Can democracy survive without debate and discussion?
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With our country marred by various scams, rape incidents, terrorist attacks and other issues, our political leaders from the ruling as well as opposition parties often indulge in blame-game or
maintain silence to score political points, unwilling to discuss or debate on any issue. Is there a need to revive the dying culture of debate and discussion among our leaders? | ||
| Speak Up | ||
It is tragic but true that we seem to have lost out completely on the culture of debate and discussion that built the basic foundation of our democracy. Now we do not tolerate a view that doesn't suit us, not because of any ideological differences but just because the other view is not convenient for us. That is the reason that we have anti-debate brigades ranging from religious brigades, casteist brigades, regional brigades to moral policing brigades. They have two things in common, intolerance for the "other" viewpoint and abhorrence to an open discussion. The only hope for us is the youth, who are still not completely ruined by the cynicism of the elders, but we need to act fast before the current education system ruins them. -Achyut Vaze, educationist and Marathi playwright There is no fast solution to revive the debate and discussion culture Even though we may say tha t our culture of debate and discussion is dying, however, I hope that this phase will be over and we can once again revive it. Our political leaders do not indulge in healthy debate and discussion because politics today is nothing but business for profits and ostentatious display of money power. Not only politicians but even people in their day-to-day life don't have time to wait and think rationally about an issue, everyone want to live their own life and posses as much as they can. The politicians will have to earn quickly when they get a chance, otherwise they will have to wait for another 5 years, which is big time. I don't feel that there is any fast solution to revive the debate and discussion culture. Politicians will make unnecessary issues out of anything to gain political points. -Rajan Khan, Marathi writer We are trying to mimic the western dialogueless society Gopal Ganesh Agarkar in 1880 had said that one should not fear debate, di scussion or dialogue. Mahatma Phule, Mahadev Govind Ranade and other such social reformers played a big role in maintaining our heritage of debate. The beauty of democracy is in its tool of debate and if we lose that then we are left with nothing. Since 1952, when the general elections era started in our country, voters became very important for the political leaders. To attract voter, they started dividing the vote banks on the basis of caste, religion, states, languages and so on. Our country has a history of debate, which goes back to the time of Ashoka, Chanakya, Gautam Buddha. I agree that the culture of debate is dying and there is a need for revival and with each passing day our politicians are becoming more and more narrow minded. After globalisation, though mobile and social media increased connectivity but the urge to maintain dialogues has shortened. Today we are made to talk in short. We are mimicking the western dialogueless society and losing on our debate and discussion culture. -Hari Narke, head & professor, Mahatma Phule Chait, UoP Country can benefit from wise counsel of millions of wise thinkers The debate culture is fast dying, which means that country's fate is doomed in the hands of deaf and dumb politicos. The country can benefit from wise counsel of millions of wise thinkers, only if they can reach out to our leaders. The government is falling short and not rising to challenges by listening to these highly qualified people, wherein the country is losing out. Things can revive only by opening platform for debate, discussion and dialogue. We can find solution to all the problems in our society. I don't understand why the authorities are not allowing and engaging these brilliant people, who have solutions and wise counsel. -RV Krishnan, head, Business Development Bureau We must imbibe these qualities and values in education process We are losing our culture of debate and d iscussion because we are losing tolerance. People have lost the capacity to accept someone else's views. They insist that what I say is right and what others say is wrong. The feeling of compassion is must nowadays, to appreciate and accept what others say. We must imbibe these qualities in education process. For example if one takes engineering or management, there is no subject of liberal arts like humanities, social science, poetry, etc, taught to the students. I would say liberal arts liberates one's mind, by which the mind is open to all other views. The decision by discussion, debate or dialogue will happen only if the quality is imbibed to the younger generation through their education process. -SB Mujumdar, Founder and President, Symbiosis Society |
