Is the face of Indian governance really changing? To some extent, yes. But if India has to occupy its rightful place in the world, it needs to change very drastically and fundamentally. “Crisis of Governance” in India is not just confined to what we generally perceive as <g data-gr-id="139">government</g> that is the Executive arm of the State presided over by the Prime minister and Chief Ministers. <g data-gr-id="137">Crisis</g> is all pervasive be it the Judiciary or non-government institutions, or caste, community, or religious institutions.
Some of the recent headlines have been such: Alarmingly, people linked to Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh are dying one after another, witnesses related to the serious cases against Asaram Bapu and <g data-gr-id="167">Naraian</g> Sai are being killed, Jayalalitha first got bail and then acquittal, Salman Khan’s bail was granted in such haste as if some national calamity was to be avoided (compare this with fate of “Aam Aadmi” under trials), N. Srinivasan/BCCI/IPL epic saga is unending. Similarly in 1984 Sikh Carnage, Babri Masjid Demolition, 2002 Gujrat riots either justice was not delivered or indefinitely delayed. Moreover killings, caste riots, communal riots remain regular.
Will the future be any better? It can be and it should be. India and Indians definitely deserve better. Why are we facing such pervasive crisis of governance? Generally speaking, such a sordid state of affairs has been characteristic features of autocratic regimes and megalomaniac rulers. But India is a reasonably well-functioning representative democracy. We have a large number of political parties of different ideological and social persuasions ruling different states for last 30 years.
Despite this plurality, competition and orderly change of government alarming governance deficit in India <g data-gr-id="145">is</g> perplexing and requires serious looking into the matter. Here only a very brief synoptic view may be presented. Colonial slavery under British forced thinking and <g data-gr-id="144">self respecting</g> Indians to search for reasons for the humiliating experience and the way out. Extreme humiliation and catastrophic experience of the British rule resulted in <g data-gr-id="143">exceptionally</g> creative response from Indians.
Out of this churning, came clear goals, programs and agenda for India. Core and interrelated elements of this agenda <g data-gr-id="142">were :</g>
1) India for Indians leading to Swaraj, India’s liberation from <g data-gr-id="122">British</g> Imperial rule.
2) Independent India will develop its economy on modern lines and realise its full potential. Economic <g data-gr-id="125">well being</g> of Indian citizens will be at par with very best in the world.
3) Indians will respect diversity and plurality. India will celebrate its <g data-gr-id="134">multi faceted</g> cultural heritage. But at the same time India will overcome obscurantism and divisiveness of all kind. In <g data-gr-id="129">fact</g> it was social and religious reform movement which paved the way for political revolution, for <g data-gr-id="135">swaraj</g> and for nation building.
4) India will be a major power not just <g data-gr-id="124">non imperial</g> but also anti-imperial. India will work for an interdependent, peaceful, and just world order.
Gradually but increasingly Indian Political class and establishment forgot and neglected the agenda of India which emerged out of the Indian renaissance and which directed the making of the Indian Constitution. Instead of nation building, politics has become preoccupied with winning elections and coming to power. Instead of fighting social obscurantism and divisiveness, the Establishment is busy in manipulating and adapting to such forces and their narrow sectarian interests. Instead of becoming a genuine global player of substance, Indian political establishments are satisfied if it can handle Pakistan somehow. Instead of making Nation and Society world class, Individuals and groups are busy in getting ahead at the expense of others. In light of India’s potential this lack of imagination and ambition is appalling.
We should always keep in mind the reality that the size of India’s economy in relation to China is same as that of Pakistan’s to India. Pakistan’s being one fifth of India may be understandable given its population to that of India. But that of Indian GDP being one fifth of China(Nominal GDP) is something which may show a mirror to the gloating Indian establishment and multiple ‘’ Prusush’’ in different Indian states and at the centre.
India needs an alternative politics to come out of this pervasive crisis. The crisis of governance where Rule of Law is practiced only in its breach, majority of the population is at the mercy of arbitrary, whimsical, corrupt, inefficient establishment is part of that general crisis. The face of governance needs to be changed. There are demands and campaigns, and suggested institutional changes to move in that directions. Electoral reforms, police reforms, judicial reforms, administrative reforms, transparency, accountability, minimising and eliminating leakages are some of them. List can be expanded. But what is the reality? Individuals and groups wedded to these necessary and real reforms have to walk through minefields. Simple RTI activism has led to killings of activists. Even <g data-gr-id="160">otherwise</g> powerful Government officials are killed if they take on the powerful and the corrupt.
