An iconic Nobel laureate and a veteran human rights activist, Archbishop Desmond Tutu is known for tirelessly spreading peace, justice and democracy in South Africa. Both the black majority and white minority considered him the nation’s conscience. “Sometimes strident, often tender, never afraid and seldom without humour” is how he was described by his longtime friend Nelson Mandela.

He was born in 1931 in Klerksdorp, Transvaal, South Africa. His father was a teacher and his mother was a domestic worker. Young Tutu was baptized as a Methodist, but the entire family later joined the Anglican Church. He was educated at Johannesburg Bantu High School. Though he wanted to study medicine, his parents could not afford it. So he became a teacher but resigned later to protest against the Bantu Education Act, which lowered education standards for black students.

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Dissent is the very essence of freedom and democracy of a country. If the citizens do not question and raise doubts questioning age-old systems, no new system will develop, and the country will not progress. No doubt, the dissent must be expressed in a peaceful manner but citizens have the right to get together and protest when they feel that actions taken by the government are not good for the welfare of its citizens. If a country has to grow and progress in a holistic manner where not only the economic rights of the citizens are to be protected, but dissent and disagreement have also to be encouraged.
Preksha Mohil (17)
St Anselm’s, Mansarovar, Jaipur

Voicing one’s opinion or criticism is really important for the growth of oneself as well as for an organization, including the government. I do agree that letting citizens voice their criticism against the government and expressing their opinions on the government’s decisions is very important for a democracy to thrive. Abraham Lincoln defined democracy as the government of the people, by the people, for the people. It means that the government is accountable to its people, and citizens should be allowed to voice their opinions freely and without fear. The government should take such criticism constructively and not punish those who dissent, as it will lead to the death of democracy.
Lubna Mendonca (14)
Regina Mundi High School, Goa

The right to freedom of opinion and the right to freedom of conscience by themselves include the extremely important right to disagree. The right to disagree, the right to dissent and the right to hold another point of view belong inherently to every citizen of the country. When we view all these together, it is more than obvious that the right to dissent, in my opinion, is the most important right granted to its citizens by the Constitution.
Prina Bhardwaj (14)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Democracy is always for the people, and so the people have every right to ask questions, criticize the government and express dissent on its decisions. The government was made for the people, for their betterment. So if people’s living conditions are not improving, they have the right to question those in power.
Saanvi Bhalla (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

The people of a country always have a right to criticize those running the administration of the country: the Government or the Executive. It is critical that they assist those in power in good governance and keep a watch on public functionaries, providing those in power a touchstone to test the worth of their activities.
Amrita (12)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

To ensure that the government actually works for the people, organized, active and peaceful expression of dissent is required. This empowers citizens to voice their concerns, act collectively and hold public officials accountable. For the holistic growth of the country, the civil rights of the citizens should be protected, dissent should be permitted, as a matter of fact, it should be encouraged.
Khyati Aggarwal (15)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

According to Mahatma Gandhi, we are a free country only when the citizens enjoy freedom of speech. People are the very soul of democracy. They elect the government directly or indirectly, and so their voices are important ingredients for a healthy democracy. Dissent is a human right and must be encouraged. It is not only through discussions but also through dissent that we can strive to run the country better.
Nisha Singh
Convent of Jesus & Mary High School & Jr College, Navi Mumbai

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Democracy is the rule of the people, for the people, by the people. Therefore, people have the right to oppose those in power, or to protest against government policies, they are dissatisfied with. Dissent, therefore, is the very life blood of democracy; without it democracy disintegrates. Although dissent is important it’s equally important to accept others’ opinions, points of views and suggestions. Dissent shouldn’t be suppressed as freedom of speech and its expression is a fundamental right, guaranteed to us by our Constitution.
Melissa Rosalyn Pinto (18)
St Andrew’s College, Bandra, Mumbai

Democracy is the greatest political invention of our times. Holding on to democracy is a much more delicate task than winning an election. In India, today, if we express our dissentor raise a question to the government in power, we would be tagged as an enemy of the State, which is not right. When we don’t encourage dissent and discussion, democracy withers.
Rashmo Mehta (14)
St Joseph’s Convent High School, Jethuli

