We
discussed inherent strengths of civilisational values of India that have helped
sustain democracy even amidst all forms of adversity and constraints. These
values were revived by Mahatma Gandhi, who was probably the greatest mobilizer
of people as well as an original humanist thinker after Lord Buddha on this
subcontinent. We thoroughly discussed some of the key strengths and
vulnerabilities of current Indian state and society. We also attempted to
identify governance-security challenges and priorities of India in the
contemporary era in presence of an enlightened audience. It was an extremely
stimulating and vibrant session.
I had maintained that a country of India's size cannot afford to depend upon individual brilliance of a few. We needed serious and sustained institutional reforms to not only synergise individual and institutional values, goals, orientation and interests in every sector but also among the institutions as well as between them and the larger society. The principles of fairer and healthy competition were critical for promoting individual initiative, industry and enterprise, which formed the core of democratic freedom at one hand and accelerated advancement of people on the other.
I
emphasized that we needed to overhaul entire criminal justice system,
healthcare, education, R&D capacity along with civil service to make these
competitive and professional, but the most critical area in which Indian
democracy needed to take initiative were reform in political parties, corporate
sector and media. These cannot afford to be controlled by self-seeking cliques.
Political parties needed to be cohesive platforms with appropriate
structures for debate, discussion and avenues for entry and exit at different
leadership roles. Political parties cannot afford to act as brokerage
syndicates that had to subvert rule of law and integrity of governance for
their sheer survival.
Similarly,
our corporate sector, notwithstanding all their virtues and some of the
outstanding visionary leaders it had produced, needed come out of Sukhi Lala
mode as portrayed in iconic Mother India movie of 1950s. They needed assert
their credentials as legitimate stakeholders in governance rather being at the
mercy of profit driven mercenaries lacking any sense of larger social
commitment. There was certainly need to beyond emotions in pursuit of
nationalism and national security.
Of
course the other two speakers are very well known and they have been in public
domain for too long and their views are very well known.
I am sharing
some photographs for my friends.
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