Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Please excuse the previous post.
I understand it makes a lot of frivolous claims, but please note that it is written in a 500 word count restriction, and this prevents extensive elaboration of points. The above is solely for school education/assessment purpose. Please do not take personal offence.
Democracy - Meeting the essentials
With the people, for the people, by the people - where stands a chance for dispute? The fundamentals of a democracy respect and encompass equality, prosperity, social stability and freedom. And the past is its evidence, as is its promising future. These aims we strive allow little if any disputes within a country, as they meet basic needs and this on long term creates stability in a democracy.
Is it not true that the ultimate aim of a government is to establish peace, prosperity and felicity of its people? How is it so, then, that as per recent surveys, most of the worlds happiest countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Switzerland (in terms of health, safety and education) are all democratic?
But keeping studies aside, I argue that a democracy forms the most accountable form of government, for the power of government rests is the hands of people. Compare this to a dictatorship or any other governmental form, where the oligarchy needn’t fear any opposition consequence of fatal blunders? This is why Hitler prevailed with irrefutable and dauntless power, and could rule Germans despite many mistakes he made along the way.
If the government elected is corrupt or irresponsible, then the power to outvote it and correct it follies belongs to the people, as does the responsibility of using it wisely. This was seen in India, where the INC (Indian National Congress) was outvoted in 1996 for economic stagnation. An allegedly bigoted political body came in (BJP) that was then replaced in 2004 by INC again, which was determined to fuel the economy and improvise.
From the richest man to the poorest loafer, all exercise equal political power, an epitome of parity that even equivocating communist or socialist government fails to implement. Isn’t it ironic that USSR, a country that boasted economic and political equality for all actually achieved all this by compromising on the standards of both? The average citizen had no political power, and the per capita income of even Spain was actually triple that of USSR, the proclaimed epitome of successful dictatorship.
The past has seen exploitation, instability and downfall of democracies due to derelict enforcement of free and fair elections, which has caused countries like Pakistan and Mexico to experience retardation in progress and governance under a dictatorship by right, though they claim to bare a masquerade of ‘democracy’ for global acceptance. Why?
A democracy that respects people’s rights, liberty, and independence is the most stable form of government, as its policies and decisions are not polemic but neutralized in case of conflicting sub-bodies or opinions. When there is a satisfied population, there is lesser dispute and this evolves into a stable taxonomy. In long term basis, a stable democracy can propel a nation to prosperity. This is why event the most diverse democracy in the world, India, has been stable politically and effectively works like many others for the amelioration and happiness of its people, its patriarchs and partisans.
Is it not true that the ultimate aim of a government is to establish peace, prosperity and felicity of its people? How is it so, then, that as per recent surveys, most of the worlds happiest countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Switzerland (in terms of health, safety and education) are all democratic?
But keeping studies aside, I argue that a democracy forms the most accountable form of government, for the power of government rests is the hands of people. Compare this to a dictatorship or any other governmental form, where the oligarchy needn’t fear any opposition consequence of fatal blunders? This is why Hitler prevailed with irrefutable and dauntless power, and could rule Germans despite many mistakes he made along the way.
If the government elected is corrupt or irresponsible, then the power to outvote it and correct it follies belongs to the people, as does the responsibility of using it wisely. This was seen in India, where the INC (Indian National Congress) was outvoted in 1996 for economic stagnation. An allegedly bigoted political body came in (BJP) that was then replaced in 2004 by INC again, which was determined to fuel the economy and improvise.
From the richest man to the poorest loafer, all exercise equal political power, an epitome of parity that even equivocating communist or socialist government fails to implement. Isn’t it ironic that USSR, a country that boasted economic and political equality for all actually achieved all this by compromising on the standards of both? The average citizen had no political power, and the per capita income of even Spain was actually triple that of USSR, the proclaimed epitome of successful dictatorship.
The past has seen exploitation, instability and downfall of democracies due to derelict enforcement of free and fair elections, which has caused countries like Pakistan and Mexico to experience retardation in progress and governance under a dictatorship by right, though they claim to bare a masquerade of ‘democracy’ for global acceptance. Why?