No two citizens of a country are the same. This diversity is what leads to the differences in their opinions. Beyond the diversity of castes and creeds, diversity of thoughts is what makes a nation colourful. Only in democracy these variations can peacefully co-exist. Dictatorship and autocracy are more about imposing one’s ideas, and punishing those who refuse to go with the flow. The moment dissent loses its relevance; democracy loses its real significance.
Diya Vinod Surjuse (17)
Wardha

If democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people then people have the right to ask questions to the government, criticize those in power and protest against its policies and make them accountable to the people. Dissent is also an important right granted to us by our Constitution.
Saanvi Bhalla (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Dissent in democracy is nothing but disagreeing with those in office. Dictatorship is the opposite of democracy. In a dictatorship, a person possesses absolute powers. We live in a free country. If democracy is the government of the people, by the people, then people have the right to protest against its policies of the government in power and make it accountable.
Amrit Kaur (14)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Dissent is the life blood of democracy. We favour democracy because in this form, a citizen has a right to dissent without fear of victimization which doesn’t lead to inhuman. Without dissent, democracy tends towards autocracy and dictatorship which lead to punishments. In fact, the history of evolution of manhood is a history of dissent in a reasoned and informed manner.
Bhavyanshi (12)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

In a true democracy, people should have control over the government. They have the right to ask questions to the government. They can criticize the government. In this way they themselves protect democracy, becoming its watchdog. In the absence of people playing an active role, the government turns into a dictatorship.
Mahi Mehta (12)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Democracy is the best form of governance because it is the government of the people, by the people, for the people. This literally means that there is active participation of people in making laws and regulations. It’s the will of the people that is binding on the government whereas in an autocracy there is only one person who commands!
Bhavya (11)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Dissent is the life blood of democracy, and throughout history we have seen why it matters! Difference of opinion is inevitable, but what is important is that we know also how to respect other person’s viewpoints, especially when its objective and not mere speculation. When we don’t encourage dissent and discussion, democracy falls. Listening to what others have to say is an integral part of finding solutions that will make the nation a better place.
Prina Bhardwaj (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

The essence of democracy is participation of one and all, directly or indirectly, in running the affairs of a nation. If only one viewpoint is heard, promoted and propagated, then democracy fails and autocracy takes over.
Janisha Bhatia (12)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

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A government or any other institution is meant for the public. As long as the civilians are satisfied by the service, they (civilians) continue to defend them (institutions). However, the moment the quality of the provided service starts dwindling, people may not trust them. And that is what will lead to the ultimate collapse of the government or institution. It is amply clear that people and only people, are those that lay the foundation of eventual success and prosperity of such establishments. Hence, the interests of citizens ought to be their prime concern; not profits and losses.
Diya Vinod Surjuse (16)
Wardha

I agree with the statement. Government is by the people and is fragile without their support. If people are willing to uphold it, it’s strong. On the day when people stop supporting a particular institution, its value will tend to decrease.
Prina Bhardwaj (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

A government or an Institution is run by the country’s people and if the individuals will not support it, the system cannot function effectively. One such example can be of the U.S. Elections 2020. In the election, Trump lost, yet 60-70 per cent Republicans believed that Trump was right, and the election was rigged.
Rashmo Mehta (14)
St Joseph’s Convent High School, Jethuli

A democracy depends on a well-designed system and institutions, but it also depends on norms, on behaviour, on the character of the people. A government represents the people it governs. It will work as long as the people who elected it to power support it. So, I fully agree with the statement and strongly feel that a government/an institution is only so strong as much as people who are willing to defend and support it.
Gargi Mohan Kothe (16)
Wardha

Democracy means rule of the people, for the people and by the people. People play a major role in democracy; so it goes without saying that a government can be strong only when people support it. So, no institution is strong if it is not supported by the people.
Saanvi Bhalla (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

“United we stand, divided we fall.” This is a very commonly-used phrase which is often used to inspire unity and power among people. If we want to flourish as a progressive country, then we have to defend our Institutions and the government. We must rise up to the challenges and work together to defend the country.
Nishtha Sharma (15)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

