Romancing the Democracy

On the backdrop of catastrophic WWI, in 1915, the Canadian Doctor Lt. Col. John McCrae wrote:

To you from failing hands we throw,

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders Fields.

By the way, as an abundant caution, the use of the poppy is a symbol of remembrance!

The bloodshed at the battlefields to protect the nations' borders, the democracy and the enormous loss of civilian lives in the freedom struggle and communal violence pre & post-partition of India - the poem reminds the faith of those fallen in the nation and its populace. 

But then why & how the democracies or rule of law failed in Germany and Italy giving rise to Nazis and fascist forces, France and then experimented recently in the USA?

The world was wrecked by World War II, right on the back of World War I [1914-1918]. And what was true for the Flanders Fields is true for the world over - for the centuries to come. No. The attempt here is not to repeat what the readers already know about but to question ourselves - have we betrayed those who fell in Flanders Fields? 

To redux, Germany was a prototype European democracy turned into a Nazi dictatorship and Italy from a socialist state to a dictatorship. So was France and Austria. Without looking much into the history, what one can deduce from the happenings since 1914 till the end of WWII, the common flirting led to romance, mostly the violent one by certain individuals. 

The commonality between Germany and Italy which affected several nations, more so the morons leading them, is noteworthy :

1. Well -structured party;

2. Nationalism rather pseudo -nationalism;

3. Ruthless authoritarianism & brutality of actions;

4. Totalitarian regimes to establish political, social & cultural control

5. Violence as a tool; turning blind eye to its cadre's illegal activities;

6. Smothering opposition, media control;

7. Charismatic leadership with presentation skill;

8. Their term was anything between 12 to 20 years.

Dr David Pizzo in The History of Democracy states " It was the liberals who brought Mussolini into Govt. Industrialists were being part of fascism's rise in the North". He goes on to say that on the 3rd January 1924 he makes this speech to the Parliament saying 'Yeah, I did this, what are you going to do about it?' dares them to remove him or do anything and they do not. And when they do not, at that moment though his power is still not absolute, it becomes much stronger and more entrenched.

Hitler & Mussolini were not the pioneers in their game. The World's History, 3rd Edn. by Lane, Goldman & Hunt talks about the Spoils System of the USA and how the practice soon undermined the democracy such that money raised by taxes was being used by the party and its leader and making their friends rich.

Similar was the case of France during the mid-1800s when liberals were gradually setting up a parliamentary rule in France, an angry deputy exploded: "What is the parliament? A great bazaar where everyone barters his conscience, or what passes his conscience, in exchange for a place in the office."

Racial & religious tolerance is the essential part of democracy involving the rights of man. But history is replete with what Bismarck did.

In the new world, Nazism and Fascism have sporadically upcycled yet more than a score of nations, remained unaffected by their some romantic leaders.

And then, India happened. The group of visionaries and framers of our Constitution had fears of different kinds. Several readings of the draft, long-drawn discussions, amendments entailed at the meetings of the Constituent Assembly. And the 3rd and final reading of the draft took place on 17th November 1949. While appreciating it as a 'piece of art in drafting', Prof K.T.Shah, an Indian Economist and an alumnus of London School of Economics & Gray's Inn [1888-1953], representing Bihar: General had expressed his real fears, rather lurking dangers on certain contours of the draft which might lead to concentration of power. What he objected on certain issues is worth, briefly, mentioning [amendments suggested by him were negatived, then]:

1. The ideal of democracy in the shape of the Govt. of the people, by the people and for the people, is far from being realised if one scrutinises carefully the various Articles of the Constitution.

2. Right to free & compulsory education, the Right to full employment, or the Right to personal freedom, made subject to restrictions & conditions.

3. The right to personal freedom under the Emergency provisions is wholly illusory. Excuses can be found for detaining a person without trial/judicial proceedings for three months. [Suspension of personal liberty remained until 1979].

4. No enunciation of a set of duties of the people to enjoy the rights [This was added only in January 1977].

5. The chapter relating to the freedom or independence of the legislatures, judiciary and the executive hardly likely to operate in actual practice.

6. The Head of the State should be free from party politics and influences else it might conceivably lead them to misinterpret their duties and abuse their powers. And the excuse for negativing it was that it was 'too idealistic to be practicable'.

7. There are provisions which may make of the President or, in his name, of the Prime Minister, a possible, potential, a dangerous dictator.

Another eminent member of the Constituent Assembly, Pandit Hirday Nath Kunzru(United Provinces: General), inter alia, brought up his concerns about the rights of detenue under various provincial Public Security Acts [can be identified with those recent actions in the state of J&K], such as the information of the grounds of his detention, the powers & functions of the Advisory Board etc., the intervention of the Courts to protect their rights under the Constitution.

These comments were so prophetic.

Well, Pakistan's democracy too had many a romantic pursuit. The upheavals - military and non-military, several attempts to undo the initial constitution, change and lastly in 2010 to revert to parliamentary democracy reversing presidential powers in the legislature guaranteeing fundamental rights including freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, worship as well as equality and liberty. But then, it is not an issue for discussion here.

As India has been progressing whichever way you think given the present circumstances, the USA did not lag in its romanticism - one of the 'isms'.

During the Trump administration, his right-wing supporters raided the Capitol Hill - a metonym for the US Congress which is unimaginable, shocking and a blot on the Democracy.

But then, ultimately, "What one fool can do, another can."