Author: Shobhan Saxena
Publication: The Times of India
Date: August 19, 2011
URL: http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Main-Street/entry/mrs-gandhi-you-need-not-destroy-democracy
TRK Somaiya of Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal runs
the Gandhi Book Centre in Mumbai. Somaiya, who is completely dedicated to
Gandhian values, keeps sending me mails about his book centre as well as social
issues. Today, he sent me a copy of a letter written by Jayaprakash Narayan
to then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in July 21, 1975. "It is relevant
in today's situation also," wrote Somaiya.
When I read the letter I realized how little
things have changed in this country. it's sad and scary.
I have pasted the letter below. Please have
a look.
July 21, 1975
Chandigarh
Dear Prime Minister,
In a democracy the citizen has an inalienable
right to civil disobedience when he finds that other channels of redress or
reform have dried up. It incites and accepts his lawful punishment. This is
the new dimension added to democracy by Gandhi. What an irony that it should
be obliterated in Gandhi's own India!
Moreover, it is a false choice that you have
formulated. There is no choice between democracy and the nation. If was for
the good of the nation that the people of India declared in their Constituent
Assembly on 26th November 1949 that "We, the people of India, having
solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign Democratic Republic…give
to ourselves this Constitution." That democratic Constitution cannot
be changed into a totalitarian one by a mere ordinance or a law of Parliament.
That can be done only by the people of India themselves in a new Constituent
Assembly, especially elected for that specific purpose. If Justice, Liberty,
Equality and Fraternity have not been rendered to 'all its citizens' even
after a quarter of a century of signing of that Constitution, the fault is
not that of the Constitution or of democracy but of the Congress party that
has been in power in Delhi all these years. It is precisely because of that
failure that there is so much unrest among for that. On the other hand, it
only compounds the failure.
You have accused the Opposition and me of
every kind of villainy. But let me assure you that if you do the right things,
for instance, your 20 points, tackling corruption at Ministerial levels, electoral
reform, etc., take the Opposition into confidence, heed its advice; you will
receive the willing cooperation, of every one of us. For that you need not
destroy democracy. The ball is in your court. It is for you to decide.
(Jayaprakash Narayan)
