Cambridge dictionary defines politics as -
“The activities of the government, members of law-making organizations, or people who try to influence the way a country is governed.”
Political Science in Hindi is Rajniti Shastra. Rajniti means Raj Karne ki Niti. The policy of Ruling and science means a detailed branch of study. So, this way politics means the policy or the guidelines or the rules which define or set the legitimate course of action for the citizens of the country.
The question is who dreamt of it or which book fell from the sky with politics written on it or had it emerged as an accident in a kitchen when the chef accidentally mixed wrong spices in the wrong proportion? No. Everything that the people are living, are suffering from, are breathing, are fed up of, are devoid of, are thankful for, are aspiring for, are frustrated because of, are bound for, for a long time has its origin in the need, the ideology and the actions of the community as a whole. Politics is also the by-product of the people’s thought process over a long period of time.
It all began with life on earth, the first need was food for which, with the passage of time, the tools are made, fire was invented and various other developments took place. Humanity began to settle down at the banks of the rivers as they provide ample productivity and all natural resources. People started living in groups and settling down instead of wandering. It leads to unrecognized Sociology. It was an era where no one possessed or owned natural resources and the man-made resources were not substantial enough in quantity or quality to fight for. The human mind is superfluous and hyperactive in terms of doing inventions and vying for an improved life. It led to specialization. One group of persons specialized in making one thing and the other group got specialization in making something else. Here began the trade. It led to the birth of Economics. Resources have value and the advent of crime and seeking of clear power equation was inevitable. Politics was born. When there are resources, there is wealth, with wealth there is power, for power, there are collisions, and framing of balanced power equations in the society becomes highest sought-after thing to ensure the maximum development of a group of people, be it a nation, a state or a region. British anthropologist Robin Dunbar propounded that one human brain can maintain stable social relation with approximately 150 persons. Proponents assert that numbers larger than this generally require more restrictive rules, laws, and enforced norms to maintain a stable, cohesive group. The social group grew in size and with this the need of a centralized power hub and a set of people specially designated to work for the society and develop a frame to run the economy arose.
There has to be a set of guidelines or rules which the group of people are required to follow in coherence thereby minimizing the disputes and maximizing the development. For this, a leader is required to who is able, visionary, passionate, hardworking and a true patriot. The term elections came into the existence.
Elections And India
From 17 crore voters to more than 91 crore voters, India is the largest democracy in the world. With more than 900 million voters the numbers are huge. There were 543 Lok Sabha seats on which the elections were held in 2019. With more than 600 million votes were cast which comes out to be 67% approx. More than 10 Lakh polling stations were set up and more than 8000 contestants contested the polls. According to a report by the Centre for Media Studies, the total expenditure incurred was whopping 55000 crores.
India, Freebies And Elections
In India, this has become a talk of the town whether the freebies offered by the political parties are meant for raising the development of the people and executing the real duty of the government or it has become a means to lure people and influence the voters. Even Supreme Court has recently taken cognizance of this issue. This has become even more serious in contention as the things happened in Sri Lanka. The voices are gaining momentum. Time has many layers. So, let's see what’s in the store for the voters in the future.
Politics In India Needs A Serious Makeover
“Worst Of Them All Is The Intoxication Of Power”
Association of Democratic Reforms analyzed the results of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and concluded that of the 539 winning candidates, as many as 233 MPs, or 43% had criminal charges.
The Watchdog And Spearhead – The Election Commission
Election Commission Of India, formed on 25 January, 1950, which became the National Voters’ Day, has the powers to conduct elections in India. The model code of conduct was first issued in 1971 laying down the guidelines for the conduct of political parties and candidates during election to ensure the free and fair elections. The commission made it mandatory for the candidates to give details of the expenditure incurred within 30 days of declaration of the results.
Introduction of EPIC that is Elector’s Photo Identity Card proved to be a landmark in Indian Elections which was done in 1993 and made mandatory in 2004.
EVMs and VVPATs were introduced and the system was made automated and efficient. On 3 June, 2017 ECI organized a hackathon to prove that the EVMs are not hackable and ECI proved right.
NOTA (None Of the Above) was introduced in India following the 2013 Supreme Court directive in the People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India judgment.
India By No Means Is Easy To Handle
With more than 900 million voters and innumerable political parties, where one party with the support of even 18 or 20 MPs can keep the ruling Govt. under pressure and influence the policy making, free will of the Govt. takes the back seat and development gets a huge pull back. In 1998, BJP Govt. fell short of one vote and re-election was held giving a dent of 10000 crores to the economy which could have been used for the development. Listening to more than 1.3 billion people having so much diversity in language, rituals, lifestyles and beliefs and still finding a common good and doing the planning that ensures well being of everyone is by no means a small thing to do.