A democracy that respects people’s rights, liberty, and independence is the most stable form of government, as its policies and decisions are not polemic but neutralized in case of conflicting sub-bodies or opinions. When there is a satisfied population, there is lesser dispute and this evolves into a stable taxonomy. In long term basis, a stable democracy can propel a nation to prosperity. This is why event the most diverse democracy in the world, India, has been stable politically and effectively works like many others for the amelioration and happiness of its people, its patriarchs and partisans.
Monday, March 3, 2008
The source
I wrote the blog below in response to an article I read last year in the Newspapers-
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1581054.cms
In service to those unlucky for whom the unfaithful link does not fulfill its divine duties :-
NEW DELHI: For Anindita Singh, a class X history teacher in Sanskriti School, the wait for that "first call after the results" from her favourite student Shaifali, will never be over. Shaifali Bhan, one of the brightest students in her batch, committed suicide on May 16 — she was apparently under pressure to take up science in class IX. On Saturday, when CBSE class X results were declared, teachers and friends looked up her marks. Shaifali had scored 94.8%, bettering her pre-boards performance of 92% and getting 90 or more in each subject. She scored 92 in English, 90 in French, 97 in both math and science and 98 in social science. "Shaifali had come to meet us after her examinations and appeared very satisfied with the way they had gone," recalled a teacher. "She had promised us that the moment she got to know her results, Anindita would be the first person she would call. That call never came." Vijayalakshmi, senior teacher-in-charge of Sanskriti School said, "I spoke to her parents after the results came in. They are shattered. Her result does not come as a surprise to any of us, it was always expected. She got exactly what she deserved. She had been one of our toppers, a bright, popular child, very dear to her teachers." Throughout Saturday, her Satya Niketan home remained locked. Shaifali’s father, Suraj Bhan, is a director-level official in the Indian Economic Service posted currently in Himachal Pradesh. Though the 15-year-old did not leave any suicide note, she had been reportedly under pressure to take up science in the non-medical stream and sit for engineering entrance exams — a proposition she had apparently not been too keen on. She had, however, appeared for entrance tests of various coaching centres and her name had figured in the merit list of one.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1581054.cms
In service to those unlucky for whom the unfaithful link does not fulfill its divine duties :-
NEW DELHI: For Anindita Singh, a class X history teacher in Sanskriti School, the wait for that "first call after the results" from her favourite student Shaifali, will never be over. Shaifali Bhan, one of the brightest students in her batch, committed suicide on May 16 — she was apparently under pressure to take up science in class IX. On Saturday, when CBSE class X results were declared, teachers and friends looked up her marks. Shaifali had scored 94.8%, bettering her pre-boards performance of 92% and getting 90 or more in each subject. She scored 92 in English, 90 in French, 97 in both math and science and 98 in social science. "Shaifali had come to meet us after her examinations and appeared very satisfied with the way they had gone," recalled a teacher. "She had promised us that the moment she got to know her results, Anindita would be the first person she would call. That call never came." Vijayalakshmi, senior teacher-in-charge of Sanskriti School said, "I spoke to her parents after the results came in. They are shattered. Her result does not come as a surprise to any of us, it was always expected. She got exactly what she deserved. She had been one of our toppers, a bright, popular child, very dear to her teachers." Throughout Saturday, her Satya Niketan home remained locked. Shaifali’s father, Suraj Bhan, is a director-level official in the Indian Economic Service posted currently in Himachal Pradesh. Though the 15-year-old did not leave any suicide note, she had been reportedly under pressure to take up science in the non-medical stream and sit for engineering entrance exams — a proposition she had apparently not been too keen on. She had, however, appeared for entrance tests of various coaching centres and her name had figured in the merit list of one.
UNDER THE BURDEN - Aditya Gupta
The article publicizes the tragic tale of a diligent girl Shaifali, who killed herself due to academic stress and tension, even before she could know she had topped her school and city in her Class 10 Boards (O levels equivalent).
These ten years of your life govern the whole of it. A small mistake can have a grave impact on it. We are paranoid of getting distracted, failing socially and academically and hence ‘screwing up our future’.
