60 years of Republic and the Election Commission
Hearty greetings for the New Year to all friends and well-wishers who have kept in touch with the BJP through this website and the forum. I have been going through the many valuable suggestions you have been sending to us. Commencing with this year’s Republic Day I propose to resume blogging as I used to do in the first half of the year 2009.
The Constitution of India came into force from 26th January 1950. The Election Commission is to launch today, a day prior to Republic Day, its Diamond Jubilee Celebrations. I well recall how cynical many western observers were when India adopted parliamentary democracy after independence. How can a country with such a large population of totally illiterate citizens run a successful democracy? This used to be the main thrust of criticism.
While in most other developing countries which became liberated from colonial rule about the same time as India, and which at the outset adopted democracy as we did, their option did not survive for long. They became victims either of army rule, or some other form of authoritarianism. India can be legitimately proud that despite the many disadvantages with which we started we have functioned as a vibrant and vigorous democracy for all these six decades - the nineteen months Emergency (June 1975 to March 1977) being the only bad patch.
I remember discussing this issue once with late Benazir Bhutto and asking her as to why in the matter of democracy, our two countries - both of whom had experience of identical institutions under British rule - have presented such a sharp contrast. Benazir offered two reasons: firstly, India’s army has been scrupulously apolitical, and secondly, India’s constitution makers have made the Election Commission truly independent of the executive.
I understand that some time next month the Election Commission proposes to convene a meeting of political parties to discuss various issues relating to poll reforms. The Commission also intends to discuss the question of paid news - a form of media corruption, that has besmirched elections lately. I suggest that this meeting should also include in its agenda the misgivings that have been voiced in different parts of the world, and lately in India also, as to the dependability and fairness of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
It is significant that Germany, technologically, one of the most advanced countries of the world regards EVMs so risky for fair elections as to ban their use altogether. The U.S.A. has not gone that far. However, 32 out of the 50 states have passed laws mandating that EVMs can be used only if there is a paper back up for every vote cast electronically.
In U.S., this technology is referred to as Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). The VVPAT voting machine produces a paper record of every single vote cast by the voters on the machine. After casting vote on the EVM the voter will examine the physical print out and if satisfied that there is no discrepancy, deposit the vote in a ballot box.
There is legislation pending in the U.S. Congress seeking to make this State law a federal law. I hope the proposed meting of the Election Commission with political party representatives would agree to have a similar law framed by the Indian parliament also. IT experts the world over have been affirming that there is no such thing as a tamper-proof electronic machine! And the paper back up is a cure not only for the mischief of tampering, but also for the problem of machine malfunctioning.
I send my greetings to all our countrymen on this Republic day.
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January 27th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
sir ,that is exciting to b the part of this blog ,want to say only one thing what has happend to BJP.
January 27th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
The article is decently written,though i expected a more comprehensive
take on 60 years,when the nation has done more than survived, it has
thrived.
This article does not offer any thing new,on the contrary casts aspersions
on time tested and scientifically established procedure of voting. However
it is pleasant to see you back on blog.
Regards
January 27th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
The rumors of tempering the EVM was raised in media as well as in various sections of the society during last elections. Now the IT experts has also affirmed the possibility of tempering the EVM. Thus there is acute need of VVPAT voter machine in India in which the voter will physically verify the paper print of his castes vote and deposit the same in ballot box. It will maintain faith and impartiality of the electioneering for which the Indian Parliament should frame the Law. My heartiest good wishes for respected Advani ji and all the Blog readers.
January 27th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Dear Sir,
Indian Democracy is truely one of the most succesful democracies in the world.
To make it more meaningful and the elections to be reflection of the public’s wishes, we must make voting compulsary for all citizens upto 60 years of age.
Regarding the EVMs, I agree, the EVMs should generate a paper slip, which can be verified by the voters and dropped into the box. Otherwise, the reliability of EVMs will be questioned by the losing political party.
