{"id":1305,"date":"2024-07-12T10:11:29","date_gmt":"2024-07-12T10:11:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/developmentdebate.in\/2024\/07\/12\/rescuing-democracy-2\/"},"modified":"2025-07-15T08:19:30","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T08:19:30","slug":"rescuing-democracy-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/developmentdebate.in\/?p=1305","title":{"rendered":"Rescuing Democracy!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A. Orwell <\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

\n

<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n

It is crucial for
\na vibrant democracy to have politically conscientious youths. When young people
\nare politically aware, they are better able to understand the world around
\nthem. They critically analyze the positions of political parties, narratives,
\nand agendas. Rather than simply following trends, they thoroughly examine all
\nthe facts and interrogate different narratives to form informed opinions and
\nmake better judgments on critical issues. Conversely, those who are not
\npolitically conscious are more vulnerable to being swayed by misinformation or
\nfalse narratives.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Before and during
\nthe general election, many people who believed in democratic values,
\nconstitutional morality, and strong institutions were concerned about the
\nbacksliding of democratic values and norms and the transformation of
\nonce-raucous democracy into a subdued democracy. Concerned citizens have
\nunderlined the need to work together to rescue democracy. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In the general election, the people of India sent
\na clear message\u2014they still uphold the constitution, value diversity, and expect
\npoliticians to work for their welfare and development. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The recent election result is unique \u2013 both
\nthe Blocks are celebrating. The ruling party is celebrating three consecutive
\nterms in power, and the opposition is content with reducing the ruling party’s
\nmajority and forcing it into a coalition government. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

However, there is no room for complacency. If
\nwe, as concerned citizens, want to see our country remain a functional
\ndemocracy with strong and autonomous institutions, we must remain engaged. It’s
\nnot just about election campaigning; it’s about continuous, active
\nparticipation in the democratic process. We understand the concerns and share
\nthe responsibility to uphold our democratic values. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The biggest concern is the depoliticization of
\ncitizens in general and youth in particular. Youths are making and watching the
\nreels, and WhatsApp University has become the primary source of information,
\nturning them into foot soldiers of divisive politics.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, I often hear that youth should stay
\naway from politics and focus on education and improving their livelihoods. Escaping
\nfrom politics in a democratic society is not a choice; here, politics does not
\nmean party politics. It is about being politically conscious and politically
\naware.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If youth are politically educated and provided
\nspace and opportunity, they can meaningfully engage in shaping the political
\ndiscourse and can be the driving force behind a more inclusive and progressive
\npolitical landscape. Youth who are actively engaging with social media and
\nother platforms will not be mindless foot soldiers of vested interest and can
\nbecome agents for change for a better India. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Role of active citizens and need of political and social
\nconsciousness<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Active citizen roles don\u2019t end with voting in elections, and
\nactive citizen means engaging in the political process discourse, questioning
\nharmful social norms, speaking on the matters that affect them, their community
\nand the country, making an informed choice and holding the people they have
\nchosen to account for. Register their protest if something is not going
\nright.\u00a0 <\/span>Influence policy that can improve
\nlives, demand accountability and be responsible citizens. A small act, no
\nmatter in what form, by millions of people can transform the country. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Political and social consciousness is required to equip
\ncitizens, particularly youths, to read between the lines, what is written and
\nwhat is left out, and the tone and tenure of the speeches of leaders, public
\nfigures and the media. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For example, recently, a study<\/a> \u201canalyzed the
\ncoverage under six themes \u2013 contextualization, language, framing, claims, the
\nundermining of Palestinian sources and the misrepresentation of pro-Palestinian
\nprotesters \u2013 the research found that many news outlets <\/span>have opted to present news from an Israeli
\nperspective, often with significant lapses in basic fact-checking and
\nverification\u2019<\/span>. The images, headlines and
\nexpressions they used are in favor of Israel.
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There are many studies done on the way media reports
\nrape or violence against women cases, often putting the blame on the victim,
\nwhy she was out in the night, questioning her dress, and why she was partying
\nlate night with friends. Newspaper headlines, \u201cA 20 year old college girl is
\nraped”, it doesn\u2019t report, \u201cA 60-year-old professor raped a girl”. At first
\nreading, you may not notice much difference in the framing; if you know how to
\nread between the lines, you may see the hidden patriarchy. Often, sexual
\nviolence is sensationalized, dramatized and gives nauseating anatomical
\ndetails, hardly questioning social structural values, which puts the
\nwomen\/girls in a disadvantageous position. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The placement of news has its politics\u2014it is
\nnot regular innocent work. There is a reason and decision made why some news
\ngets headlines and others on the fifth page in the small column.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Let’s take another example. The media is full of debate on
\nmeritocracy and how reservation has killed merit, but the same people were
\nhappy when the EWS 10 percent reservation was announced. Merit never comes into
\ndiscussion. They are all happy. Do you know why? It needs deeper social and
\npolitical awareness of who shapes the agenda, who builds the narrative, and why
\nthey do so. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore, after the JEE and NEET results, every year,
\nmedia and social media worriers highlight the reserved categories cutoff. This
\nyear, the cutoff in one of the competitive exams for EWS was lower than the OBC.
\nThere is no hue-and-cry. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Language matters <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Another example is how language matters in politics, policy
\ndiscourse, and reporting. When the government gives tax holidays or special
\neconomic zones, it is called an incentive for economic growth. When the
\ngovernment provides fertilizer to farmers at controlled prices, it is called
\nsubsidized and demonized in the TV debate. Writing off a corporate loan is
\nreported for profit proficiency; farmers’ loan waivers burden the economy. Services
\nto the poor are freebies\/ rewry<\/i>; for the rich, it is good governance. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRepeat a lie often enough, and it becomes the truth\u201d This is
\nattributed to the Nazi Joseph Goebbels, who was the master of propaganda.
\nThis comes true in the case of Muslim appeasement, and it is repeated so many
\ntimes that people, in general, started believing it. Muslim appeasement was a
\npropaganda construct, far from reality. Data shows Muslims are far behind other
\ncommunities in almost all social, economic and educational indicators. Only
\nthrough hard facts can this lie be debunked. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It is crucial
\nto foster critical consciousness and encourage active engagement among
\ncitizens, especially youths, in political, economic, social, and cultural
\nprocesses. Through engagement, education, and empowerment, we can instill in
\ncitizens and youths the ability to comprehend reality, question\/challenge
\nprevailing harmful norms, and drive them to take action for positive change \u2013
\nleading to a more inclusive, just, and peaceful society for ALL.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In the words of Howard Zinn, <\/span>You Can\u2019t Be Neutral on a Moving Train. <\/span><\/b>So, be politically <\/span>conscious.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Note: Author is a development professional working in child rights and policy and governance domain.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Image credit: Istockphoto.com\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n