Democracy is an age-old concept in India. Indian democracy comprises the values of harmony, freedom, acceptability, equality and inclusivity in society, enabling a dignified life for all its citizens.
India has been the cradle of civilization, with a holistic and inclusive ethos. Since the Rigvedic times, we find traces of participatory democracy where people would choose the ruler. The Rigveda states, “Let people choose you just as they choose a king or a ruler,” emphasizing the importance of the ruler’s likeability. The concept of the ruler being responsible for the welfare of the people is present in the Rigveda, suggesting a participatory democracy where the ruler does not rule for their own comforts.
The idea of India being the “mother of democracy” is deeply ingrained in the Indian psyche, as the Indian philosophical thought focuses on the “self and the other.”
The concept of “Dharma” is central to Indian democracy, encompassing the duties of the king (Raj-dharma) and the people (Praja-dharma).
The Rigveda also mentions words like “sabha” (assembly), “sansad,” and “samiti,” indicating the presence of governing assemblies where women were allowed to participate and speak. This demonstrates the integral role of valuing diverse views in the Indian form of polity, governance, and democracy.
The very root of civilization where we can learn the lessons of equality, harmony, and inclusivity is the unit of family. The unit of family is very important in the Indian tradition, where there is a head of the family, and even in a family, the democratic principles are working. There is a head of the family, of course, but they cannot impose their will on others. They take the views of everybody in the family, consider everybody’s perspectives to be incorporated, and then work for the welfare of the family.
Beyond the family is a larger unit, i.e., society, because there is an organic relationship between an individual and society, and in between is the family. Family is based on the conjugal relationship of husband and wife, or male and female, so there is a perfect parity between the male and female. There is a very strong emotional bonding among the members of the family, where everybody goes together, works together, and thinks together. This is what the Vedic civilization teaches us.
Our minds should think alike, and we should think for a common goal. This common goal will be so broad and inclusive that it will cover even those whom we cannot see. There is a prayer in the Atharvaveda which says, “May my mind be noble towards those whom I cannot even see.” So, we were not only working with goodwill towards our fellow beings, but we were also concerned with the nature around us – the trees, the rivers, the animals, and the birds.
The Indian psyche has been a unitive one; consciousness, one spirit is pervading in everybody, but every tiny individual is important, and everybody has their own individual identity which needs to be taken care of. The idea of taking care of everybody’s identity, taking care of everybody’s views, and the idea of dialogue, which is very important in Indian thought, is crucial. The idea of tolerance is also very important because we are so liberal. The Rigveda says, “A reality may be one, but people, the scholars speak of it in different ways.” So, there are different narratives, different ways, and different views, but the ultimate goal, the common goal, is that everybody should be happy, and everybody should be at peace.
When we pray for peace, we do not pray for the peace in our own country; we pray for global peace. I should look at everybody with an eye of friendship, not only at living beings, but even at objects, I should look at them with a friendly eye. Only then, when I develop this idea of global friendship, can I pray for a meaningful peace – a peace that is around me in all the elements of nature, and ultimately, it comes to peace. Let the peace come to me which is there in all the elements around me – the waters, the rivers, the plants, the trees, the sun, the moon, and the space, the mid-space, and the sky.
We know that during the Buddhist period, there was a proper practice of electing the rulers or the head of the ‘Matha’, and this practice is even available in some form today. Of course, the modern democratic principles that we follow to govern our country are a mix of Western traditions, and the spirit of democracy is something that is keeping our values alive.
Unless everybody is satisfied, there is no reason for an individual to be satisfied. Others come first, and then you absorb and find yourself among others to be able to be a part of the society. This perfectly fits the democratic values of justice and equality.
Whether something goes wrong or somebody has put forth a point that needs to be discussed, it should not be discarded. Discussion is more important, not discarding or rejecting. In that sense, India’s democratic values will remain extremely strong, and we, as Indians, should learn gradually what are the new ways that we can improve it, and any country should do the same.
The fact is that India has strong roots of democracy. Now, we need to move forward with the ‘collective strength’ of the people, as the collective power of Indians will provide a solution to every challenge. We are going through a very interesting phase of transformation, wherein we are seeing India progress rapidly despite the global challenges. To achieve ‘Vision 2047’, this ‘collective strength’ is something that is going to sail us through to our vision.
(The author is an Advocate by profession)