HAS INDIAN STATE SUCCEEDED
IN SATISFYING PEOPLE’S
ASPIRATIONS ?
   If yes, up to what extent?
   Otherwise, what are the reasons behind
    its failures?
   What alternatives do I visualize and how
    do we get them?
WHAT IS A STATE?
   Politically speaking, India is a State
    because it satisfies the basic
    requirements of territory, people,
    sovereignty and capability to enter into
    international relations.
   Generally speaking a State is Parens
    Patreas-father of its inhabitants which
    justifies its existence by taking care of its
    citizens so that they flourish and cherish
    life instead of cursing it.
HAS INDIAN STATE FULFILLED ITS
ROLE AS PARENS PATREAS
   Since State works through its organs so
    the idea here is to analyse the past
    record of their ability to do justice to
    duties and responsibilities.
   These organs are the Legislature, the
    Executive and the Judiciary.
   Since the jurists bestow upon
    legislature, the element of future, hence
    for all practical purposes the
    responsibility finds fixation on it.
THE POSITIVES

   State has succeeded primarily in keeping
    the institution of democracy alive and
    keeping the nation physically united.
   These days it has succeeded, to some
    extent, in generating wealth but that is
    like islands of prosperity in a sea of
    poverty. That is why, probably, the
    recent survey of India Inc reflects a .9%
    rise in governance confidence.
THE NEGATIVES
The negatives are so many that it is
 difficult to voice each and every one. But
 the crux of the situation lies in the term
 injustice and unfairness. The people of
 India are befooled every now and then
 when their only aspiration of a civilised
 society is raped recklessly in front of
 their own eyes by social spiders like-
   Corruption
   Undignified Public Behaviour
   Lack of political will in areas of
    water, energy security, education
    and pollution & population control
   Insensitive Bureaucracy-Public
    administration is working with an
    object of fostering helplessness and
    hopelessness in people. The whistle
    blowers have to lose their lives. We
    have yet not politically matured to
    listen to the dissent of the deprived.
   Illiteracy-We have yet not realized the
    potential of an educated society, which is
    the basis of a civilized society. Only
    education can cure some of the evils of
    our society, namely population
    explosion, poor civic habits, caste and
    other religious biases. Only an educated
    person is competent and capable of
    understanding his rights and duties.
THE REASONS
   There is a popular saying that we get
    what we deserve. If this be true then the
    onus rests on us to disprove it.
   The process of disproving leads us to
    dissection of Indian Psychology.
     We have had narrow mentality and
      were torn into different castes and
      other religious groups since time
      immemorial. It means that there has
      always been disharmony amongst
      people inter se because of them
      belonging to specific Vernas.
   The wish to dominate each other was
    inherent and this made us vulnerable
    to divide & rule philosophy. Naturally
    no ruler ever wanted to unify the
    people into a single community
    because this could have deprived them
    in the form of uniform uprising. In fact
    in those times the concept of India was
    itself very hazy and differentiated. With
    the British colonization of India, at
    least a territorial integrity came into
    existence. But still the formation of
    national character was far from
    existence.
   The second reason responsible was
    the economy of shortage and
    penetrative presence of organs of
    government in the socialist regime.
    As Rousseau, the famous jurist-
    philosopher has said, “Man was
    born free, but is in shackles
    everywhere.” The above referred
    combination proved fatal for the
    common man. The shortage ridden
    economy saw ordinary man seeking
    favours from the Government
    officials to meet their daily demands.
   This made them realize the power of
    their posts and forgot the ultimate
    objective of Socialism. The shortage
    economy made the common man also
    corrupt and rent seeker. The
    enterprising attitude was brutally
    killed for no good. State ownership of
    resources further worsened the
    situation as the state largesse was for
    them who could appease the people at
    the helm of the affairs. In this regard
    Rousseau said, “That system of
    governance is best, which has the
    least government.