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I do think so, because the systematic way of practising democracy is dependent on the respect for human dignity by implementing human rights. However, when human rights are not effectively implemented by the government in the country, it becomes a huge threat to the democratic system of government. In order to keep the strength and stability of a true democracy intact, human dignity and human rights should function as the major pillars that sustain democracy.
Aditya Raj
New Rainbow Public School, Ghaziabad

Democracy is defined as the government of the people, for the people and by the people. But to have a healthy democracy citizens need to be aware of their rights. Human rights violations lead to a faulty way of governing, which in turn leaves society and its people vulnerable to many social evils. True democracy certainly is built on human dignity.
Senjuti Saibal Bhattacharya
A. C. Patil College of Engineering, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai

The prime concern of a democratic government should always be the protection of the dignity and rights of its citizens. Rights shield the weak from the torments of the oppressors. Violations of these rights mean that the weak are unable to stand up against injustice and the tyrants get to enjoy colossal powers. The weak must always understand that their silence against violence will debilitate democracy to a point from which revival will be impossible.
Diya Vinod Surjuse (16)
Wardha

Human rights are moral entitlements of every individual, by virtue of the fact that he/she is human. No one — no individual, no government — can take away our human rights. There is no country in the world that has a completely clean record of human rights. There may be more frequent violations in some countries than others or they may affect a larger proportion of the population. Every single violation is something that ought not to have happened, and so needs to be dealt with. An individual whose rights are violated in one of the established democracies can hardly be comforted by the fact that their country has a “better” record of human rights than other countries!
Shweta Mhatre
Joshi Bedekar College, Thane (W), Maharashtra

True democracy is based on the concept of human dignity, which means the rights of a person should be valued and respected for his/her own sake. Human rights violations exist everywhere in the world. To prevent this threat to democracy, we should get involved in the efforts made in our own areas and support human rights initiatives across the world.
Vishakha Keswani (22)
Jaipur

Democracy is active participation of people in the government, where they are also assured of some basic human rights and dignity. Violation of these human rights goes against the true spirit of democracy. And if such violation of human rights occurs in any democratic country, that country cannot be considered truly democratic.
Prakhar Vagrecha (15)
St Anselm’s Sr. Sec. School, Bhilwara, Rajasthan

While human rights protection Acts are increasingly being enacted by governments and international bodies, gross violations of human rights are on the increase. Democracy provides an environment that respects human rights and fundamental freedom and in which they can be freely expressed. Human dignity is the foundation of all human rights.
Rashmo Mehta (14)
St Joseph’s Convent High School, Jethuli, Patna

Democracy is the government formed by the representatives of the people of a nation. The Constitution provides several rights to the citizens of a democratic country, but sometimes the representatives elected by the people themselves violate people’s rights by forming laws which are against the principles of democracy and human dignity and pose a great threat to democracy.
Gursheel Kaur (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

If democracy is the body, then human rights is the heart that beats to keep the body alive; if it stops, the person ceases to be alive. The same is true in the case of a country. Human rights lead to a liberal and moral-centred country which in turn leads to a vibrant, flourishing economy, free from corruption, personal agendas and prejudices which ultimately result in dictatorship and anarchy.
Samarjeet Malik (17)
The Shriram Millennium School, Faridabad

True democracy gives power to the people. Human rights are the frame of reference for a democracy and if human rights are violated then democracy will no longer remain a democracy. It will turn into a tyranny because respect of human rights is an integral part of a democratic system.
Disha Vig (16)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

True democracy is a form of government where the laws and policies are made directly by the representatives of the people. It provides an environment that respects human rights, and its violation truly poses a huge threat to democracy because some people even tend to think that in a democracy they are free to violate the dignity and rights some others. In a true democracy, human dignity should be respected and not violated.
Namya Malhotra (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

