WHAT SHOULD BE THE BASIS OF POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE? ..... THESE ARE SOME OF MY THOUGTS, ADAPETD AS A STORY.
A CHARITABLE KING AND A JUST MINISTER
Once upon a time there was a king known for his charity and compassion. He distributed food and clothes to the poor very generously. No one who came to him left empty handed. His fame spread far and wide.
But injustice and exploitation flourished in his land. However both the rich and poor were both happy with the king: poor because they got free clothing food and other freebies: rich because they could continue to exploit the poor and become more richer.
A very wise man lived in the country, who was very highly respected for his wisdom. His love for the poor was very well known. He worked very hard, led a very simple life and helped many a needy fellow. The king soon heard of his wisdom and generosity and appointed him as the Chief Minister.
The new chief minister issued an order next day to stop all free distribution of food cloth from govt. treasuries. He also issued orders to punish all those, who exploited poor and ignorant. he was very stern towards the rich and powerful, who lived a life of over indulgence at the cost of the poor workers.
The people became very furious. the poor and the rich alike rose against the new CM. the poor, because, they were no longer getting anything free, the rich because , they could no longer exploit the poor and live an over indulgent life. They complained to the king that CM was blind with power and has become very very arrogant. The king was very very angry. He ordered the execution of the cruel and arrogant CM.
The king's fame spread further. his love for the poor prompted the execution of his own CM. Treasuries were opened once again for the poor. The rich and the powerful were pampered once again. Injustice and Expolitation flourished. But the poor and the rich alike adored the King. Soon every one forgot the wise and just CM.
Years later the king died. With great expectations he reached the gates of the heaven. BUT to his great surprise he found the gates locked. There was no one to receive him. To his utter shock, the angel at the gates informed him that he was sentenced to hell. The king was shocked.
"This is absolute Injustice' , he cried.
" You have no right to speak of justice, oh king, said the angel. " There was no justice in your own country".
'But all my subjects were happy and contended', claimed the king.
'Not true. The poor were kept ignorant and blind through your charity. the rich flourished through injustice and exploitation', while you yourself indulged in personal excesses' ,pointed out the angel.
'My duty as a king was to keep my subjects happy and i did that to best of my ability', argued the king.
'Wrong. The king's duty is not to make his subjects happy. If that be the case, a thief who makes his family happy with stolen money should be equally honoured. The king's dharma or duty is to ensure justice in the society so that people can grow in dharma and love., said the angel.
The king was very sad. However as a reward for his charity, the angel allowed him to have glimpse of the heaven before he was sent to the hell. to his utter dismay, the king saw his CM seated among the saints.
' What is he doing in the heaven?' asked the king pointing to the chief Minister he had executed.
' He is honoured among the saints because as an individual he lived a honest life and shared with the poor the fruits of his own hard labour. As a Chief Minister he did his duty trying to establish justice', said the angel.
'But he did not show any sympathy towards the poor', pointed out the king.
' He loved the poor much more than you did. He shared with them the fruits of his hard labour. but, you helped the poor with public money, which does not belong to you and which was given to you as tax by the people to govern the country efficiently and justly, not to dole out as charity. You have thus betrayed the trust of the people by using their money to project yourself as the friend of the poor. you are a cheat and a hypocrite, oh king now be on your way to hell.
The angel closed the gate to heaven and the devils dragged the king to hell.
END OF STORY. BUT WHAT IS THE MORAL?
The primary function of the government is to mete out justice effectively, efficiently and impartially. : let the heavens fall, justice shall be done' should be the dictum of a good government.
The four fundamentals of governance according to me should be
1) JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED
unless justice is meted out promptly and impartially, it will not be effective.
2) JUSTICE DISPLACED IS JUSTICE MISPLACED.
if the court of justice is far from the location of crime and of the aggressor and the aggrieved, the effect of justice gets diluted. Hence, the seats of judiciary will have to be localised and in the vernacular. Every village should have its own independent judiciary.
3) SURETY OF PUNISHMENT IS BETTER DETERRENT THAN THE SEVERITY OF PUNISHMENT.
if the govt. is efficient enough to ensure that all the guilty are caught and punished without fail, the crime rate will fall.
4) EQUALITY BEFORE LAW
A country needs a COMMON LAW AND A COMMON CIVIL CODE. Justice is the fundamental right of all citizens irrespective of caste, colour, creed, sex, religion or social or economic status.
Dignity, freedom, uniqueness and equality of the individual as a human being should be the basis of justice. NO true religion can be against justice.
Without justice there cannot be any Dharma.
Dharma needs Nyaya (justice) as it foundation to flourish in the country.
THESE ARE MY CONVICTIONS ABOUT GOVERNANCE AND POLITICS.
JAI BHARAT MATA. JAI HIND!!!
