The Department of Political Science, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) organised a one-day Seminar on 22 September on “Democracy in India: Challenges and Prospects” which was sponsored by Northern Regional Centre – ICSSR, in Tagore Hall, Dayar-i Mir Taqi Mir, Administrative Block in Jamia Millia Islamia.
Prof. Deepak Nayyar, Emeritus Professor of Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, while delivering the keynote address on “The Republic of India: Between Hope and Despair” said there has been some structural changes in politics and nothing is permanent in politics. After one year of Modi rule, the euphoria has vanished and the enormous appeal was more based on sentiment rather than substance. Make in India is easier said than done and does not translate into action. There are plenty of hope and challenges and it requires to be worked upon accordingly because the call for inclusive growth has turned out to be only rhetoric.
The day-long seminar was divided in three sessions. The first session was on “Democracy in India: Issues and Challenges”, the second was on “Democracy and the Challenges of Diversity” and the third one on “Popular Culture and India’s Democracy”.
Prof. Sanjay Kumar, Director, CSDS, while speaking on “Democracy in India: Issues and Challenges”, presented a detailed survey on the barometers of democracy in some Asian countries and said that the whole survey was based on preference and satisfaction of people of various age and class groups. According to him, in the survey of year 2005 and 2013 it was found that minorities were more supportive of democracy as compared to others. Youth and males were also found to be more supportive. Preference and satisfaction was linked with economic condition of the people. Overall satisfaction with democracy decreased to 47 per cent in 2013 as compared to 55 in 2005. What was quite notable was preference for authoritarian form of government increased to 11 per cent in 2013 as compared to 6 per cent in 2005.
Another panelist, Gurpreet Mahajan, Centre for Political Studies, JNU, while speaking on the occasion, expressed concern over diminishing space for public debate and free exchange of ideas. Better solution and ideas will only emerge if people will talk and try to find out some common point after every debate or through exchange of ideas.
Prof. Nandini Sundar, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi was surprised to inform why in a democratic country like ours the huge presence of military everywhere makes us feel that India is virtually on war within. Sundar suggested that all the money to be spent on armed forces to conduct free and fair election should be used for social sector or on education.