Democracy in India: Is it an Unfinished Project?

Abstract

In the last couple of decades, democracy became the dominant problem-solving model of governance or its institutions worldwide. However, there is a sense of crisis and instability in the political landscape, at this juncture, concerning democracy and its ideals. It can be gleaned from the rise of populist regimes across the globe, which have undermined the foundations of democracy, the role of institutions, the nature of political, and people. Democracy is often seen as a revolutionary and modernising force. However, it did not seem to be playing the same revolutionary role which was once envisaged. Similarly, India inherited it merely on an instrumental basis; it has been reduced to just elections and figures of votes and calculation while ignoring its emancipatory role in vibrant polity. The inconsistencies of democracies across the globe force us to rethink and ponder upon it and its constituents afresh. The conceptual constituent could be traced back to modernity from where it draws its strength, and to look critically at democracy as a concept in the Indian context, it would be essential to look at modernity and its colonial past. India adopted the principles of these two revolutions into the theory and practice of our democracy without accompanying industrial revolution and societal churning. The consequent result is the present political development of nationalism and authoritarian populism.