When we were children, many old men who had seen monarchy, the British Raj, and the government of free India were alive. I have had the experience of talking to such old men, some of them being my relatives. With their experience of passing through three regimes, it is only natural that they should speak volumes. Before independence, there were princely states throughout the length and breadth of the country where monarchs or kings ruled. Some of them were benevolent, while others were autocratic and oppressive.
One old man narrated his experience of having seen a king not allowing his subjects to construct concrete residential buildings in his kingdom. He wanted that no other building should look like the royal palace. The fear of the king was such that even the moneyed or wealthy people who managed to construct concrete buildings used to cover them up with mud. The British government followed its own procedure of administration. In addition to the princely states, the British Raj exercised control over its territories called British India. The old men were, therefore, familiar with the ways of both monarchy and the British Raj. Then Indian independence came in the year 1947, enabling the country to have its own rule, administration, and governance. The old men, having seen the three regimes and surviving till I entered college in the year 1977 or a few years more, repeatedly put emphasis on one thing i.e., a sense of fear for authority and administration which, according to them, has waned over the years after independence.
Though I cannot say for certain to what extent they were true, my own experience in certain cases goes in their favor. Between the year 1961 and 1971, as a child, I remember being terribly in awe of policemen. Two to three persons from our village were in the Odisha police, most probably in the constable rank, and at that time their uniform included a cap or turban with red portions on it which could be marked from a distance. Whenever we saw any such policeman coming, we children tried to hide ourselves. People, mostly villagers, were in awe whenever any government official visited the village. What to speak of senior government officials, even the village, panchayat, and block-level officials commanded respect from the people, though the amount might have been less in urban and semi-urban areas. But the situation has undergone a sea change today. The fear of authority and administration has obviously waned over the years in independent India. We may try to find out the reasons for such a sorry state of affairs and the probable solutions so that this may lead to an ideal situation.
- Absolute independence: India has gone in for parliamentary democracy with the Indian constitution granting absolute independence or freedom to its citizens. Except for certain law and order situations and the declaration of emergency in the country, this independence or freedom hardly gets impaired. The people of India are having a sigh of relief after 1947 since during monarchy and the British Raj they did not have so much freedom. In a country, it is essential for the all-around development of its citizens. But this should not leave a negative impact on the minds of the citizens, thereby motivating them to do whatever they like. They must not forget that this freedom also entails a set of duties and obligations. They have to respect certain rules and regulations, administration and authority, and the unity and integrity of the nation. Such a feeling of duty and obligation should come from within.
- The Indian polity: Since independence, India has been functioning with a parliamentary democracy based on the multi-party system. The functioning has been smooth except for corruption in politics, switching over from one party to another, and horse trading or ‘Ghoda Bepar.’ Such practices and unseemly behavior on the part of certain politicians have led people to have a negative impression of the Indian polity. Value-based politics, strict adherence to anti-defection laws, a clean image of politicians, keeping politics away from crime and corruption, standing above party interests in favor of national interests, and respecting the government in the states by the center instead of expecting the same political party in government will make the people repose faith and respect in the Indian polity, authority, and administration.
- Population and other problems: After independence, India has to continuously deal with the problems of population, unemployment, poverty, and illiteracy. These problems have often been instrumental in creating crimes and antisocial elements, thereby defying law, authority, and administration. Sincere efforts in solving these problems are the need of the hour.
- Corruption: Corruption has caught hold of Indian society like an octopus. A corrupt government official can never command respect from the people. During the time of monarchy and the British Raj, officials were afraid of taking recourse to corruption. But they seem to have got a free hand after independence. Strict control over corruption by the government through its agencies and the honesty and integrity of government officials will command the respect of the people.
- Rural-urban migration: The increase in rural-urban migration after independence has only added to the problem. The rural people, who earlier had respect for administration, have fallen into the web of complicacy after coming into contact with mainstream life. Government schemes for the development of rural people and areas and their strict and sincere implementation will restore faith and respect in authority and administration, in addition to checking the migration process.
- Wings of the government: The Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary being the three wings of the government in a democracy, should maintain the requisite distance from each other and work in the interests of the people and the nation. This will leave a good impression on the minds of the people.
- The Fourth Estate: The Fourth Estate is a pillar of democracy. It should be neutral, impartial, and devoted to the cause of the nation. Without being biased, it can guide the government and the people along the right path.
- Responsive Administration: Administration should be responsive to the needs of the people. It cannot afford to be self-centered, one-sided, and autocratic in a democracy. People will not only reject such an administration but they will also turn out to be disobedient and unruly.
- British administration and Sahebi culture: The British government was alien and worked for its own interests. Its officers behaved like ‘sahebs’ and maintained a distance from the common people. But the officers of free and modern India cannot afford to behave in a similar manner. Their good behavior and public relations will only bring them closer to the people, thereby earning their faith and respect.
- Ignorance and lack of awareness: In a democracy, people cannot afford to be ignorant and lack minimum awareness. Otherwise, they will behave in an awkward way to the point of taking law into their own hands. For instance, in certain places of Odisha, the five rupees coin is not accepted, while in others, the ten rupee coin is not accepted, let alone the coins of smaller denominations which have almost remained out of circulation. Administration should be strict about it, and the government, NGOs, and media should make people aware.
There are other factors like excessive materialism forcing people to go to any extent and the influence of the outside world advocating free and liberal ideas, which have been instrumental in creating a negative idea in the minds of the people against the government, authority, and administration. As somebody has put it rightly, “We need to wage a second freedom movement.” We have no doubt won political freedom or independence. But economic freedom still eludes us. People may not necessarily fear or remain in awe of authority and administration. Democracy will be successful only when the government thinks well and takes care of the people who in turn extend their obedience and respect for the government, authority, and administration. The fear that the old men found during monarchy and the British Raj is not required in democracy. What is needed between the ruler and ruled is mutual respect and understanding.
(The views expressed are the writer’s own)
Mr. Prafulla Kumar Majhi,
Retired Asst. Director, A. I. R, is an eminent Scholar and freelance writer in English & Odia. His areas of interests are sociocultural, economic, literary, historical and analytical studies and writings.
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