Mainstream Weekly

Regional Parties in Indian Democracy: Centre and Peripheries

Indrajeet Singh — 2013-12-01T21:21:53Z

When democracy was officially installed in India in 1947, all citizens were accorded the right to vote, regardless of the illiteracy, poverty and social inequality of most of them. The decision promised equality, liberty and justice to all the people, regardless of caste, class and religion. The world took note, and interpretations of the emerging Indian experience began from then onwards.
Unlike in Europe, the democratic process in India preceded industrialisation. Unfolding before the (…)

- 2013

Caste and Social Transformation in Indian Democratic Society: A Transitional Phase

Indrajeet Singh — 2013-08-12T11:11:36Z

‘We must make our political democracy a social democracy as well. Political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it social democracy. What does social democracy mean? It means a way of life which recognises liberty, equality and fraternity as the principles of life. [. . .] On the 26th of January 1950, we are going to enter into a life of contradictions. In politics we will have equality and in social and economic life we will have inequality. [...] We must remove this (…)

- 2013

Nature and Process of History in Indian Democracy

Indrajeet Singh — 2013-07-07T15:38:31Z

We do not drive history according to our own desires and wishes; rather history leads us with its force taking all kinds of species through the different stations and temporary destinations. There are a few historical moments when mankind is able to witness what it desires. History is perhaps not a straight line process but it consists of crooked lines which push humans into the vortex of pain, uncertainties and happy times. Only a handful of people take advantage of the happy moments of (…)

- 2013

Coalition Politics and Good Governance

Indrajeet Singh — 2011-03-28T19:07:42Z

Recently the Prime Minister said that corruption was a by-product of coalition politics. This raises the following questions: does corruption take place only under coalition politics? Was corruption absent earlier when there was dominance of the Congress? There were dishonest actions under the governments of Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. Then why has a person like Manmohan Singh made such a reckless statement? It is an open declaration against those classes which are marginalised (…)

- 2011

Multiculturalism and Coalition Politics: The Indian Experience

Indrajeet Singh — 2009-06-02T08:25:33Z

The decade of the 1999s witnessed a major transformation in the political and social realm of the Indian society. The Indian state changed its strategy. It took steps towards a more liberal state. Now India is a market-oriented society. The market system is more open in comparison with the earlier period. New social groups are making their present felt. This is a harbinger of future political and social base in Indian society. It is an index which shows that future trajectories will be (…)

- May 2009

Role of the Governor and Multiparty System

Indrajeet Singh — 2008-03-01T17:51:00Z

From time to time, the role of Governor has made Indian citizens feel that they are living in a very fragile democratic realm which can be shaken effortlessly by the Governor. It is a well known fact that the Governors have played a dictatorial role many a time and transcended all the democratic limits. Different political parties have misused the role of the Governor at different times for their partisan interests, thus proving that Indian society has yet to achieve the state of political (…)

- March 1, 2008