Whenever you or the party raises the issue of compulsary voting or EVMs supported by paper ballot, the paid media tries to project this as a backward looking thought and suggestion.
Compulsary voting will strenghten the democracy and EVM+paper ballot is actually is the most scientific and logical way of establishing the authenticity of the EVMs. Why should some parties and media oppose it ? Its beyond my understanding, atleast
!!
Best Regards to you, Rajat
January 27th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Sir,
Today, your thoughts on the back-breaking increase in prices are written about quiet well in ET. We are all ready to be part of the nation-wide agitations to wake up this non-performing and actually head-less government.
It is extremely painful to see how people are facing this difficult time of high prices of food items and very high bus, train and metro fares. The least one has to spend on Metro / bus is Rs.50 per day to commute to the workplace. An office boy earning Rs.4000 a month will spend aprox Rs.1500 and is left with Rs.2500 to take care of his food, rent etc. Extremely Extremely difficult for the common man. We need to do something concrete to make this govt contain the price rise.
Best Regards to you, Rajat
January 28th, 2010 at 10:04 am
Respected Advaniji, I have very high respect about your integrity, patriotism and most importantly the Bharatiya culture in which you would like this country to lead the global world towards its true and real ideals of life i.e divine life.
I’m happy that you have revived this blog. My remarks on the present message are as follows: –
You have observed-
1. “we have functioned as a vibrant and vigorous democracy for all these six decades - the nineteen months Emergency (June 1975 to March 1977) being the only bad patch.â€
I would like your good self to refer to Subash c. Kashyap’s article(pp11) TOI issue dated23 Jan 2010. He has observed inter alia, the differences between Rajendra Prasad and Javaarlal.Nehru,†what was being fought over was the nature of India’s Polity.†Very true, it has led to†managed democracy, through several maneuvers now through the EVM, which has succeeded in imposing the Gandhi family political ownership of the Indian polity.
2. “and secondly, India’s constitution makers have made the Election Commission truly independent of the executive.â€
The controversy surrounding the succession success of Shri Chawla indicates otherwise!! no further comments are necessary.
I would like to reproduce my comments offered on the sincere efforts undertaken by a senior worker from the Hindu Parivar. We all would be obliged, if you seriously consider such efforts in the interest of not only this nation but the entire human life on this planet earth.
“My Dear Ravindra Mahajan,
I received your e-mail on the 4 March 2009 along with the three draft documents. I am offering my hurried remarks. I am avoiding raising a debate on the differences of opinion involving the Bharatiya Darshans as well as other philosophies. My remarks therefore maybe read in that spirit.
Para 1. We believe that it is the Bharatiya World View that alone can lead to establishment of an autonomous, harmonious, exploitation-free, prosperous, self-restrained and alert society.
My remarks: — The word Bharat, according to my understanding indicates a land; where the divine hand of the supreme consciousness is at silent work evolving a kind of divine culture of total integral life, where the chosen leader is a human being [embodied consciousness].
The definition of man or its description appearing at some place is at best based on an observation by a materialist perception and, therefore does not indicate forcefully the chosen role for the human being in the cosmic evolutionary plan. If it’s to be discarded as speculative, then how can we talk of beliefs based on liberal political views and/or unsupported in the terms of materialist logic and science? I would prefer to take not an ambiguous or an equivocal stand but a positive one from the spiritual science.
The word Bha indicates ’spiritual light’ and the total phrase connotes that the inhabitants of this land enjoyed the blissful spirit. In fact,â€Bharat Varsha†is a phrase which includes the words Varsha, which means raining Divine Bliss from above.
The opportunity of Birth, life of purusharth, spiritual samskars, blessed sendoff from earthly life to a divine roadmap etc. are the common belief and traditional features of the Hindu life based on Vedic knowledge. The family life of a Hindu was designed by the Hindu societies over generations. This pattern came to be followed merely on belief rather based on understanding of spiritual Vedic knowledge, and consequently was lost by a mere imposition of foreign cultures.
