Surge of negativity across the nation

There is a surge in negativity in the country today and it is not all on account of the misdeeds of politicians though that forms a generous part. But, the more we shift all blame on the politicians, the more we as citizens abdicate responsibility for setting things right. Apathy has touched endemic proportions.

The rot has set in and is setting in fast still, but are we as people doing anything to combat it and set the right examples? We conveniently criticise all and sundry but only contribute to the mess around us. Are we the people acting as effective watchdogs for democracy and calling the authorities to account not through disruptions but through constructive reform movements?

Noted jurist Fali Nariman hit the nail on the head in a recent newspaper article when he lamented the rift in the judiciary sparked off by four senior Supreme Court judges taking on the Chief Justice on the issue of fixing of benches and partisan rostering.

In words that reflected his sense of earnestness Nariman said the spirit of congeniality which is essential in a court has broken down.

The judiciary has been a huge pillar of democracy but where is it heading? The same goes for the media. The hard reality is that the negativity all around stems substantially from the obsessive stress on sensationalism, especially on TV news channels.

The media, which was looked upon as a course corrector, is no less guilty of malpractices than other pillars of democracy. Corruption has penetrated into its vitals and there are journalists who think nothing of selling their conscience for a few pennies. It is small consolation that it is only a few black sheep that queer the pitch for the rest.

No nation can thrive on excessive negativity but the electronic media, which has made a place in our drawing rooms and bedrooms, has nothing positive to report. Right from the morning, news bulletins are heavily loaded with negativity as if there is nothing positive that is happening.

Obsessed as it is with TRPs (television rating points), the media blows out of proportion trivial incidents that deserve little more than a mention.

Doubtlessly, there is a lot that is happening in the country in the corporate sector, in schools and colleges, in society in general that is positive in various spheres which would evoke a sense of pride and achievement. But we are negativity-obsessed.

Indian democracy is proving to be a disappointment on balance today though it is debatable if any other form of government would have been any better. There are some bright streaks but the direction it is taking is far from reassuring with democratic institutions being mauled. The Constitution enacted by our forefathers is sorely in need of reforms, but anyone who talks of the need for constitutional changes is looked upon with suspicion and contempt.

Indians are gripped by a rare degree of hypocrisy and double standards and the malaise is not confined to our political leaders alone. Except going to the polling booth for parliamentary and state elections, there is little that the citizen does to hold his representatives accountable.

The breed of genuine NGOs (non-governmental organisations) has dwindled instead of increasing. Many NGOs have their own axes to grind.

Many democratic institutions are crumbling but we pay only lip service to reform—there is a chronic lack of seriousness of intent to set the house in order. Predictably, the governments are the favourite whipping boy, which are blamed for everything that goes wrong in the country. We, the citizens, however, are loathe to taking any responsibility and to work for solutions. Parliament is a pale shadow of what it used to be. It is no longer a repository of and practitioner of wisdom and good sense. Instead, it has degenerated to a level where walkouts, adjournments and unruly behaviour are the order of the day. Gone are the days of well-researched arguments on bills that deserve attention.

It is a shame that the recently concluded budget session of Parliament was the poorest advertisement of democratic functioning in a long time. What can one make of a session in which the crucial annual budget is passed without a debate with the Opposition choosing to stay away.

There is no doubt that the ruling party seemed to relish the absence of the Opposition in the few debates on the floor of the Houses. That there were as many as four motions of no-confidence that did not take off due to frequent adjournments is the hard reality. The Opposition just does not get its priorities right and its focus on issues of national interest is woefully lacking. The present state of Parliament is a cause for serious introspection but no one is ready for that. We often hear that election funding is at the root of corruption in the country. But politicians of all hues have a stake in not clothing the Election Commission with greater powers. It is true that we lack role models. Politicians as a class have betrayed us and are guilty of preaching one thing and practicing another. We revel in copying and have lost that Midas touch which distinguished us as a nation of innovators. The priority in any attempt at corrective measures must be to inject a measure of accountability in all walks of life. A more participative citizenry is the need of the hour.

The writer is a political commentator and columnist. He has authored four books.