Tweets in original by Tusar Nath Mohapatra (b. 1956), Director, Savitri Era Learning Forum (2005), Founder, Savitri Era Religion (2006), and President, Savitri Era Party (2007). Savitri Era of those who adore, Om Sri Aurobindo & The Mother.
Democracy means electing the ruler which entails working out different formulas for securing a majority. Understandably, the urge for employing new strategies is always there. "Appeal to emotion is characterized by the manipulation of the people's emotions in order to win" votes.
Dynamics of democracy are bound to weaken the citizen. The ruler would like to treat people as herds. Most will fall in that trap. Difficult to walk with one's conscience intact but that is the challenge. Right education and ethical orientation come to the rescue, at this point.
Democracy has become a vehicle of prestigiously peddling deceit and falsehood for the sake of capturing power. The propensity of the entitled and the credentialled for not accumulating any stigma or keeping a good reputation to play teflon is really astounding. Wanted a new order.
Public participation in religious festival is cited as an example of legitimisation whereas the public itself is very much a captive consumer no different from the hapless voters in a democracy. Characterising herd behaviour as wisdom of the crowd is far-fetched and self-delusion.
Democracy entails people electing their ruler but the Constitution of India doesn't have provision for this leading to all sorts of corruption and negation of the people's will many a time. Sovereignty to the States with the Presidential system can rectify this serious infirmity.
Religious and caste divisions are a demographic reality and there is no solution other than the representation system of a democracy. Resorting to street level interventions is like burglary. Political parties need to educate their supporters about the sound democratic practices.
I am reading paeans for Annamalai and Siddaramaiah conforming to the great man syndrome. Democracy is about the wishes of the people ruling the country through the representatives and not the great leader ruling over the people. Conceiving such a scenario shouldn't be that hard.
Citizens with blind faith and slavish mentality are obstacles to successful democracy. Writers and journalists mortgaging their intelligence is, also, a virus for an ideal society. Glorifying mythological kings and monarchy, similarly, cuts at the root of the modern civilisation.
For most liberals in India, Dynasty doesn't matter. Rather, it's considered as the cornerstone of Democracy. Those opposing Dynasty indulge in nasty policies thus losing legitimacy. Young Indians must not leave the fate of the country in the hands of those perpetrating hypocrisy.
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Elected ruler instead of hereditary is the basic premise of democracy. Imputing other expectations are corollary and not mandatory.
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Sycophancy stems from self-interest, the basic instinct for survival.
Human nature and self interest being at the core of social dealings, what prompts pursuing higher goals is also ingrained. Thus it's a question of replacing lower motives with the higher. In this sense, democracy has almost the same demands like personal morality or spirituality.
I haven't forgotten reading scores of newspaper articles against colour TV telecast. So any direct inference that the laws were bad just because they were withdrawn under coercion might be erroneous. However Govt not being allowed to have its way dents Democracy #FarmLawsRepealed
Nothing more paradoxical than many top intellectuals praising the Congress and its Dynasty as savior of democracy. Modi and Hindutva are bad but the kind of docility Congress breeds is worse. Savitri Era Party however is against both Congress and the BJP at the ideological level.
Protesting against faulty deployment of funds is valid in a democracy but weaponising the issue of appeasement for raising religious hatred is wrong. The other extreme is tolerating whatever minority community says or does in the name of inclusiveness. Equality of approach needed
Telegraph edit says apropos philosophy education, "a knowledge economy, in which students are taught to think independently and ask questions, is of fundamental importance to the functioning of a democracy." Sri Aurobindo's philosophy too needs to be part of the college syllabus.
Democracy in India is evolving and media is spreading awareness but there is a lack of public discussion on various modalities. The conduct of the Prime Minister, for instance, should follow which template? Or whether the Great man phenomenon is proper to chase for our democracy?
Democracy teaches to change voice with regime change. Same with corporate takeovers. Advocates are adept at arguing for either side. This is the seed of intellectual dishonesty. Management legitimises it for leveraging it for profit. Thus searching independent thought is in vain.
Usual suspects crying hoarse over death of democracy bears zero credibility. Where are the sane voices? Where is the independent and objective picture? Planting supporters in all media outlets has become so pervasive now. Do we have anyone with upright views left in this country?
An influential section is trying to push the alarm that democracy has seen a considerable decline during the last nine years. But, as far as my own experience goes, #democracy has always been manipulated in India and the citizens have been subjected to widespread deception.