IMPERATIVES
   POPULATION CONTROL
   EDUCATION
   SENSITISATION OF PUBLIC SERVANTS
   PROMOTION OF NATIONAL
    CHARACTER
   INCULCATION OF VALUES RIGHT
    FROM CHILDHOOD
   SPREAD OF CAPITALISM BUT SAVING
    IT FROM THE CAPITALISTS
   ENSURE SELF SUFFICIENCY IN FUEL NEEDS
   SPEND ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENTER
    INTO LONG TERM PUBLIC-PRIVATE
    PARTENERSHIP
   PUBLIC SHOULD QUESTION THE
    DEPLOYMENT OF PUBLIC FINANCE AND
    THUS HOLD THE RULERS ACCOUNTABLE
    FOR THEIR DEEDS
   KEY TENETS OF CIVILISED SOCIETY
    SHOULD BE PUBLICLY IDOLISED AND
    REWARDED-LIKE HARDWORK, HONESTY,
    INTEGRITY, TOLERANCE, DEDICATION
HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE
IMPERATIVES SUGGESTED
   AWAKEN ONESELF-REALISE THAT WE ARE
    RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NATION-CHANGE
    ONESELF FOR THE BETTER
   THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF A HUMAN
    BEING SHOULD BE RESPECTED BY EACH
    ONE OF US
   TEACHERS HOLD AN IMPORTANT POSITION
    IN NATION BUILDING-THEY SHOULD
    REALISE THE MAMMOTH TASK LYING ON
    THEIR SHOULDERS. THROUGH THEM ONLY
    THE CITIZENS OF TOMORROW CAN BE
    CONVINCED ABOUT EXCELLENCE IN WORK
    WITH SOBRIETY AND SPIRITUAL CONTENT IN
    NATURE
   MEDIA SHOULD PLAY A CRITICAL AND
    CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN CREATING A
    PROPER MIX OF NEGATIVE AND
    POSITIVE INFORMATION DISSIPATION
   STATE THROUGH GENUINE
    INSTITUTIONS PROMOTE CREATIVITY,
    ART AND OTHER STREAMS WHICH
    ADD VALUE TO HUMAN LIFE. THIS
    SHOULD BE WIDELY PRACTISED AND
    NOT ONLY THROUGH PRESTIGIOUS
    INSTITUTIONS LIKE IITs OR IIMs.
    AFTER ALL A PERSON WHO IS
    MENTALLY AT PEACE WITH HIMSELF
    CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE SOCIETY.
   WE NOW NEED TO MOVE TO BOTTOM-
    UP APPROACH OF GOVERNANCE AND
    FOR THAT MORE AND MORE POWER
    SHOULD DECENTRALISED.
   LOCAL SELF GOVERNANCE SHOULD
    BE PRESCRIBED AND PRACTISED
    SERIOUSLY.
   STATE SHOULD REFRAIN FROM OVER
    INTERFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIFE BY
    ADORNING THE ROBES OF A
    FACILITATOR AND NOT A PARTICIPANT
THE GOLDEN WORDS OF
CONFUCIOUS SHOULD BE OUR
GUIDE
   “When things are investigated, knowledge is
    extended. When knowledge is extended,
    thoughts are made sincere. When thoughts are
    made sincere, the heart and mind are rectified.
    When the heart and mind are rectified, the
    personal life is cultivated. When the personal
    life is cultivated, then the family is regulated.
    When the family is regulated, the state will be
    in order. When the state is in order, there will
    be peace throughout the world.”
THANK YOU

Sharad Kothari

  • 1.
    HAS INDIAN STATESUCCEEDED IN SATISFYING PEOPLE’S ASPIRATIONS ?  If yes, up to what extent?  Otherwise, what are the reasons behind its failures?  What alternatives do I visualize and how do we get them?
  • 2.
    WHAT IS ASTATE?  Politically speaking, India is a State because it satisfies the basic requirements of territory, people, sovereignty and capability to enter into international relations.  Generally speaking a State is Parens Patreas-father of its inhabitants which justifies its existence by taking care of its citizens so that they flourish and cherish life instead of cursing it.
  • 3.
    HAS INDIAN STATEFULFILLED ITS ROLE AS PARENS PATREAS  Since State works through its organs so the idea here is to analyse the past record of their ability to do justice to duties and responsibilities.  These organs are the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary.  Since the jurists bestow upon legislature, the element of future, hence for all practical purposes the responsibility finds fixation on it.
  • 4.
    THE POSITIVES  State has succeeded primarily in keeping the institution of democracy alive and keeping the nation physically united.  These days it has succeeded, to some extent, in generating wealth but that is like islands of prosperity in a sea of poverty. That is why, probably, the recent survey of India Inc reflects a .9% rise in governance confidence.
  • 5.
    THE NEGATIVES The negativesare so many that it is difficult to voice each and every one. But the crux of the situation lies in the term injustice and unfairness. The people of India are befooled every now and then when their only aspiration of a civilised society is raped recklessly in front of their own eyes by social spiders like-
  • 6.
    Corruption  Undignified Public Behaviour  Lack of political will in areas of water, energy security, education and pollution & population control  Insensitive Bureaucracy-Public administration is working with an object of fostering helplessness and hopelessness in people. The whistle blowers have to lose their lives. We have yet not politically matured to listen to the dissent of the deprived.
  • 7.
    Illiteracy-We have yet not realized the potential of an educated society, which is the basis of a civilized society. Only education can cure some of the evils of our society, namely population explosion, poor civic habits, caste and other religious biases. Only an educated person is competent and capable of understanding his rights and duties.
