Governance comprises all of the processes of governing undertaken by the government of the state. It relates to the processes of interaction and decision-making among the actors involved in a collective problem that lead to the creation, reinforcement, or reproduction of social norms and institutions. In layman’s term, it could be described as the political processes that exist in and between formal institutions.
India is a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic with a Parliamentary form of government which is federal in structure with unitary features. There is a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minster as its head to advise the President, who is the Constitutional Head of the country.
Similarly, in states there is a Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister as its head, who advises the Governor. This section provides insight of Indian governance and administration at the Central, state as well as local levels. Information about the Constitution of India, Parliament and Legislature, Union administration, state, district and local administration is given. In order to contribute towards nation building, Muslims should focus on three major areas.
The first thing which the Muslims should do is to enter into Civil Services. It is the backbone of the administrative machinery of the country. Ministers, who are small in number and have a limited tenure and expertise in governance, cannot deal personally with the complexities and intricacies of governance. Ministers, though heading the executive, depend extensively on bureaucracy for advice, policy making, decision making and implementation. Even in case of difference of opinion, very often the bureaucracy prevails.
Policies are prepared and drafted by bureaucrats. The executive decisions are implemented by the national and state Civil Servants. Some examples of Civil Services are IAS Officers and IPS Officers. Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers hold key positions in the Union Government, State Governments and Public Sector Undertakings. The officers command high respect and stature in the society coupled with the significant task of administering public offices, making it one of the most desirable and challenging jobs in India. In addition to IAS and IPS, other services like Group A and Group B Services are also very promising.
Brilliant students, particularly from the minority communities, often do not attempt Civil Services examinations, and instead they look for safer options to build their careers. Though Civil Services examinations have fair competition and are hard to crack, it should be remembered that hard work always pays rich dividends at the end. Hence, it is highly recommended that students choose any one of the aforesaid services as their goal to reach and sincerely make efforts to reach that goal. Through Civil Services, one will have considerable influence to play in the decision making process in the Government and its effective implementation and thus can contribute to the society to a great extent which is mostly not possible from outside the system. Bureaucrats can bring in change in the society. Through this Muslims would positively contribute towards nation building.
The second thing which the Muslims should do is to learn the law of the land and study law. Knowledge and understanding of law of the land and Constitution is required. In every sphere of our life, law has a role whether travelling on road, buying a property, opposing injustice or shortcomings in the system, protection of the innocent, punishing the guilty, etc. Governance is also dependent on fair knowledge of Law. All four wings of the state, viz., Executive, Legislature, Judiciary and the fourth estate require knowledge of Law. A person with fair knowledge of law is considered to be a well-informed person and is consulted by all for advice. In this profession, one can also adorn the chair of High Court or Supreme Court.
It is not only necessary to have an elementary knowledge of law but also it is essential that some of us acquire expertise in law so that the issues concerning law could be well understood and tackled at the right time and at the right level. Such people will not only be able to help themselves but also help others who are in need of legal guidance in solving their legal problems and getting justice. There is a big vacuum in the society regarding awareness of Law. There is either ignorance or misuse of Law.
Some of the great leaders, politicians and statesmen in the past and in the present have been great lawyers and legal luminaries. Legal profession requires basic knowledge of all professions, streams in case of disputes, be it engineering, medical, social, political, economic, etc. Legal profession, if practised with efficiency and honesty is one of the best professions superseding all other professions. Thus, career in Law is not only highly promising but also has a significant social impact.
What is it that makes lawyers good leaders, politicians and statesmen? The answer to this question is quite simple. A lawyer is in constant touch with day to day problems faced by man in his family, his commercial activities or at the community level. Over a period of time, the lawyer develops an ear to listen to the problems and a mind to solve them. This way he gets good knowledge of human weaknesses and strengths which the practitioners of other professions seldom get a chance to acquire. Thus, through knowledge in law Muslims will be able to help the victims in fighting the legal battle and ensuring that they would get justice.
There also exists a lot of scope for Law in India in the coming days. In the US, there is one lawyer for every 200 people but in India, it is one lawyer for every 1,800 people. In the future the demand for lawyers is going to increase due to more issues, crimes and litigations. Thus, it is the need of the hour that more and more students come forward to pursue a career in law so that they can positively contribute to the welfare of their respective communities and the country at large.
The third and the final thing which the Muslims should do is to show a decent presence in the Media. Media is the Fourth Pillar of Democracy and is the most powerful entity on earth. It is the best tool to keep the Government cautious about what they are doing. Media basically acts as the police for the Government; it always watches as to what the Government is doing and keeps asking question, which would make them alert and keep them on their foots. Today the sad part is that India is ranked 140th out of 180 countries in Global Press Freedom index in the ‘Annual Reporters without Borders Analysis’.
Life without media is like a lamp without oil. We live in a society where media plays a very crucial role in educating people and building their opinions. The media plays a very substantial role as a source of information and education. As it is rightly said, “The pen is mightier than the sword,” the media has been one of the most important tools in shaping ideas all over the world. Media has converted our vast world into a single village and information is gathered and disseminated through the media within minutes of it occurring in any part of the world.
Media can make or break a personality. They have considerable impact on the public opinion. They can make mountain out of a molehill or a mountain can be reduced to a molehill. They have a decisive role in public awareness. The Fourth Estate is one of the wings of the state and is totally autonomous without any interference from the other three wings viz., Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. They also play the role of watchdog on these three wings, aptly highlighting their misuse by bringing it to the knowledge of common man. Also, media has penetration/influence in every nook and corner of our country and among cross sections of the society. A career in media/journalism if practised with efficiency and impartiality, though challenging, is highly rewarding in the long run. Minority presence in the Media is very insignificant and thus has scope to pursue.
Although journalists have to work hard to gather information and sometimes risk their lives in doing so, it is a very rewarding and satisfying profession. If pursued diligently and honestly, it is not only highly remunerative but also brings in name and fame. Hence, pursuing journalism as a career can also be a good option for the students, particularly from the minority communities, as they can present the problems and views from the perspective of their respective communities and influence the decision-making process of the Government.
Let ‘Good Governance’ not only be a slogan but also become a reality. As responsible citizens of the country, we need to work directly and indirectly to help the Government to deliver ‘Good Governance’. Muslims has played a significant role and have contributed to the growth and development of the country since Independence and even now they can positively and constructively contribute to the growth and development of the nation in order to take the nation to greater heights. Let us stand up and lead by example with characteristics of truth, selflessness, sacrifice and justice and contribute towards nation building.