Rejuvenating the Republic

‘As India prepares to celebrate the 75th year of becoming a Republic, what could be a realistic assessment of our progress? How far have we met our avowed goals? Do we describe it as ‘work in progress’ or take a ‘glass half empty’ view?’ These are some of the pertinent and urgent questions that any sensible author who has seen the country’s progression will like to pose.

‘Rejuvenating the Republic’ by Dr N. Bhaskara Rao precisely delves into these issues and examines the very idea of the Republic. As we read further, we come across various perceptions about the republic, the ambiguities and the dilemmas associated with it. The book throws ample light on the myriad facets of the Indian Republic, its cherished goals, expectations and aspirations of the Constitution makers and the great strides India has made after adopting the parliamentary system of government.

For over sixty years, Dr Rao has been fascinated with Indian elections at different levels – from village panchayat to Parliament and studying the process of Parliamentary democracy. His insights on poll campaigns are based on his involvement with 17 general elections in different capacities, mostly as a researcher. Having founded half a dozen research institutes that have earned national reputation and written extensively on public policies and poll politics, Dr Rao is credited for reviving social audit in public services. With such formidable accomplishments, it is only befitting that he has dwelt upon a subject concerning the republic which present-day politicians would ignore.

The book – all of three handed pages – not only identifies the problem areas but also suggests much-needed initiatives in the form of ‘transformational interventions’. The author argues, with great conviction, that without addressing these issues squarely in the next few years, the vital foundations of democracy, development and governance will not see a fundamental change. Argues Rao in his book :”Majority of Indians, particularly the youth, are unlikely to know the institution building or the foundational efforts made for a modern democratic State. They would be concerned more with proof of the pudding aspects of democracy, the Constitution and the republic.”

If the affairs in the country since it became a republic have not remained constant or uniform, there is a palpable decline in almost every institution to the extent of their oblivion. Seen politically, the first twenty-five years, the republic witnessed hegemony of a single party. After another twenty-five years of coalition politics at the helm, the country had returned to ‘one leader-one party’ syndrome. Whether this phase lasts the next twenty-five years appears to be anyone’s guess.

Says the book : ” Populism has been on rise and citizens are becoming eternally dependent on the government more and more. And yet every time a new leader emerges a ‘New India’ becomes a promise or a claim. Such populistic rhetoric is taking roots in political culture. It is against such trends rejuvenation of the trajectory and the republic is
relevant.”

‘Rejuvenating the Republic’ – the first of its kind political fiction – contains nine chapters covering various aspects of the polity. Chapter one has an overview. The second chapter deals about the dilemma. While the third chapter is about the idea of the republic, the fourth one is on the ambiguity of fundamentals. In the next chapter, Dr Rao deals with sustaining the representative character, whereas the sixth one is about citizen activism-reliable bet for the republic. Yet another section is about rejuvenating the republic. The last two chapters are prescriptive : initiatives that are a compulsory and transformation interventions. The last chapter is the heart, quintessence and epicenter of the theme of the book.

While the Indian republic as an idea is rapidly fading, the framework to become a better country too is on the wane. If the Indian republic has remained a formality and continues as a public rhetoric of politicians, Dr Rao has some other worries. He feels the republic of India is not so much an important concern for the young and, with political parties becoming all pervasive and dominating, this trend should worry one and all.

Dr Rao’s worries have another dimension : Catching up. When the Republic becomes hundred in 2050 and the population well over 150 crores, India should catch up and stand out as a country of opportunities for everyone. How
can this be done ? The author has concrete suggestions: The ‘Republic at Hundred’ should have an agenda wherein a national committee headed by no less than a person like the Vice-President of India. He should look into three tasks : e-voting, relevance of continuation of symbols system and elections on a non-party basis experimentally.

‘Transformational initiatives will have far-reaching consequences with ripple effects and are based on the experience of 70 years of Republic. Upholding the Constitution as federal character and its basic principle ‘We the People of India’ is of utmost importance. Thought should be given whether we change to ‘Union’ concept instead of continuing with the ‘Centre’ concept and thus doing away with the policy of centralization. It would be better to shed responsibilities to states. Idea of checks and balances should be promoted, pursued and upheld. If there would be a broad-based support for Presidential form of the Government, it may be pursued formally. A goal of the Republic is to have good governance. Good governance comes from a trajectory view of the Republic. That is democracy, development and governance.’

The author says it is time for political parties to rediscover themselves and reposition in such a way that the Republic gets rejuvenated and “we, the people” becomes the prime mover of the nation. That should become the outlook and approach instead of a control and command preoccupation.

With a foreword by former union minister Suresh Prabhu, ‘Rejuvenating the Republic’ is conceptually clear and an eyeopening book. It is a must-read for those who have a stake in the country’s institutions and systems , and even for the ordinary citizen.

By Bhaskar Parichha

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