It would be fashionably Commonplace to throwaway this interpretation, but, it is better than a mere belief. Because, I can adduce evidence for such a claim. This is the reason that the cosmic task, which is called ‘Yajna’, i.e. evolution of consciousness to divine status is seriously envisaged by generations of Hindu society living on this land and the object was ‘Krinvanto VishvaAryamâ€, in other words convert the animal consciousness of the human form as well as the other life forms to divine consciousness. It would be quite obvious that all the mundane objectives of political, social, economical etc. are unified in the single target.
I have written a series of articles in the magazine Disha run by Dr. Vijay Bedekar, chairman Vidya Prasarak Mandal. This is a work in spiritual science, which does not unfortunately attract any attention or does not get evaluated in the face of voluminous political and social criticisms in the intellectual language and thoughts. In Bharat, it is not the philosophy, but the Aunubhuti Shastra, that is regarded as real knowledge. This knowledge is based on yoga and samadhijanya.
In my opinion, we are unwittingly following the commonplace Western cultural approach to knowledge and the Reality.
Para 2: There are two ways of carrying out a national programme. One, through the state power; the other, by changing the people’s attitudes. We have to choose the latter path since it is the superior way.
In this task of bringing about a total transformation in the attitudes and thought-processes and behavior of the whole people, while education will play a stellar role, the social organizations have to work in the society by taking individual after individual and molding him for an organized national life.
My remarks: - Once it is believed that all life on this planet earth is engaged in a deep evolutionary program of consciousness, it would be necessary to understand the relative roles inter se of the individual, society, state or nature that each would play. Outwardly, though it may appear that these roles are different or conflicting or work at cross purposes, yet in the dialectical spiritual process at work, and in place in the Cosmos, this turns out to be a spiralistic harmonizing integral process over the generations and ages of life. Such a long task being beyond imagination of the mortal human being, he is inclined to impose a narrow materialist view on the ongoing evolution.
Therefore, the problem is not to choose one or the other, but to see the Process in its integrality. Our effort has to be involved and engaged in all the instruments of evolution that these parameters represent — the individual, the state, politics, economics, education and ‘Integral Yoga’ etc. in the true understanding of the evolutionary process…
Para 3:- The Bharatiya World View has not only been propounded in Vedas and Upanishads but in recent times by luminaries like Swami Vivekananda, Shri Aurobindo, Mahatma Gandhi, Shri Guruji and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. (Ref Ekatma Manav Darshan)
My remarks:-it would not suffice in this exercise merely to enlist some of the Scriptures, philosophies or personalities that in our opinion deserve to be relevant or are appropriate in our thesis. Because, the outsiders, by that I mean, those who do not subscribe to these recommended approaches, are seen to engage themselves in approaching the issues in a segmental sectarian and/or in a paradigmal prismatic views.
Vedas and Upanishads are human possessions of true and real knowledge — Rita and Satya, handed down successively or 10,000 years or so by the human societies — Aryan and Hindus. It is called a Shruti knowledge, which is subjected to interpretation by the human beings, many times erroneously. The difficulty is that this knowledge is the secret of the universe and beyond the comprehension of the normal human being. In fact, the yogic, Tantric and now some philological, neuro biological and many other approaches are being developed to decipher this knowledge. Swami Dayanand had written Rigved Bhashya and many other treatises, Mahayogi Aurobindo had written “secrets in Vedas†and many more books including developing a theory†synthesis of yogaâ€, all such efforts have remained obscure and have not even been studied. Such contributions have not earned any respectful place in the Indian universities and the established Government or Private educational institutions.
Such efforts have been left or have remained a burden on some unknown elected rare individuals; education has fallen into commercial fields–on the other hand secular state is engaged in politics of power, who attach no significance to such concerns.
