In the past, India’s essence and spirit were lively across different sectors, and the Indian democracy and economy served to fuel hope. But in the early 90s, cronyism and endemic inequality took a hold of the system. And now, we can say that India’s trysts with all functional sectors are representative of ‘opportunities foregone’. And with an active interface of mass reaction and vicious leadership currently at the top, it will be extremely difficult to rejuvenate the hope that was present in the past. Due to a lack of collective wisdom, India today is not doing justice to its title as ‘the world’s largest democracy’.

Often it’s cited by escapists, believers and passive observers that the existing ‘electoral process’ is being assailed by troubles that are defining India’s democracy. The pattern of electoral funding has caused an erosion of the political culture to a level where one cannot expect politics to remain a saintly business. To harbour such expectations would be naïve.

Decades ago, leading political scholar Rajni Kothari had effectively offered sharp theoretical observations on the changing contours of the Indian democracy. His own reading of the swiftly changing fundamentals made a sharp transition over the decades from ‘Criminalisation of Politics’ to ‘Politicisation of Criminals’. It was a deep-seated testament for what went wrong in the passage of time.

At 71, Indian democracy is standing at a cusp where the ruling regime is adamant in refuting the realities of India’s immediate past and is creating a discourse that hardly serves well the causes that are critically important for diversity and equality. India is wounded, and it is at war within. This is particularly evident when India negotiates on issues both at home and globally.  

To look back on 10 previous major episodes that impacted the course of Indian democracy, it would be timely for all concerned with South Asian affairs to read the new book written by the eminent journalist and formidable scholar of Indian Politics Rasheed Kidwai that is titled Ballot: Ten Episodes that have Shaped India’s Democracy. Kidwai, The Telegraph journalist, had earlier written the brilliantly anecdotal classics on the Indian National Congress that were titled Sonia: A Biography and 24 Akbar Road.

Keeping intact his natural flow in the interpretation of truth, Kidwai relies on defining the leadership tributes of those who majorly shaped the elections from the early 1950s to 2014, when India changed like never before under the influence of a right-wing government at the centre.

Democracy in India has been on a roller-coaster over the decades, and in chronicling them, a hidden political-social historian inside an author’s mind, has to essentially come to terms with less-obvious references. A book like this makes inadvertent though concerted efforts to do so, and in the process, fulfils such expectations. In regards to the ‘polarisation’ that has driven the Indian democracy in the past and overwhelmed it on occasion, the author does not offer too many details. However, for a keen reader, these details are effective and insightful.

Now, India’s economy and polity are suffering from burdens of non-performance and ceremonial glorification. India’s much-celebrated growth is waning. It is has been badly affected by protected scams, a maligned judiciary, and targeted rapes, riots and encounters.

No government can promote policies and meet expectations without the goodwill and auxiliary support of all stakeholders involved in the administrative process. That is why all of New Delhi’s attempts to deal with Indian states, wary neighbours, and the world beyond seem to be staged.

The customised policy-making, death of institutions, gagging of voices and organised plundering of the banks by the protected elite are just among a few signals that point to the fact that India’s democracy has come a long way from the days of struggle when it stayed true to ‘idealism’ in statecraft.

To save the democracy, writers and publishers should work together to come out with pieces that highlight the gravity of the situation. Otherwise, the dangerous narrative that is currently in the making will harm not just India, but also an immediate and closely connected democracy like Nepal. A writer like Rasheed Kidwai is shedding light on the situation, and many more should join the league and support what is just and sustainable for the greater good.

- Thakur is a senior journalist based in New Delhi, he can be reached at [email protected]