Democracy made entry into India on the imperial template and got moth-eaten by the dynasty. Blighted ideologies have flourished and three to four generations have suffered. People are unable to come in contact with the right ideology despite communication, technology, and media.
Inclusion of castes in the Constitution made it undemocratic. Dynastic party system corroded democracy. Finally, Hindutva activism has disrupted the democratic ethos unrecognisably. Indian nation idea itself is an imposition. Sovereignty to States can usher in the true democracy.
Wishing away religious, linguistic, ethnic, or caste divides is not easy. Democracy itself thus is an amorphous federation. Demographic mix varies from one region to another and local cultural issues are different. Bypassing all these by overarching national concerns is deceptive.
States getting Sovereignty on the basis of language has to be secured through the parliamentary process and there's no need for seeking any foreign help. Population growth necessitates carving smaller nations under a federal structure for democracy and development to be effective.
All citizens are potential Prime Ministers in a democracy but most don't aspire to become. The party system in India too doesn't favour a merit-based contest. People get swayed by feudalism and theatrics. Even popular Chief Ministers don't dare to throw their hats in the ring.
Each ideological faction is investing money and intellect for pushing its agenda. Democracy tends to legitimise such exercise irrespective of moral or intellectual relevance. The followers of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo should take the advantage of his 150th birth anniversary year.
Longing for Hindu Rashtra is as valid in a democracy as aspiring for EU-type federation in India. These are contesting political dreams and there shouldn't be any animosity involved. Constitution of India has served its purpose and population growth necessitates smaller nations.
Democracy and Market are identical in the respect that both will throw the best in a free competitive environment. But in India, such a thing isn't happening. Human nature is cause and in this case lack of individuality and quest for excellence. Hegemony of Mythology exacerbates.
Nehru struck a body blow to the Indian Constitution by clinging to power till his last breath and encouraging dynasty. Creating another Nehru is not going to strengthen Indian democracy. Ideology, therefore, is important and not personality cult. Two terms are enough for any PM.
Democracy is a myth; at best a theoretical construction. Good as a toy but to talk of perfection is deception. Diversity in India is the biggest hurdle for Democracy growing root. So true Democracy remains a dream. What we undergo is hypocrisy. Media amplifies this epiphenomenon.
Democracy is not innate to human nature and needs to be inculcated on a continuous basis. Most people haven't studied political theory in the college and so fall easily in the trap of the hatred brigade. All big talk of past glory and hoary traditions are geared towards bigotry.
Indian democracy has grappled with electronic media, digital media, and EVM but the range and quality of participation is low. Lack of local level initiatives makes people aloof. Further, rival propaganda by political parties turns them confused. State level issues are key glues.
Savitri Era Party is an invitation for rejecting the established parties and unite for growth of true democracy in the country. Educated citizens can take a lead in this direction instead of simply hoping for the system to change. No other political party will work for any reform.
Instead of searching for good leaders, we should search for good citizens. Identifying the right kind of leaders is possible through free, informed, and ethical citizens. Supporting established political parties that are steeped in corruption and deception corrodes democracy.
Many are discussing the top leaders but Democracy entails that people will elect their local representatives who in turn will elect the leader. Flouting this process is giving rise to authoritarian tendencies and manipulative propensity. JP used to talk of a partyless Democracy.
RSS teaches nationalism by promoting mythology and religious bonding. The Constitution encourages caste-based fraternity. But modernity and democracy preach diametrically opposite values. Sri Aurobindo insists on growth of consciousness of the individual leading to ideal society.
It will be good if a new person becomes the PM in 2024 but in view of the history and pattern of democracy in India it may not happen. So one shouldn't be carried away by mere wishful thinking. What is Nature's plan and Evolutionary intention is more important. Ideology is futile
The first principle of democracy is to see people as citizens and not as members of any caste or religion which are secondary. When this is flouted, then democracy gets diluted. Following Sri Aurobindo helps to transcend these divisions and progress towards an egalitarian society.
We no longer hear the Parliament discussing or approving something before implementation. Sycophancy has turned the ruling party into a kindergarten. Dynasty parties too are mere puppetry. Yet, it's all part of democracy, the kind of democracy we deserve. There's no perfect model
One of the most frustrating experiences in life in a democracy is being a supporter of the opposition. The party goes on losing and you lose your sleep. So most people choose to stay on the side of the ruling party for the sake of mental peace. The ideology is just a smokescreen.
