to take part in making decisions.

And it should be purely on the fundamental basis of what Abraham Lincoln had said, "Democracy is the Government of the people, for the people, and by the people". But not by the system of Power that flows from the barrel of the gun, nor by means of Proxy voting, impersonation, booth capturing, use of money power, muscle power and ballot paper snatching, or looting of EVM etc.

Nor it would be of any method by unfair means or foul to get into power and get elected. Election in Democracy would be rather a politics for improvement of people's lives and not about big money on power games. What George Bernard Shaw had famously said is worth retrospecting... "In a Democracy, the people will get the Government they deserve".

Democracy which is more a social-life than a form of Government cannot survive without criticism. A strong opposition is much needed for the good governance in the democratic set up of Government. Above all, it's the educated people who should educate the uneducated masses (the voters) to meet the prevailing challenges for the deserving leaders to get elected in the "Election" which is the crux of democracy.

Who is to bell the cat for the cleansing campaign of mass awareness: The focus of attention here is "Democracy" (for & by People's rights) which is more a way of life than a form of Government. The way of life concerns the involvement of People's outlook, thinking and behaviour etc.

However, what has made matter worse and unsuitable in the democratic set up of our insurgent regime Society is the presence of numerous armed groups who have taken up a cause in the name of the people, but will care a damn whether their action will put the people into any sort of suffering or not.

For long, the public under this insurgent regime have been forced to follow whatever has been imposed because of the inability of the people to articulate their voice and argue their points sincerely with moral conviction and courage. A convincing criticism of the armed groups too, is very much important for their moral conviction in taking up the people's cause, because they cannot survive all alone without the existence of the people and its environment.

We cannot afford to let this to reign supreme and go on forever. Those gun wielders with powers too are human beings and not animals... but taking up a cause in the name of the people whose powers in their freedom are all people's own creation.

"The fish cannot live without water, but the water can remain as it is without the fish living in it". And its we (the people) who are to be well organised first for the proper working of Democracy... to let them know that they who are in power with guns are also to live amidst certain environment.

Besides much foam and froth, let election (the crux of democracy) be the focus of attention which has failed miserably in our insurgent regime society since its inception. It happens not because of the electorates being immature, nor by the common masses of being illiterate.

But by the powers that flow from the barrel of the gun, which never ever allows the people to vote freely for their own choice of candidates. This is the phenomenally undesirable Dictatorship realms of election taking place in our insurgent regime society here and there.

Why not leave the people all alone to decide in the election (it's the people's right) let any Jack and Jill who comes out to serve the people with all eligibilities as enshrined in the Constitution and whoever gains the people's mandate be elected. Under this circumstances of Election climax, the voters and the masses needs to be well educated in scrutinizing the "who's who" of the aspiring candidates, and tracing down the history of each family background be made inevitable to get the deserving leader.

Those in power with guns should rather protect the people's rights than to deprive them off... it, in fact they are really taking up the cause of the people. May be, "Election is the climax for those in powers with guns to reign supreme, but that turns an anti climax for the people with a wounded feeling of being oppressed".

It's high time, let's wake up. It's none, but we (the people) who is to bell the cat for the cleansing campaign of mass-awareness. Looking the other way will not help anyway.

But to be bold enough to articulate the People's rights to make those "God-like final authority mentality" (as if having the licence to kill) realised the importance "of citizens can never ever be underestimated or be played with, nor could they be kept out in the democratic process of election which is the Government by the "People" and not by the "Dictators". The sooner the electoral system be reformed and cleansed by leaving it solely to the people's mandate, the better the formation for a healthy Democracy".

People need revival for social survival and justice: The great issue is at stake, and the call of the day is Vox Populi... Vox Dei, or the People's rights, for it is said, "the voice of the people is the voice of God". In this pursuit of the best ends by the best means the history clearly shows that no change for the better has been possible without the use of force either violence or non-violence.

No doubt, America could have not become Independent if its people had not revolted against the "rulers" and if the people of the respective countries had not resorted to violence.

Likewise, the Indians could have not achieved freedom if its people had 'not revolted against the British imperialism in its different forms of movements, violence and non-violence at different stages under the aegis of myriads leadership. "It was none other than Gandhiji who won India's freedom with his non-violent movement that makes the British Empire met its Waterloo".

The manipulative roles of some of the armed groups in this insurgent hegemony state of our society today reminds us of the British Imperialism who controlled over India only to promote their own interest, or the English East India Company which was interested only in making money.

To yield the desired fruit of Sovereignty, Independence and what not... by the armed groups in this insurgent regime state is well and good, but doubtful because of frequent coup d'etat within themselves have proved without contradiction that the power captured by force is lost to more cunning and stronger force.

The irony is that... what a fine mess of things the Patriot turned capitalists have made, coupled with the Paradox of being a great crusaders of people's cause without a true sense of humanity and patriotism.

The question now arise... what profit is it to them if they gain a big money on power games with the politicians and loses the people's confidence? Or what will they give to the people in return for they (the armed groups with their elected politicians) are well paid at the cause (cost) of people's rights. It is written in the Bible for you and for me... "what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul OR what will a man give in exchange for his soul". (Mathew 16:26)

In the pursuit of the best ends by the best means for Social Survival and Justice, people need to be revived if not the best means for the best ends will remain a Utopia. The literal meaning here, for Social Survival and Social Justice is Social change which in short means Peace and Integrity.

For attaining Peace and Integrity "You and I" must change first for a change... for, those who are in power with guns to reign supreme are none but our sons, brothers, friends and relatives. No one is foreign to us. The open secret is because of the presence of numerous Public Sympathizers, Civil Organisations and Social workers aiding the armed groups indirectly.

Not all, but half the blame game is to be borne by the public. "Because it's the charity that always begins at home." Let us all look up to Heaven and pray, for the Lord Says... "If my people who are called by name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turned from their wicked ways, than I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their Land". (II Chronicles 7: 14)

Unless we are convinced to choose this only option as the Lord said, our tainted "Democracy" which is more a way of life than a form of government is surely to tailspin, And we'd only be... 'the straw that breaks the camel's back'.


* Thangkholun Haokip wrote this article for The Sangai Express . This article was webcasted on 20th Oct 2007.


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