An English dictionary defines 'democracy' as a State 'practising government by the people, direct or representative'. And.'Living Democracy' would mean a State whose government remains with the people, actively functioning for the welfare of its citizens, and the citizens, in turn, participating responsibly in the democratic process.

Taking a quick panoramic view of human history, one notices that initially different countries were generally ruled by kings and queens. In India too we notice kings ruling various parts of the country. Some were benevolent and mindful of the welfare of the subjects, others were selfish, concerned only with their own glory, power and riches.

Gradually however, the will to be free began to gain momentum among the people, both within their own countries ruled by monarchs as also in other countries which had become part of their extended kingdoms or empires.

In India, freedom from British rule was obtained largely through peaceful means — a unique experiment of a non-violent struggle initiated by Gandhiji. Of course, one cannot but recollect with deep pain the partition of the country on the basis of religion and its aftermath of violence. India, however, soon began to settle down to decide upon its own form of government and frame its Constitution. On the 26th day of November 1949, the Constituent Assembly in the Preamble to the Constitution of India declared — 'We the People of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic and to secure to all its citizens: Justice, social, economic and political; Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; Equality of status and of opportunity, and to promote among them all Fraternity ... hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this Constitution.'

In consonance with the Preamble, Fundamental Rights are specified in detail and also Fundamental Duties.

The basic responsibility for the governance of the country lies with the Parliament, with a Prime Minister from amongst its members, and his Council of Ministers from the MPs. Members of Parliament are elected by the citizens of the country on the basis of universal adult franchise. A similar pattern prevails in the States also. The bureaucracy functions under the elected governments at the Centre and the States. Another important limb of the Government is the Judiciary, consisting of the Supreme Court at the apex and High Courts, with subordinate courts, in the States.

Under this broad framework, our country has now been functioning as a Democratic Republic for over fifty years. Has it been a living democracy, has it been able to live up to the high expectations of the Constitution? We will take up here briefly only a few important aspects in this enquiry.

Since the prime power and authority lie with the elected representatives of the people, both at the Centre and the States, periodical elections to the Parliament and the state

imperative to put an end to this riotous behaviour by framing binding rules of parliamentary procedure. Strong public opinion and strong political will need to rise up boldly against this menace.

A disturbing feature in the functioning of the Indian democracy is corruption, especially at the bureaucratic level, for corruption eats at the very vitals of a democratic government. One need not go into details about all the various ways in which corruption at different levels can be curbed. But the most vital thing to remember is the age-old saying, 'As the Ruler, so the people', since both integrity and corruption filter down from the top. One is reminded of a verse in the Bhagavadgita which says: 'Whatsoever a great man does, that other men also do; the standard he sets up, by that the people go.' (III. 21)

All that has been mentioned above is not to say that the Indian democracy is decadent, and not a living one. The object in pointing out flaws is to rouse each one of us, citizens of this great nation, to try to begin putting things right even at our levels in small ways.

It now needs to be pointed out that there have also been many positive features in the working of our democracy during the last fifty years which are encouraging. Some of them are the agricultural revolution which enabled us to be self-sufficient and even surplus in food, instead of having to import foodgrain under the PL 480 aid programme from the U.S.A., considerable rise in life expectancy and fall in infant mortality, rise in literacy, significant rise in industrial production and amazing strides in infotechnology, a fearless and free press, which with its investigative journalism often uncovers misdeeds of political parties and persons in high position, an independent Election Commission and above all, a watchful Supreme Court which has been giving landmark judgements in cases concerning public interest litigation. As India Today in its Independence Day Special Issue of 19 August 2002 observes: 'The fruits of positive interference by the Apex Court are now evident in a host of public policy initiatives, be it in combating environmental pollution or in the battle against executive corruption and high-handedness.' In a recent judgement on a petition filed by some 'secularists' against the making of changes in Secondary Education textbooks by the Ministry of Education of the Government of India, which included lessons on religions and religious values, the Supreme Court ruled that thesearenotinviolationoftheConstitution.lt observed'Religion is the ... value base for the survival of human beings ... Civilized society depends upon moral values.' Again, 'The process of acquainting students with basics of religions, the values therein and comparative study should begin.' One is reminded of the pioneering work done by Annie Besant and Dr Bhagavan Das in bringing out books titled, A Universal Textbook of Religion and Morals and The Essential Unity of all Religions.

In a recent book, Modern India - the Origins of an Asian Democracy (1994), Judith M Brown, Professor of Commonwealth History at the University of Oxford writes: 'India's ability to sustain democratic forms of government and policies through the second half of this century is in sharp contrast to the experience of her Asian neighbours, and of most former colonies in Africa. There have been no military bids for power, and even Mrs Gandhi's months of "Emergency Rule" (which many thought perilously close to dictatorship) were ended by the electors' verdict in 1977. Despite phases of acute domestic strain and violence, the assassination of two Prime Ministers, and a number of armed conflicts with neighbours, she has also remained a stable, independent regional power. It is no wonder that India's democratic experience has fascinated historians and political scientists.' Another article appearing in Neiv York Times (18 April 1996), after referring to all the pfoblems and disappointments that India has faced and survived, adds: 'In a troubled land, democracy means there is hope.'

That hope arises because democracy is based on the will of a free people, wherein each adult individual can play a role — as a voter, a participator in development and reform. A single individual's determined action can create a ripple and, as history tells us, ripples become waves. There is also hope because deep down within the Indian psyche there are still some strains of goodness, of ethical values in life, and a living democracy needs these values. J. Krishnamurti often used to exhort us: 'Sir, you are the world, the world is you' and also 'you are your brother's keeper'. May we, each one of us, citizens of a free and democratic India, say to ourselves: 'We are our country's keepers.' A great Teacher once observed that true patriotism is a noble quality, 'for, in learning to love one's country one but learns to love humanity the more'.

Almost without exception, technologies which are environmentally more sustainable are less prone to being hijacked by those intent on harm. No terrorist is going to make governments tremble by threatening to bomb a wind turbine, or release clouds of compost over our cities. Compare that to the destructive potential of nuclear power and toxic chemicals. A more sustainable world Is Indeed a safer one.

Jonathan Porritt