The very concept of true democracy is based on the need to preserve human dignity. The Protection of Human Rights Act 1993 was an Act meant to ensure that human rights are not violated. We are living in a country where every 5th person’s rights are violated. We as responsible citizens should ensure that everyone gets equal rights and importance irrespective of his/her caste, religion or gender. Mother Teresa rightly said, “Human rights are not a privilege conferred by a government; they are every human being’s entitlement by virtue of his/her humanity.”
Samarth Chawla (16)
St Francis De Sales Sr. Sec. School, Janakpuri, New Delhi

Democracy is supposed to provide an environment that respects human rights and fundamental freedom. But when a State fails in its obligation to respect and protect them, violation of economic, social and cultural rights occurs. Often violation of one right leads to violation of other rights, too, which poses the biggest threat to democracy. “Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where people are fed with love, and where individuals and nations are free.” (Dalai Lama)
Shrawani Ganesh Bawane (17)
Hinganghat

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In a democracy, it is a fundamental right of every citizen of the country to choose his/her representative/s on the basis of the services they can provide while being their leader. If citizens think that someone is not capable of that office, they needn’t support him/her, or they can always ask them as to what services and facilities will they provide for the common man and when they do not do what they have promised they have every right to express their displeasure and even to recall them. Without such a possibility of dissent, democracy can never be the “government of the people, by the people and for the people!” Hence, a democracy without dissent is disastrous. And makes no sense!
Senjuti Saibal Bhattacharya (19)
A C Patil College of Engineering, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai

Dissent is a powerful source of developing public reasoning, and is necessary for determining the legitimacy of a given State as well as the customs and practices of a given society. In law-making, it is necessary to speculate how the said law would affect the different sections of society and how it would serve the purpose it is designed for. Dissent, therefore, can prove to be a useful tool in successful and efficient law-making.
Gitali Dhir (12)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

I think that democracy without dissent is disastrous as we are independent citizens of India and if our representatives make some decisions which do not satisfy the aspirations of the citizens, they will express their protest in different forms. It is through these that the government gets to know that the people of the country are not under them, and their decisions are subject to public opinion. So, dissent in one form or the other, symbolizes the power of the people and is an integral part of the democratic system.
Anahit Sandhu (15)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

The absence of dissent in a democracy will prove disastrous and will give a fatal blow to the country. John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States of America, once said, “The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.” After all, democracy is alive today because of the varied opinions, views, arguments and constructive criticism of the citizens of a democratic nation. Therefore, I think that democracy without dissent is disastrous.
Sargun Saini (16)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

I reiterate that there is no democracy without dissent. Our country is built on the bedrock of co-existence of diverse and often diverging views and ideologies. Those who criticize or have views opposed to those who govern the country are not to be deemed as enemies or anti-nationals. Citizens of the country should not be branded anti-nationals or “urban naxals” and incarcerated because of their dissent to the views of the government. Tolerance of dissent in a democracy is an important sign of political maturity. The right of an elected lawmaker to disagree with the party views flows from the people’s right to hold independent opinions, expressed through their representatives.
Guneev Kaur (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Democracy is the government of, by and for the people. Often, ordinary people are dominated by wealthy and high class people. Dissent means raising your voice against the wrong done to you or disagreeing with the opinions you feel wrong. Dissent is an essential aspect of democracy. When a person does something wrong to others, often people don’t dissent fearing that their reputation will go low, as the one who tortures them have power to do anything to them. This is not good for our democracy.
Charanpreet Kaur (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Right to dissent is the most important right granted to the citizens by our Constitution. If a country has to grow in a healthy manner, the civil rights of every citizen should be protected and dissent should be encouraged. Only through discussion and dissent can we arrive at better ways to govern the country.
Bhavika (11)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Democracy without dissent is not real! There is no freedom without dissent. In 1919, at the time of World War I, Holmes said that it’s now time to stand up. He also wrote: “When men have realized that time has upset many fighting faiths they may come to believe even more than they believe the very foundations of their own conduct.” Member of Parliament, Shashi Tharoor, wrote to Prime Minister Modi that there is no democracy without dissent. He urged the PM to assure the nation of his commitment to upholding the freedom of expression even when it involves disagreement with him or his government. The right to dissent is the most important right granted by our Constitution.
Saanvi Bhalla (12)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