Filial expectations and punishment on failure is additional. Honestly, my own parents become despondent when I’m unable to deliver outstanding results academically. Last year I failed to achieve the chronic (my apologies for bragging) ninety percent after my 8th grade finals. Stringent restrictions were imposed on my recreational activities and following admonition, I was to attend tormenting remedial tuitions. Not being one of the recalcitrant kind (though I do get rebellious feelings, I re-assure you) I was compelled to oblige. Amongst my peers, the following few days were ignominious. And the immense remorse for disappointing your parents is accompanied with punishment and self-inflicted guilt of failure, peer pressure, and inferiority complex. So much I went through.
And the predicament has aggravated to the level that every time I pick up a football to go outdoors and play, every moment is embellished with guilt of not utilizing the time productively and finishing that chemistry assignment that keeps biting inside at all the wrong times. It is exasperating and depressing.
But for me and many fellow students it’s a comparatively mild stage.
Unfortunately the world values a person more or less solely on academic results which is shameful, unjust and lethal, for the article is an epitomic example of its grave consequences. Belittling of human worth and subsequently, rights is not fair. It can be grave.
Several times it is repeated "she wanted Science in her XI grade". I'm very sorry to comment but in India, there is little scope for any other subject or recognition of holistic traits. Science, Mathematics and Economics are the goals of life for every regular student. Moreover, it is an expectation, and the only direct road to a comfortable bourgeois life.
It is agonizing and regretful to see that such a talented person ended her life for mistakes which she might not have made. Minor trivial errors that we rated crucial, in fields that we introduced, and in so doing became guilty of her death and many more like her.
A person commits suicide just because she cannot perhaps make her future more prosperous? Her parents satisfied? What sort of asinine pragmatism is that?
So I put forth a request to all, please do not underestimate teenage stress and pressure. We need your moral support and encouragement, not pressure. It is not easy. After all, how much can a butterfly in a cocoon do?
God made the cocoon so that the struggle for emancipation strengthens the butterfly. Cementing the cocoon will not make the butterfly will not emerge stronger but will surely lead to its demise within.
These ten years of your life govern the whole of it. A small mistake can have a grave impact on it. We are paranoid of getting distracted, failing socially and academically and hence ‘screwing up our future’.
Filial expectations and punishment on failure is additional. Honestly, my own parents become despondent when I’m unable to deliver outstanding results academically. Last year I failed to achieve the chronic (my apologies for bragging) ninety percent after my 8th grade finals. Stringent restrictions were imposed on my recreational activities and following admonition, I was to attend tormenting remedial tuitions. Not being one of the recalcitrant kind (though I do get rebellious feelings, I re-assure you) I was compelled to oblige. Amongst my peers, the following few days were ignominious. And the immense remorse for disappointing your parents is accompanied with punishment and self-inflicted guilt of failure, peer pressure, and inferiority complex. So much I went through.
And the predicament has aggravated to the level that every time I pick up a football to go outdoors and play, every moment is embellished with guilt of not utilizing the time productively and finishing that chemistry assignment that keeps biting inside at all the wrong times. It is exasperating and depressing.
But for me and many fellow students it’s a comparatively mild stage.
Unfortunately the world values a person more or less solely on academic results which is shameful, unjust and lethal, for the article is an epitomic example of its grave consequences. Belittling of human worth and subsequently, rights is not fair. It can be grave.
Several times it is repeated "she wanted Science in her XI grade". I'm very sorry to comment but in India, there is little scope for any other subject or recognition of holistic traits. Science, Mathematics and Economics are the goals of life for every regular student. Moreover, it is an expectation, and the only direct road to a comfortable bourgeois life.
It is agonizing and regretful to see that such a talented person ended her life for mistakes which she might not have made. Minor trivial errors that we rated crucial, in fields that we introduced, and in so doing became guilty of her death and many more like her.
A person commits suicide just because she cannot perhaps make her future more prosperous? Her parents satisfied? What sort of asinine pragmatism is that?
So I put forth a request to all, please do not underestimate teenage stress and pressure. We need your moral support and encouragement, not pressure. It is not easy. After all, how much can a butterfly in a cocoon do?
God made the cocoon so that the struggle for emancipation strengthens the butterfly. Cementing the cocoon will not make the butterfly will not emerge stronger but will surely lead to its demise within.
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