Notwithstanding the lofty talks about individual
freedom, the modern man has failed to assume even the ‘political command’ over
himself. Mahatma Gandhi was almost adamant about carrying on with a definition
of freedom on the basis of Sanskrit/Hindi word Swa + Tantra = Swatantra.
‘Swa’ means, one’s own and ‘Tantra’ means a binding system.
The feudal system was characterized by the rule
of an autocratic king well supported by feudal lords who derived power from the
king as well as the physical power, they themselves, could exercise on the
classes that were ruled. Generally, the powers to rule remained with a few
families and got transferred to the next generations. It was implied that those
who were ruled had little freedom to decide many important things related to
their lives. In other words the vast majority of those who were ruled had to
depend on the feudal lords or the kings in many ways.
It cannot be concluded that a feudal system was
necessarily atrocious, because the system allowed the man to advance in
knowledge and do much for his physical, intellectual and spiritual growth.
There had been examples when the kings and feudal lords did more for the
welfare of the people than what any modern democratic welfare state can
possibly do today. The reason why the world opted for a democratic system
without hesitation was, perhaps, that it was felt that the feudal system was
rather unfair to the majority of the people.
In this context, let us answer a question. What
prevented a selfless feudal lord with the best of intention to do good to all
without any discrimination? Perhaps, the answer is that the human desire always
exceeds what one gets or can get. This made a few powerful ones to corner for
their use more than what was rightfully due to them. The same must apply to the
feudal lords, who were more powerful than others. Hence, the possibility that the
feudal lords, in general, would intend to do good to those whom they ruled had
never been brighter.
The democracy is the rule of people’s
representatives elected through a fair process of elections. It means that the
people become responsible for themselves. It means what was expected from a
feudal lord for the welfare of the people is expected from the collectivity of
those who are ruled. This exactly is the crux of the matter. It is about each
one of us having a control over ourselves. In a feudal system the societies had
to ensure that a few feudal lords were men of character, who selflessly
committed to the welfare of the people upholding the undiluted sense of
justice; in a democracy those very elements of exemplary character need to be
transferred to a big majority of the people.
From our great scriptures and books of mythology
we come to know of kings who, under the constant guidance of enlightened
Rishis, devoted their lives to the welfare and progress of the people they
ruled. A few among the most revered kings even became the live examples of how
one must lead his life. Is it possible to imagine that a few among us can
develop a character that resembles the character of those great kings at least
to some extent? Perhaps, it may not be possible. But, if we want to see our
democracies working effectively, we need to have a majority of people much more
selfless, a little more compassionate and committed, reasonably concerned about
the fulfillment of the duties assigned to them, and far more courageous than
what they are today.
If the people have no control over themselves the
democracies would work on the basis of increased numbers of feudal lords, with
their powers somewhat restricted, having been elected. Those who visualized democracy as the best
political system had imagined that the elected representatives of the people
would have the ability to guide the people for building a humane political
system for the benefit of the deprived and downtrodden. Unfortunately, here
also, the urgency of materialistic progress superseded a process of humanitarian
evolution in our political system.
PROMOD KUMAR SHARMA
[The writer of this blog is also the author of “Mahatma A
Scientist of the Intuitively Obvious” and “In Search of Our Wonderful Words”.]
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