There is no real democracy without dissent. Those who criticize or have opposing views to the government should not be termed as enemies of the country, because everyone has the right to present his/her views for or against. It is possible that a person who is opposing a certain decision made by the government may have better ideas to solve a particular problem. So he/she must be given the right and opportunity to express his/her ideas.
Palakshi Kalra (12)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

The post Democracy without dissent is disastrous appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Democracy means rule by the people and horse-trading, in simple terms, means political corruption. If there is corruption or malice in the form of horse-trading in the elected representatives themselves then how can the common people expect a true flow of democracy from them? India is the world’s largest democracy, and horse-trading is an insult to the democratic principles of the entire world.
Sargun Saini (16)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Horse-trading is a method used by elected representatives or a political party to gain members from the opposition side in view of gaining a majority and forming the government. According to me, this is an outright insult to the Constitution of India as it clearly states that every representative is elected by the votes of the people and if by horse-trading, the party selects a person who is not the right candidate appropriating the rights bypassing the votes of the people. This is a matter of great concern.
Senjuti Saibal Bhattacharya (19)
A C Patil College of Engineering, Navi Mumbai

Horse-trading refers to buying members from an opposition party with money or other offers in order to increase one party’s majority in the Assembly or the Parliament. When there is a hung assembly after the elections, a party will try to increase their numbers through horse-trading. Then the elections will have only zero value. The concerned party can easily form the government on the basis of majority, and this majority comes from money, and hence illegal.
Arunima (14)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Horse-trading in politics refers to the act of buying elected representatives from one political party to another to win majority in case of a hung assembly. These political leaders try to win the support of the opposition party members by illegitimate means. They lure the opposition members by promising good positions in the cabinet, or by offering money. As a result, a government is formed which is not according to the will of the people. Horse-trading is an outright insult to democracy and it is equal to killing democracy. The parliament should pass an effective law to stop horse-trading, so that the people feel they are living in a democratic nation.
Samarth Chawla (15)
St Francis De Sales School, Janakpuri, New Delhi

Horse-trading happens when political parties resort to unscrupulous ways to get members from another party to cobble up the majority required for forming a government. Democracy is the biggest loser in this act. Such elected representatives have neither any respect for democracy nor for the voters who elected them. Their only concern, once they get elected is money and power. In the past seven decades, lust for power and money has grown manifolds and that has resulted in democracy becoming a farce and the voter a joke.
Sargun Kaur (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Indian politics is run on shrewd bargaining for power, these days. Politicians do anything just to come into power. I think horse-trading is a virus which will one day swallow up the entire legislature. Therefore it must be curbed. The elected representatives must not perfunctorily go with the flow of compromising for the sake of power, but be vigilant enough to understand that their actions will lead to people losing faith in democracy. This can surely be debilitating if not lethal.
Diya Vinod Surjuse (15)
Agragami Convent School, Wardha

Horse-trading takes place when political parties resort to unlawful ways to lure members from another party to cook up the majority required to form a government. Sometimes, the defectors are rewarded with plum ministerial berths, and with huge monetary gain. Horse-trading is a mockery of democracy.
Tamanna (14)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Due to difficulties in evaluating the merits of a horse offered for sale, the sale of horse offers opportunities for dishonesty leading to the use of horse-trading to refer to complex bargaining or other transactions like political vote trade. This amounts to showing total disloyalty to one’s own party and to the people who elected them.
Vartika Baghel (13)
Jeevan Marg Sophia Secondary School, Deoria

