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A freedom of our own

August 15, 2003 13:15 IST

Each year, as August 15 rolls around, we find ourselves more distant from the colonialism that once shackled the nation, and further along towards a destiny of our own creation. The character of nations changes slowly along this journey, and the events of any one year aren't always momentous. Nonetheless, the annual celebration of freedom's dawn is an appropriate time to pause, and consider the roads already taken. How near are we to the promised tryst, and how much of our nation's course today reflects the aspirations of those who fought and died for our liberties?

The heartening thing about freedom and democracy is that the answers can form quite a spectrum of opinion. I offer these observations, therefore, not as a definitive or complete accounting of the past year, but as a reminder of much more. But first, the observations themselves, in no particular order.

My chronicle can scarcely be regarded as the final or complete word, and I will leave you to an independent understanding of these developments. Here, rather than plunge into arguing the facts and their interpretations, we might instead more appropriately ask how we should judge these times.

By way of answering this, allow me to take you back to one of the events related above -- the campaign for electoral reforms -- and to a letter I received some weeks ago from a regular reader, Praveen Pahwa. Writing in response to 
an earlier article, he had this to say: You, me, we can raise these issues, discuss them and get a debate going, but the power to make these changes rests with those who are affected the most and therefore very reluctant to give up their way. The politicians and the babus thwart every initiative to make the system more people-friendly. How then does one see the system improving?

Considering the many ways in which the people's aspirations are thwarted by the despised babus and politicians, the frustration and anger in the question are understandable. But I suggest to you -- as I did to him -- that the greater emotion surrounding this view isn't despair, but hope!

All the rage we can ever muster at the fallen state around us mustn't blind us to a different element -- namely, that each person behind Praveen's question is someone who still believes in the idea of citizenship, of the public good, and of good government. It is from seeing those ideals thwarted that the despair arises, and that we cannot overlook, but underneath lurks a positive sign as well. We remain far from the day when the economic and social promises of independence will be real in the majority of Indian lives. Nonetheless, the expectation that the day will arrive, and the willingness to seek it, are the real measures of our freedoms. And those we have retained.

Last year's campaign for electoral reforms offered a strong reminder of this. When the Cabinet first moved to override the Supreme Court's ruling on full disclosures of candidates, the Association for Democratic Reforms, the People's Union for Civil Liberties, and most importantly, 
Lok Satta, made a vigorous defence of the people's right to make informed choices at the voting booths. The tremendous energy they brought to this quest for political accountability led to a truly unique development -- the President of India declined to endorse the Cabinet's proposed ordnance. True, the legislators blindly resubmitted the same proposal, whereupon President Kalam was constitutionally obliged to give his consent.

How shall we remember that sequence of events? Did we lose?

Not at all. The people, through associations they have formed, turned to an important office-holder in the machinery of their government, and urged him to consider the honour of his office as well as the stated aspirations of the voters themselves. And he responded splendidly. So who won? The politicians who got the legislation passed anyway, despite President Kalam's objections, or people like you and me who joined in that objection? Further, in fact, Lok Satta and ADR went on to contest the legislation in the Supreme Court, whereupon the wise men shot down some of the more egregious elements of the law. Disclosures are now mandatory.

But even without that eventually sweet victory, the people would still have won. The measure of our liberties is not captured merely in our leaders' willingness to grant them to us. Instead, the progressive society is a limitless ideal, and seeking it is enough assurance of its promise. In confronting the government's stance at each step, the people kept alive the idea of informed citizenship and its possibilities for change. In doing so, we declared our privileges unfettered by the political will of our leaders. Instead, we have our own imaginations for India, and we rightly cherish them.

The unfortunate side-note to this encouraging observation is that our aspirations have taken shape not at the urging of statesman-like or patriotic leaders, but despite them. At every turn, those ideally placed to inspire have instead turned to defeating the people's interests. Finding himself upon the great platform of our giant democracy, the Indian politician has not dared to articulate a vision of liberty or free enterprise beyond the narrow confines of his personal power and the vested interests supporting it. He has substituted his weaknesses for the strength and spirit of the Indian people, all the while proclaiming the glory of a freedom he has denied to millions.

It is a great pity, but no shame to the people themselves; we have endured, and will do better still. Happy 56th.

I-DAY SPECIALS

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Ashwin Mahesh