Transfers and harassments are routine. Lack of commitment in any effective anti-corruption mechanism is reflected in <g data-gr-id="162">fate</g> of non-establishment of Lokayuktas and <g data-gr-id="168">Lokpals</g> for last fifty years. Despite popular revulsion against corruption and an unprecedented mobilisation for Lokpal, <g data-gr-id="159">establishment</g> could avoid establishing any effective anti-corruption mechanism. Indians cannot trust establishment and established political parties to come out of this crisis and change the face of governance. Citizens need to exert and take <g data-gr-id="158">initiative</g>. Citizen’s assertion and initiative <g data-gr-id="157">is</g> at the core of alternative politics. Jan Lokpal movement and Aam Aadmi Party has provided valuable experience for the future of alternative politics. It has generated hope and confidence amongst the “Aam <g data-gr-id="156">Aadmi’</g> that they can successfully take on the might of the mightiest through movements and elections.
Recent developments in the Aam Aadmi Party will naturally be variously interpreted. Establishment
is gloating and creating a new TINA (There Is No Alternative) narrative that no alternative politics is possible. Sceptics are saying that Accountability/Transparency/Inner Party Democracy/Voluntarism are at best desirable but impossible goals. Arvind Kejriwal wants to forget the movement with a sense of vengeance. He is indicating that it is not SWARAJ or popular initiative but a “great and honest” leader, probably a new messiah, who alone can change the system and achieve the public good. But as long as Indian society faces an <g data-gr-id="253">all pervasive</g> crisis where a citizen is insecure and vulnerable, where public amenities like water, electricity, roads, schools, hospital are more discussed for its poor quality or complete absence, where decent employment is missing for the bulk of the population, where a majority of people is forced to migrate to cities and live in slums and sub-human conditions, need for alternative politics shall remain.
There is no other force for alternative politics but the citizens. Citizens need it and citizens will have to practice it. In the process, the citizens’ movement will learn lessons and grow. Recent episodes in AAP are definitely a setback and a temporary blow to alternative Politics. But all new phases of citizen’s politics had to undergo and grow through such phases. Alternative Politics will face multiple challenges in future. To provide a credible organisation and vehicle to the social needs of citizens and the nation is not something automatic. It requires <g data-gr-id="278">lot</g> of hard work, imagination, idealism, and capabilities. After AAP experience, initiative and movement need to be very careful about personality cult and <g data-gr-id="286">supremo</g> culture. Transparency, Accountability, Inner Party Democracy are desirable and necessary practices and not merely <g data-gr-id="287">ideals</g>. But these are really difficult to practice. We need <g data-gr-id="283">commitment</g> to practice these. We have to constantly innovate and evolve to materialise these practices. Alternative Politics will also have to understand that while goals are reasonable and necessary that cannot be achieved simply by changing one government with another. If a citizen’s initiative can install a government in power which it should do, then only “<g data-gr-id="288">niyat</g>” will be insufficient to achieve the goals. Alternative politics needs to think very hard from now onwards about policies, processed, and institutions. Whether in movement or in power, <g data-gr-id="285">lternative</g> politics also needs to think very concretely about solutions to problems, needs and aspirations of people.
India is changing, and changing very fast. India is young with rising aspirations. Young population is better informed, aware and networked. Young India is emerging out of various forms of social and cultural obscurantism and divisiveness. There is an intense search for dignity, identity, and well-being. Indians want to be proud citizens of India. Indians want India to come at par with the best in world. As against changing India, the political class and establishment are gloating about false successes and busy in mastering arts and machinations which have served them well in the past. A significant section of Indian voters reposed great faith in Narendra Modi. Which propelled him to head a full majority government for the first time in last 25 years. But Delhi elections proved that Modi is not being considered up to the task by people. Aspiring Indian citizens don’t allow any honeymoon period. On its first anniversary, the Modi Government will come out with huge factsheets and propaganda to celebrate. But the mood in farms, factories, and firms is there for anybody to see. What is the way forward? What is the alternative? Citizen-initiated, citizen-led alternative is the only way forward. Commitment, imagination, hope, hard work, patience, perseverance and audacity can make the desirable really possible.
The author is a professor of History at the Delhi University