Political vote-trading or deal making is technically named as horse-trading. Ours is an era of politicians declining in commitment to ideology or principles. A government thus formed is just the outcome of horse trading. This is a reality in the world’s largest democracy, today. None of the leading parties is an exception! Political morality and values are defeated by unscrupulous horse-trading by politicians. More worrying is the inaction of law-makers, and the election commission which is entrusted with the task of upholding the constitutional values that form the foundation of democracy. Its silence on such issues is a blatant violation of the model code of conduct, guiding the elections in the country.
Nishtha Uppal (12)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Democracy is the political system meant to give power into the hands of citizens that their elected representative could work for the welfare of every citizen of the nation. However, if politicians themselves are traded then I wonder if they could do anything good for their people. Horse-trading is a speck on the “kurta” of the politicians and is a betrayal of the faith of the people who voted for them, and violence against the democratic system. In the contemporary politics we see how horse-trading has destroyed the ethics of politics. It has resulted in more corruption in politics and has made politics a medium to make money illegally on the sweat and blood of the tax payers. Enforcing certain strict laws to check horse trading, the political system can be made more honest and efficient.
Shivam Uniyal (19)
HNBGU, Srinagar Garhwal

If a particular party is lacking majority after the election, it resorts to horse trading to gain majority and ultimately to form a government. These parties are power greedy that they try to form government by hook or by crook. This increases corruption in the country and lessen the trust of people in the government and in the Constitution. Even the Supreme Court is unable to find a solution to this problem.
Deepal (15)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

The post Horse-trading by elected representatives is an outright insult to democracy appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Democracy is meant to empower the citizens. But the expansionist state is bent on luring citizens into surrendering their sovereignty and turning citizens into clients. Elected governments repeatedly fail the people as politicians ignore the fact that without free, empowered citizens there can be no real democracy. Post poll bargaining is now very common to gain power, which could make future generations dangerously cynical about democracy.
Sargun Kaur (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Elections are important to keep a democracy functioning as they give people the right to elect their own government. Some people contest elections only to gain power while some really respect the ideals of democracy. So, democracy doesn’t simply mean elections. It is one small component to form a government of people’s choice. Democracy is also an ideology founded on the basis of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.
Gargi Mohan Kothe (15)
Agragami Convent School, Wardha

Democracy is not part of elections, but elections are part of democracy. We have the right to stand by the right thing and against the wrong. The fact that our representatives can speak for us and we can speak against them, is democracy. Democracy is not just about voting, it’s about freedom of expression, and equality.
Anahit Sandhu (15)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Democracy is a lot more than elections because majority rule is often listed as a characteristic of democracy. In some countries, freedom of speech, freedom of the press and internet are considered important to ensure that voters are well informed, enabling them to vote according to their interests. It strengthens democratic Institutions, assuring transparency and sound management.
Mahak Singh (13)
St Anthony’s Jr College, Agra

Democracy is beyond the ballot box. A vote alone won’t give a person the ability to go out and ask for the change they wish to see. A vote alone won’t give people the ability to shape their future. Hence, we need to look beyond the ballot box.
Mahi Gandhi (12)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Democracy is not synonymous with elections because elections are only a part of the democratic process. Democracy is about our everyday life, is about creating opinion which would influence the policy makers to make laws for a better society. Voting is a responsibility along with a right; similarly democracy is not just about elections but about ensuring equality and justice to every citizen.
Himshailja Ranawat
Sophia Girls Sr. Sec. School, Bhilwara

Democracy in its true form can only be followed if the representatives elected by the people actually work for the welfare of the citizens of the country. Elections are meant to let people choose well-deserving representatives for serving the nation and bringing it to greater heights.
Senjuti Saibal Bhattacharya (19)
A C Patil College of Engineering, Navi Mumbai

A democratic government ensures the active participation of the people where the citizens get the chance to choose their government. People choose a candidate or party through elections. The election process in a democracy is similar in most ways. Elections, conducted at regular intervals, ensure that anyone can become part of the government without any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed or religion.
Jasleen Saini (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

For me, democracy means responsibility, a responsibility which is far beyond just electing leaders. It means to show concern for the nation, to exercise the right of voting, not just “for the sake of elections”, but for being a responsible citizen and for the love of the country.
Khushi (15)
Jeevan Marg Sophia Secondary School, Deoria

Democracy is a form of government that empowers people to fight against injustice and discrimination. Voting is fundamental to democracy which is a powerful instrument that can change our lives. Too often elections are taken as the only exercise of democracy. But beyond elections are principles and institutions; beyond elections are the powers that a democracy provides its citizens. So we need to look beyond the ballot box and understand elections as one part of a much wider and complex reality.
Radhika Jhawar
Sophia Girls Sr. Sec. School, Bhilwara

