The Voice of the People

The election process in a democracy is a wonderful thing. It's a time when the masses seem to speak out silently, expressing their will, their approval or disapproval, contentment or frustration. And in a plural, diverse country such as India, with a medley of needs, aspirations and pressing issues, it's not uncommon for people to speak in the form of an indiscernible racket, rather than a mellifluous chorus. And when the People speak, at last, in one voice, it is the ultimate celebration of the idea of democracy.

The People spoke yesterday, at last, in one voice. A voice of rousing appreciation for a vision of reform, progress  and amity.  The journey of our democracy so far has been marked by the Voice of the people making itself heard in differing ways mirroring the changing needs of the nation.  A resounding mandate of approval for a founding father in a nation in its infancy, getting used to the idea of democracy. The first signs of disapprobation in the defeat meted out to an authoritarian by an electorate in its early adulthood. Followed by a mandate of hope amidst sympathy. And then, a period largely marked by 'midlife crisis' of a growing democracy, disenchantment leading the electorate to speak in dissent, sending a miscellany of coalitions to the Parliament. In those dark days of indecisiveness, toothless governments emerged as no single party was deemed worthy of governing on its own. What is most beautiful about the Indian democracy is that, even in those bleak times, the polity did not suffer complete degeneration; development may have been delayed, but the spirit of democracy stayed intact. None could capture absolute power in an undeserved fashion. The divided mandate of the people kept that in check.

At times, the voice of the People may have turned impatient, and frustrated, but they never turned to mass rebellion or mobocracy. They waited for hope to spring. Say what you will about the unpredictability of the people, but you cannot fault their wisdom.   The democracy is now wise enough to vote against handouts, and for self-reliance, against inertia and for spirited action.

The People are now ready to take the nation to a new stage in its growth, to reap the rewards of their own hard work and enterprise,  without the interference of powers that seek to delay, deny, defraud and obfuscate. Sailing away from the easy waters of populism is not easy. But the People have spoken. They are ready for a new world: one where the government will be a facilitator, and not a capricious benefactor. From a state of comfortably numb to courageously new.

 But do remember, the People just set the bar higher with this. When they speak in one voice, it is more than a shout of acceptance, it is a chorus that is meant to empower the government to speedy, prudent action.  And the People, once again, will stand by to judge.