  • 8.
    THE REASONS  There is a popular saying that we get what we deserve. If this be true then the onus rests on us to disprove it.  The process of disproving leads us to dissection of Indian Psychology.  We have had narrow mentality and were torn into different castes and other religious groups since time immemorial. It means that there has always been disharmony amongst people inter se because of them belonging to specific Vernas.
  • 9.
    The wish to dominate each other was inherent and this made us vulnerable to divide & rule philosophy. Naturally no ruler ever wanted to unify the people into a single community because this could have deprived them in the form of uniform uprising. In fact in those times the concept of India was itself very hazy and differentiated. With the British colonization of India, at least a territorial integrity came into existence. But still the formation of national character was far from existence.
  • 10.
    The second reason responsible was the economy of shortage and penetrative presence of organs of government in the socialist regime. As Rousseau, the famous jurist- philosopher has said, “Man was born free, but is in shackles everywhere.” The above referred combination proved fatal for the common man. The shortage ridden economy saw ordinary man seeking favours from the Government officials to meet their daily demands.
  • 11.
    This made them realize the power of their posts and forgot the ultimate objective of Socialism. The shortage economy made the common man also corrupt and rent seeker. The enterprising attitude was brutally killed for no good. State ownership of resources further worsened the situation as the state largesse was for them who could appease the people at the helm of the affairs. In this regard Rousseau said, “That system of governance is best, which has the least government.
  • 12.
    IMPERATIVES  POPULATION CONTROL  EDUCATION  SENSITISATION OF PUBLIC SERVANTS  PROMOTION OF NATIONAL CHARACTER  INCULCATION OF VALUES RIGHT FROM CHILDHOOD  SPREAD OF CAPITALISM BUT SAVING IT FROM THE CAPITALISTS
  • 13.
    ENSURE SELF SUFFICIENCY IN FUEL NEEDS  SPEND ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENTER INTO LONG TERM PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTENERSHIP  PUBLIC SHOULD QUESTION THE DEPLOYMENT OF PUBLIC FINANCE AND THUS HOLD THE RULERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR DEEDS  KEY TENETS OF CIVILISED SOCIETY SHOULD BE PUBLICLY IDOLISED AND REWARDED-LIKE HARDWORK, HONESTY, INTEGRITY, TOLERANCE, DEDICATION
  • 14.
    HOW TO IMPLEMENTTHE IMPERATIVES SUGGESTED  AWAKEN ONESELF-REALISE THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NATION-CHANGE ONESELF FOR THE BETTER  THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF A HUMAN BEING SHOULD BE RESPECTED BY EACH ONE OF US  TEACHERS HOLD AN IMPORTANT POSITION IN NATION BUILDING-THEY SHOULD REALISE THE MAMMOTH TASK LYING ON THEIR SHOULDERS. THROUGH THEM ONLY THE CITIZENS OF TOMORROW CAN BE CONVINCED ABOUT EXCELLENCE IN WORK WITH SOBRIETY AND SPIRITUAL CONTENT IN NATURE
  • 15.
    MEDIA SHOULD PLAY A CRITICAL AND CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN CREATING A PROPER MIX OF NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE INFORMATION DISSIPATION  STATE THROUGH GENUINE INSTITUTIONS PROMOTE CREATIVITY, ART AND OTHER STREAMS WHICH ADD VALUE TO HUMAN LIFE. THIS SHOULD BE WIDELY PRACTISED AND NOT ONLY THROUGH PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS LIKE IITs OR IIMs. AFTER ALL A PERSON WHO IS MENTALLY AT PEACE WITH HIMSELF CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE SOCIETY.
  • 16.
    WE NOW NEED TO MOVE TO BOTTOM- UP APPROACH OF GOVERNANCE AND FOR THAT MORE AND MORE POWER SHOULD DECENTRALISED.  LOCAL SELF GOVERNANCE SHOULD BE PRESCRIBED AND PRACTISED SERIOUSLY.  STATE SHOULD REFRAIN FROM OVER INTERFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIFE BY ADORNING THE ROBES OF A FACILITATOR AND NOT A PARTICIPANT
  • 17.
    THE GOLDEN WORDSOF CONFUCIOUS SHOULD BE OUR GUIDE  “When things are investigated, knowledge is extended. When knowledge is extended, thoughts are made sincere. When thoughts are made sincere, the heart and mind are rectified. When the heart and mind are rectified, the personal life is cultivated. When the personal life is cultivated, then the family is regulated. When the family is regulated, the state will be in order. When the state is in order, there will be peace throughout the world.”
  • 18.