True democracy depends on active political participation by all the citizens and the elections should be free and fair, where those currently in power have a fair chance of losing.
Samarth Chawla (15)
St Francis De Sales School, Janakpuri, New Delhi

Democracy strives for the development of people. When they make a free choice, they make mistakes and learn from them. Their mistakes turn them into better individuals. No one will vote again for a corrupt government.
Arunima (14)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Democracy is electing deserving candidates. Well, it is a lot more. In a democratic country, everyone has power. We can choose leaders for ourselves. It is a great opportunity for us, and we should make full use of it. In our race to become a developed nation the track will take many turns and each turn will depend on how judiciously we play our individual roles.
Rishika Meena (11)
St Anthony’s Jr. College, Agra

The makers of our Indian Constitution meant a lot more than elections when they talked of democracy. This fact is clearly visible in the ideals of Liberty, Fraternity, Secularism, Socialism and Sovereignty which safeguard the social and political status of each individual other than giving them equal rights. Elections aren’t vitiating it, but are the most visible mediators of applying this to practical life.
Diya V. Surjuse (15)
Agragami Convent School, Wardha

Democracy is the form of government in which the people choose their legislators. In a secular democracy we are also free to follow our own religion. We enjoy freedom of speech, right to a fair trial, etc. We can stay in any part of the country and can do any business.
Charvi Suriya
Sophia Girls Sr. Sec. School, Bhilwara

Democracy is more than just holding elections. Our voting system worked well for decades but now it is broken. Elections are held for name’s sake. Democracy brings political equality and political participation. But in our country, democracy is not practised as what it truly means.
Maansi Bharti (15)
Notre Dame School, New Delhi

Democracy is supposed to empower citizens at all levels. Sadly, in our democracy, citizens are enfeebled and politicians grow more powerful. Nowadays, in the greed for winning the elections, distributing money and liquor by candidates is common. This results in regressing our democracy to a lower level.
Deepal (15)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Democracy is synonymous with elections for some, but for others it is much more. Political parties misuse elections by betraying the voters. Too often voting is considered as the only exercise of our civic duty. Beyond elections are democratic values and institutions keeping pace with the cycle of polling.
Diya Thapliyal (15)
Notre Dame School, New Delhi

The Constitution of India provides certain fundamental rights to its citizens. Adult franchise is one of these rights (right to vote). Other fundamental rights are right to equality, right to freedom, right against exploitation, right to property and constitutional remedies. Through elections, we get to choose our own government. A government thus elected should ensure that these fundamental rights are guaranteed to citizens.
Ansheeka Saini (14)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Democracy is meant to empower and support the citizens. We saw and read on news channels and newspapers about what happened in Haryana and Maharashtra. It was a show of political play and power. It had to be a democratic procedure. The masses just want someone to listen to and solve their problems, not someone who desires to have just power and rule.
Sargun Saini (16)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

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There are many who have tried to define democracy, and there are many definitions for the same, but when I think of democracy I think of a road. A road leading to one’s Utopia! It is a narrow road, but one on which we have to allow all others to travel with us, because democracy can only survive if we all drive together. Most times we don’t; some of us drive a bigger car or a heavier truck and with forceful argument or bullying muscle we try to push others off the road, but it is of no avail, because without those others alongside, there’s no democracy at all.

There are rules for the road, rules as to how one drives; we don’t cut lanes, bang others in their cars, oh no, we learn to avoid hitting others. We learn to use skill, to move towards our Utopia without hurting others who are also striving to reach theirs. How often I watch trolls and critics who lash out at others in newspapers, on websites and other platforms, making fun of them, jeering and mocking someone’s views, someone’s accent. Like motorcycles on a road they are an irritant to car drivers. They move in and out and spoil your drive. When we learn to ride a bike following the rules and not annoying others we have learned the first step of democracy.

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The post The road of democracy appeared first on The Teenager Today.