At present, we are fortunately moved and influenced by the view of Pundit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, that contemporary global societies have exhausted and failed in following the path of capitalism and communism for human progress and has arrived at a conclusion that a third alternative can be developed and followed based, maybe on Bharatiya culture, philosophy and epistemology.
This he has called “Ekatma-Manav-Darshan (EMD)â€.
We are all involved actively in developing this concept. Therefore, I would like to highlight only some points, which need more attention.
We have to assume that Vedic knowledge is supreme. This viewpoint has been held strongly and with conviction by swami Dayanand and Mahayogi Aurobindo. They have regarded this as†Apta Jnyanâ€, inevitable recourse of real knowledge to mortal human beings. The form in which it exists has not been correctly deciphered, this fight best efforts. There are six Darshanas on the Indian side., and many interpretations through out the world. Vedanta by Adi Shakaracharya is held in high esteem. It is intellectual in content and has been criticized by his own disciples and more validly by swami Dayanand and Aurobindo.
We cannot avoid such analysis or its awareness. The worldview is bound to be dictated by these theories. The present view is not limited by the perception that this world is a Maya — unreal. In the abstract sense of reality it may appear to be unreal but it has a reality of its own and a function to sub serve in the cosmic evolutionary plan. This view is propounded by Mahayogi Aurobindo and has further elaborated by his theory of.’Group Social Soul’. and.’Integral Sociology’. Ekatma Manav Darshan, in my opinion, would be very favourably close to Aurobindo Darshan rather than Shakaracharya and moksha.
We cannot afford to defer this analysis, merely on the consideration of a high regards that Adi Shankeracharya enjoys. Philosophies, theories are all in the crucible of evolutionary churning. One cannot risk taking a terminal view even with respect to Aurobindo’s ‘divine life’. He himself does not wish to be so and has refused to define ‘Divinity’, fearing that it would impose limitations and conditioning on the mind.
One more glaring omission in our debates is about the broader and comprehensive infrastructure of the evolutionary program of consciousness that is needed and partly exists in Bharat. This infrastructure is in a decadent and fractured and spiritless state. Yet, the elaborate religious practices ,rituals,Tirth Khetras,Shakti Sthanas,Tantric , yogic, mantric schools, 16 samskars, templates, sculptures , Puranas, Yajna Systems Agni Hotras and many many more practices and instruments that exist have nurtured, sustained and managed to preserve the original esoteric and potential instruments of human beings to acquire higher states of consciousness particularly spiritual. This is despite the hostile and destructive political occupations by the Muslims and the British in the recent times.
Now this does not mean to paint a political or religious picture at all. The object of contribution of Bharat is and will remain global. But, its seeds lie in Vedic knowledge. This knowledge becomes living knowledge in the context of contemporary human societies living on Earth and especially in Bharat (The land of Spiritual Tree, Ashvattha)
I have indicated principles on which I would like to perceive EMD. I feel honored to have been invited to offer comments. I had done it with my utmost sincerity and limited knowledge. If any clarification or addition is required, I would be glad to offer it.
D:\A EMD and National Policies\My Remarks on Social Sustenance.doc
Saturday, March 07, 2009 “
(Yeshwant Sane)
Mr.Yeshwant Ramchandra Sane,
B.E. (Civil), FIV, FIS, RICS (Lond)
Retd.Estate Manager, Bombay Port Trust,
Visiting Faulty Member, Sardar Patel University, Gujrat, India
Dr.Ambedkar University, Ahamadabad
Member, Governing Body of Centre of Valuation Studies, Research and Training Association, Mumbai,
Ex-Trustee Granthali (Mumbai), and Brahman Shikhan Mandal, Thane,
President Thane Nagar Wachan Mandir Library (160 yrs Old),
President Spiritual Science Centre, Thane,
Res: Sonal Appt. Agiary Lane, near Saraswat Bank, PC 400601
Res Tel: -91-022-25368450
And, 91-022-64500148
MBL: 9004051847
E-mail: -saneyr@mtnl.net.in
Saneyr1@gmail.com
January 28th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Respected sir,
Nice to read your recent post. I agree with your opinion that India has maintained its democracy despite some disadvange and one bad patch of emergency. But we have not achieved on developmental issues like our neighbour China. I think, ultimately one nation can become powerful by getting economic freedom. We are still poor and most of common Indian people are hand to mouth too. On paper so much money spent for their facility but this money never disburse for the reason on ground and ultimately refills the packet of beureaucrates and politicians. Data shows that we are growing rapidly on economic front but I think that rich are being more rich and poor more poor. May we expect a better future by keeping most of common man on their destiny..? On the other hand these people are not awared for their right due to lack of education and many of politicians want to keep them like a football (case) of indian judicial court for their own reason of vote-bank.