Ideally, a new political party should take shape from the success of the protests so that it has a holistic approach beyond farmers' issues. Otherwise, the old parties with dubious ideologies and dynastic dynamics continue to be in power and corrode Democracy. #FarmLawsRepealed
Elected representatives defecting from one party to another has become so common that it has become a hallmark of democracy. No one raises his eyebrow anymore. But then the question is how one party can be said to be different from the other? Or, should parties be leader-based?
Political parties are striving to derive the maximum benefit from the Constitution which prevents grassroots democracy to grow. Influential civil society activism for nurturing sound democratic practices and participation is also absent. So, awareness needed for its resuscitation.
Respecting people and real nationalistic feelings is important instead of keeping the current colonial legacy floating. Each language in India is a distinct nation and there is no inherent virtue in being a part of a large nation. Last mile democracy and development will flourish.
Big win for Democracy in India but legitimacy for long-drawn protests may not be a good sign. Parliament and not the street should be locus of policy making. Civil Society demands that issues are trashed out across the table so that citizens are not forced to disrupt traffic flow
Half the Indians don't have the experience of Indira Gandhi's rule and hence don't understand what politics is. After her, the history is nothing but footnotes to her seminal measures. Democracy got crippled and is yet to recover. Dynasty is everywhere. Basically, it's her legacy.
Expressing apprehensions against the hegemony of hindutva in a democracy like India is perfectly valid but their mistaken impression of #SriAurobindo belonging to the same bandwagon needs to be disabused. The Mother & Sri Aurobindo represent universality to embrace whole humanity.
People are either for this govt or against it; not many are willing to judge things without a strong bias. But the current environment is complex and deserves to be examined beyond this binary approach. Democracy has atrophied in many States and parties have become dysfunctional.
Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister for ten years and Modi is going to complete another ten years. The Constitution of India is responsible for multitude of defects in our democracy. It is also encouraging horse trading and all kinds of mobilisation around castes and religions.
All those who are disgusted with AAP, BJP, and Congress should join Savitri Era Party. Nothing can be achieved simply by criticising. Concrete action needed by getting organised under the banner of a political party. India has got independence but not democracy. It has to be won.
Political ideologies fizzle out and the dominant theme of today will also fade away. Sri Aurobindo's vision of The Life Divine is the most enduring one. It's the epitome of the best ethics and aesthetics where Fraternity would find its true meaning. Democracy will be transformed.
I write on Democracy from time to time as it's supposed to be the epitome of ethical imperatives for collective living. SC invoking Orwell yesterday in a tug of war with the Govt is certainly a win for the Democracy project. But committees often defer the matter in connivance.
Where is the Parliament in India? Is it discussing the burning problems of the country? Why the real seat of democracy has become non-functional? People's representatives feature nowhere except during horse trading jaunts. Grassroots politics remains a dream. Parties gag voice.
Theatrical behaviour of the Prime Minister notwithstanding, his grassroots past is a sterling quality of Indian democracy. But quests for roots like ancient temples under mosques, Saraswati flowing at some spots or insisting on geographic location for mythology are disconcerting.
Savitri Era Party has been raising its voice against Hindutva for the last fifteen years although it has nothing much against the present govt. Holding two terms at the top is enough for an individual and let's hope that this principle is adhered to for honing our young democracy
The brand of Hindutva that led to the demolition of the Babri Masjid three decades ago can never garner legitimacy in a Democracy. Any truck with it is a blot on the path to civil society. Those drunk with hubris see nothing amiss but Sri Aurobindo shows right perception on this.
The colonial masters gifted us democracy but an aristocratic Prime Minister and his dynasty thwarted its efflorescence. The Mother & Sri Aurobindo dream of a society built on the principles of unity, mutuality, and harmony. Fraternity based on the spiritual unity of human beings.
We inherited Democracy from the British with full colonial paraphernalia. Feudalism and Monarchy has been replaced by celebrity worship and servility. Ordinary life doesn't provide any sense of self-esteem. Integral Yoga of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo helps redeem this situation.
Feel Philosophy: Fascination with the old and ancient is a reflection of inertia and insecurity
feelphilosophy.blogspot.com/2023/05/fascin
Tweets in original by Tusar Nath Mohapatra (b. 1956), Director, Savitri Era Learning Forum (2005)
Savitri Era of those who adore,
Om Sri Aurobindo & The Mother.
