The dialogue on democracy should be an endless one

Somnath Chatterjee, The Speaker, Lok Sabha: Lecture on 'Parliamentary Democracy in India - Present and Future', New Delhi, 28.4.2005

Democracy requires realising in practice a certain set of values relating to institutions and also concerning human rights and to ensure people a voice in their political governance, besides the right to liberty and equality which, are not only necessary to protect the sovereignty of the people but also to ensure an all-pervading and people-oriented political process. As against social exclusion which itself impairs the quality of democracy by providing a breeding ground for intolerance and repression, inclusive democracy, with its overriding social dimension, has tended to retain popular support across the world.

The British statesman Anthony Eden hailed India’s decision to adopt the system of parliamentary democracy thus: 'Of all the experiments in government which have been attempted since the beginning of time, I believe that the Indian venture into parliamentary government is the most exciting. … The Indian venture is not a pale imitation of our practice at home, but a magnified and multiplied reproduction on a scale we have never dreamt of. If it succeeds, its influence on Asia is incalculable for good. Whatever the outcome, we must honour those who attempt it.' Thus, a basic framework is in place in our country to enable parliamentary democracy to flourish under native conditions.

I believe that dignity, dissent and development are the hallmarks of a democracy. The focus today is not only on the forms of democracy, but primarily on its substance. As you all know, in what are called established democracies, people are not so much concerned about the institutional arrangements as much as are about what these institutions deliver. It is widely held that good governance is essentially participatory, consensus-oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows the Rule of Law.

The widening gap between the rich and the poor is a matter of grave concern. Economic iniquities tend to weaken the national fabric in many ways. Similarly, the increasing chasm between popular expectations and the actual performance of the system is also very distressing. Distributive justice is still a distant dream. Dignified human existence and acceptable levels of socio-economic equity have to be secured on a priority basis for which we have to enforce accountability which is the key element in ensuring good governance at all stages. Accountability essentially requires that the authority is exercised in such a manner which shall meet the obligations to the society, under the law, for obtaining the best results with the right to enforce the same. We should look at democracy not just as a form of government but more as a way of life and governance.

Ours is a highly pluralistic society. We need to practise cooperative federalism to make for reconciliation of the urges and aspirations of the people where the Centre and the States would work in cooperation and consultation with each other in the interest of the people and preserve the unity and integrity of the country. I would attribute the lopsided development in the country to our imperfect federal structure and imbalanced distribution of powers between the Centre and the States.

In spite of our inability and failures in fulfilling people’s aspirations on several fronts, it is a remarkable achievement that our people have time and again reposed their faith in the system by participating in the political process. Over the decades, the character of our parliamentary system has undergone a radical change with a genuinely multi-party system taking deep roots in the country. A distinct coalition culture is slowly emerging which is not a matter to be wary of. What we have to ensure, however, is political stability because frequent elections and uncertainties can be detrimental to the political and economic health of our country. The practice of extending issue-based support from outside without joining the Government is a new phenomenon.

In the changing world of globalization, we would do well to guard against its negative impact. While we go in for economic reforms, we should ensure that such measures are consistent with our national interests and are implemented with a human face. Our Parliament has been extremely responsive to the aspirations of our people in manifold ways. I would assert that in spite of political and ideological differences, there has been consensus and unanimity of opinion in our Parliament with regard to many of the major national issues with the ultimate objective of safeguarding the welfare of the people and the development of the nation. It will, indeed, be difficult to perceive of any other alternative to parliamentary democracy as the system of governance of our country.

The Legislature and the Media are two of the pivotal pillars on which rests the edifice of a parliamentary democracy. The negative public perception of politics and of those in public life should not be permitted to cloud the minds of the younger generations. They should be made aware of the enduring promise of democracy and of their important role in preserving and nurturing the same by their active participation in the political processes. The dialogue on democracy should be an endless one, because the self-corrective nature of democracy enables it to overcome the challenges before the system. If integrity becomes the hallmark of our system as a whole, we will continue to hold our head high among the comity of nations as the largest working democracy in the world. I urge all to consider whether we should not give to our people the right to recall their elected representative/s, if the situation so demands.Home Speaker's Office Role of Speaker Speeches