1. STRESS
ELECTIONS
AND
DEMOCRACY
DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

2. It is stressful when we do not get appreciation or even
permission to work for the social welfare. It is stressful
when we are neglected, suppressed and suffocated by
preventing us from voicing holistic perspectives and
approaches in various fields. Throttling of activities of
individual and global blossoming; embodying holistic
solutions; leads to stress!
Ii is true that our own indolence, apathy, inertia,
pettiness, mediocrity and passivity are responsible for
stress due to tardiness in individual and global
blossoming! It is also true that our indecision, timidity,
diffidence, lack of conviction, and hence escapism are
responsible for our defeat in individual and global
blossoming and resultant stress!
It is due to our own defects that we fail to appreciate that
certain concepts such as elections and democracy are
used to black mail us and perpetuate injustice.
We fail to appreciate that democracy per se, if left to
itself can only lead to unabated meanness, pettiness and
chaos; which are bound jeopardize any activity
incorporated in proactive measures in Total Stress

3. Management i.e. individual and global blossoming ( e.g.
evolving universally benevolent policies and plans in
terms of holistic medicine, holistic education, holistic
laws etc)!
Even as dictatorship per se, is not a solution to individual
and social stress; the lack of individual and global
blossoming; in democracy; leads to unleashing of
barbaric forces; which thrive on unaccountability,
irresponsibility, populist policies, and extremely petty
selfishness; leading to demotion of merit and promotion
of mediocrity and corruption.
In every government office there are anti people and
coercive laws and rules denying the services, thereby
flourishing the corruption and thus harassing and
repelling the people.
Democracy today; has become a license to voice and
assert resentment, non acceptance, disgruntlement,
disagreement, non cooperation, opposition and
sabotaging of overall blossoming of an individual and the
universe; while demanding petty gains. Obviously this is
bound to cause stress!

4. Can we conquer such stress?
Yes. We can.
As a result of deification of elections and democracy; we
(the voters and the candidates), have either developed an
illusion or a superstition; that elections and democracy
are panacea for the cure of all “individual and social
maladies”; and “solutions” to the ubiquitous STRESS in
individual and social life, or we pretend so; and promote,
propagate and publicize it!
But those, who do not agree with this; go to the other
extreme; and condemn them; as useless; and do not
participate; in the electoral process at all!
Many reasons are given for each one of these views. The
contradictions, conflicts, controversies, confusion; and
the STRESS continue!
We the students and practitioners of Total Stress
Management study all these issues; in a holistic manner.
We go to the root causes, dimensions and implications of
stress; in individual life, family life, national life and
global life. We go to the root of stress in different walks

5. of life; and stress at different ages of life. We also go to
the root of stress in different conditions in life; such as
pregnancy, delivery, diseases, handicaps and accidents.
More over we also go to the causes of stress produced in
unusual circumstances such as cyclones, earthquakes,
epidemics, disasters, wars and religious persecutions.
This reveals to us; the principles underlying, the real
nature and the role of elections and democracy and how
they can be revolutionized for individual and global
blossoming!
Thus; elections and democracy; together constitute; an
ideological framework and mechanism; that tries to
emulate the homeostatic mechanism in the body.
In homeostatic mechanisms of the body there is an
ongoing connectivity and feed backs; from every cell in
the body; to ensure simultaneous wellbeing of the cells
and the whole organism. If the homeostatic mechanisms
are functioning optimally, then the cells and the
organism live healthily.
In democracy also; all the inhabitants in a society are
supposed to be connected and interactive through feed

6. back mechanisms; with the governing center/s; to ensure
well being of the individuals and the society!
To ensure this connectivity with the controlling center or
centers and feedback operations to be active and
functional; the elections are planned and executed.
It has to be appreciated that if there is no oxygenation,
then the homeostasis and the individual cells fail; and if
the homeostasis and individual cells fail, then the feed
back mechanisms also fail. The well being of the
organism and cells can not be achieved unless oxygen is
supplied promptly.
Exactly in the same vein; if the universe is bereft of the
oxygen of NAMASMARAN then; the whole social
homeostasis i.e. democratic mechanisms; involving and
including all the individuals; begin to collapse and the
instruments of democracy viz. the elections become
proportionately defective, diseased and deranged; and
the well being of the individuals and the society is not
achieved, unless oxygen of NAMASMARAN is provided
universally.
Through NAMASMARAN (the supply of oxygen); the
controlling centers (the international leadership in

7. different fields), the homoeostasis (democracy) and all
the cells (individuals) and feedback mechanisms
(elections) would be restored to health.
Even in individual life; through NAMASMARAN; we
can elect the best amongst the millions of emotions and
thoughts; arising every moment in our mind; and assert
the best choice and enjoy intrapersonal democracy! This
is exactly what ensures; healthy leadership, healthy
democracy, healthy elections and healthy individuals i.e.
SUPERLIVING!
Whether we are; the rulers, policy makers, planners and
administrators; or we are public; and whether we are
educated or illiterate, urban or rural, religious or atheist;
we all can use elections and democracy; as important
means (not the end) and become universally benevolent;
through; study, analysis, experimentation, craft, art and
their different permutations and combinations and of
course; NAMASMARAN that connects us with our true
self; the oxygen and usher in the ambience conducive to
individual and global blossoming.
Because; for voting selflessly and bravely; and to elect
benevolent candidates; and in turn; evolve the elected

8. candidates; into able and noble individuals (if they are
not); the visionaries have reiterated time and again that;
NAMASMARAN i.e. connection with; the true self
(universally benevolent and empowering inner light or
oxygen); is the basis, essence and culmination of all the
means; conducive to individual and global blossoming!
Shouldn’t therefore; the NAMASMARAN be our
topmost priority before, during and after elections?
Elections, democracies and other political systems in the
world; are bound to metamorphose and revolutionize; in
an unbelievably rapid and unprecedented manner; along
with the exponential growth of global networking; even
amidst the apparently dismal picture; by the unifying,
reviving and emancipating power of the spiritual oxygen
viz. the NAMASMARAN; practiced by the universe!