Thought for the Day BBC Radio 4 21/4/09

Author:  Dr Indarjit Singh

India’s general election, spread over a month is now well under way. The logistics are awesome with 700 million voters, many illiterate, spread over thousands of square miles, often in remote villages with voters sometimes facing the threat of insurgency and terrorism. Whatever the outcome, it is a credit to the people of India that the country has been largely able to stick to democracy since independence.

The election this year coincides with the 25th anniversary of the highly organised mass killing of thousands of Sikhs throughout the length and breadth of India in the wake of the assassination of the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Several Commissions of inquiry subsequently condemned the massacre and named some of those thought to be responsible, but not a single ringleader has ever been brought to justice.

At a recent press conference organised by the Union Home Minister, a young Sikh journalist repeatedly asked why a prominent politician thought to be responsible for incitement to murderous violence in 1984, was again being put forward as the Congress candidate. When the minister refused to answer, the journalist gave vent to his frustration in Iraqi style by lobbing a shoe in the direction of the minister. The shoe missed, but made a huge impact on Indian public opinion leading to an official apology for the party’s lack of sensitivity and the withdrawal of party support for the candidate Jagdish Tytler. The incident was another reminder of the power of public opinion in the world’s largest democracy.

India then, has reason for pride in its democracy, but no matter where we happen to live, the mere placing and counting of votes in a ballot box does not guarantee fair and effective government, human rights or the protection of minorities. We see this today in many countries throughout the world

The democratic ideal is firmly embedded in Sikh teachings with particular emphasis on what Sikhs call Miri Piri. Miri relates to practical considerations and Piri to attached ethical implications.. The Sikh Gurus taught that all of us, particularly those in authority, should look to ethical as well as practical implications in all we do, or fail to do. It is sound advice not only for those involved in distant elections, but for all of us, much closer to home, who aspire to see a fairer and more tolerant society.