Democracy

Democracy is a government that is elected and run by the people. In a democracy, people voice their opinions by voting for people who they think should lead the government. Every person who is 18 years of age has the right to vote.

Where did the idea of democracy originate?

The term democracy comes from the Greek words “Demos” meaning ‘people’ and “Kratos” meaning ‘rule’. The first democracy was developed in Athens, Greece. A group of people called ‘the council’ made laws and the citizens voted on whether the laws should or should not pass. The citizens elected government leaders by writing the name of their favourite candidate on a stone or piece of wood. The candidate with the most votes won.

Note: India is the biggest democracy in the world.

In simple words, former US President, Abraham Lincoln defined democracy as “the government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

What are the features of a democratic government?

In a democracy, leaders representing a party are elected by the people. A party or group that wins maximum votes or seats is elected as the winning party. This party with the majority of seat forms and runs the government for the people.

How are representatives elected today in a democracy?

Elections are conducted where people elect their leaders through a process called voting. The leaders represent different political parties who stand up for specific values and issues. Citizens who elect or cast a vote towards their favourite leader are called voters. The representative with the most number of votes becomes an elected representative of the region.

Importance of Education in Democracy

Abraham Lincoln, in his famous Gettysburg Address, said and I quote “Democracy is the government of the people, for the people and by the people.” However, the structure of a democracy rests on a few principles and to understand those principles, education is imperative.

Firstly, democracy requires the setting up of a constitution and holding of free and fair elections. In a multi-lingual and diverse nation as India, how can uneducated individuals frame a comprehensive constitution or elect worthy representatives for themselves?

Secondly, the constitution grants certain rights and duties to the citizens of a country. It is impossible for these rights and duties to be enforced efficiently in the dearth of awareness. Several social evils would creep into the society and the country would be engulfed in wars, prejudices, and racial and cultural differences for where there is ignorance and breeding of social evils, there can be no trace of any principle of democracy being upheld.

Thirdly, any nation with an uneducated population can never achieve democracy due to polarisation of power and failed policies. Furthermore, it is very important to train and organize public opinion in the country for democracy to flourish, which is impossible if there is no proper infrastructure for education.

“Education is like wings to a butterfly, light to a firefly and so much more that democracy cannot survive without it.”

Having said that, India is today one of the largest democracies in the world, and India still doesn’t boast of high literacy rates. Also, the criteria for membership in Lok Sabha does not require any academic qualification, clearly allowing anyone who realises the importance of making the country a better place to live in, to be a part of the decision making process.