It has been 72 years since the constitution of India came into full effect. Since then our society, politics and economy has made significant progress. While some neighbors have descended into anarchy we are the largest democracy on the face of earth. Still there are some pebbles in the shoes of our nation which causes it to limp to success and not run to achieve its full potential.
There are numerous examples of such problems but since it is the anniversary of Republic day I would like to brazenly borrow some excerpts, which are relevant in current political scenarios, from the speech of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar “The grammar of anarchy”.
The danger of divisive politics:
“This much is certain that if the parties place creed above country our independence will be put in jeopardy a second time and probably be lost forever. This eventually we must resolutely guard against. We must be determined to defend our independence with the last drop of our blood.”
Importance of Constitutional methods:
Democracy existed in India in different forms throughout history, which is evident in the functioning of Buddhist sangha(Institution started by Buddha) and Ganas(small states in ancient India). India lost this system eventually and then regained it after a long and costly struggle for freedom.
“If we wish to maintain democracy not merely in form, but also in fact, what must we do? The first thing in my judgement we must do is to hold fast to constitutional methods for achieving our social and economic objective.”
“Where constitutional methods are open, there can be no justification for these unconstitutional methods. These methods are nothing but the Grammar of Anarchy and the sooner they are abandoned, the better for us.”
The politics of pedestals:
“There is nothing wrong in being grateful to great men who have rendered lifelong service to the country. But there are limits to gratefulness. As has been well said by the Irish patriot Daniel O'Connell, no men can be grateful at the cost of his honour, no women can be grateful at the cost of her chastity and no nation can be grateful at cost of it’s liberty. This caution is far more necessary in the case of India than in the case of any other country. For in India, Bhakti or what may be called the path of devotion or hero worship, plays a part in its politics unequalled in magnitude by the part it plays in the politics of any other country in the world. Bhakti in religion may be a road to salvation of the soul. But in politics, Bhakti or hero worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship.”
Today what we see in practice is exactly opposite to these principles. Is it because our whole system is hijacked by jingoism and bigotry or is it because of the indifference of educated people of our nation? Please find the answer before it’s too late.