January 28th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Dear Sir,
Your observations regarding the use of EVM in different part of world is highly commendable and our election commission should look into this aspect very deligently as it is a matter of concern for our democracy and as mentioned by you that most of our citizens are illiterate so it becomes a matter of deep concern.Earlier when we were using ballot papers to cast our vote any rigging or malpractice canbe checked by voters themselves but as now we are using EVM’s any kind of manipulation cannot be checked by common man so their should be paper backup of every vote to enthuse full confidence in outr voting system.
February 1st, 2010 at 2:27 pm
I think we may end up spending more money and effort without much gain even with VVPAT.
Since VVPAT approach will have a printed backup ballot that will give the authoritative count if the electronic count is disputed, political parties will try rigging the backup ballot. We should ensure that the backup ballots are kept under continuous surveillance. Consequently, we would pretty much be doing everything we were doing when we had the old style paper ballot. We may also see every other candidate disputing the electronic count - manual count would be needed in many cases.
The main USP of EVMs is the ability to get accurate results within a short duration. But, with the suspicion levels on the EVMs and all the manual verifications, the EVMs would not add any major value – we will end up waiting for a long time before the final results are known. It may be cost effective to just go back to the good old paper ballot system.
Regards,
Shahul
February 1st, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Having a single record of vote instead of two (electronic & backup) will resolve many issues. There is no point recording the votes electronically if we cannot trust the electronic machines. I think it would be more efficient if we can replace EVMs with devices capable of printing machine readable ballot slips that can be read and verified by the voter as well. Then, we can have counting machines that can separate, arrange and count the ballot slips. Techniques used by postal sorting and currency counting machines can be evaluated. After the ballot slips are arranged by a machine, even manual count can happen faster.
Regards,
Shahul hameed
February 1st, 2010 at 2:30 pm
With ballot papers we were physically mixing all the ballots before counting. This ensured that segment-wise voting pattern is not revealed. But with EVMs, we get segment-wise details. I have seen assembly constituency level details published in election commission websites for the Lok Sabha election. I am not sure how much more details are revealed.
This gives a big advantage to political parties that employ unfair mechanisms to get votes – Workers of the party go to houses and leave behind money depending on the number of votes. They don’t ask for votes or even give the money in hand. Voters are afraid to return the money due to fear. They also end up voting for that party fearing that it is possible to find out who they voted for – maybe not at the individual level but at a polling station level.
Effectively, it is possible to win elections just by throwing money. This is highly deplorable. Machines or no machines, no segment-wise details please.
Regards,
Shahul Hameed
February 4th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
In this context, it might be useful to read the chapter on Cheating by Teachers in Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Dubner. They have published a research paper wherein they have devised an algorithm which can be used to detect teachers employing unfair means to enhance their students’ score. In case we follow their methodology, then we can predict the polling booths where EVMs were tampered with.
February 9th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
1. Negative voting should be made mandatory in Election commission.
2. Constitution needs to be modified so that Vidhan sabha and Lok sabha election will happen in same time. Otherwise the regional party are using Lok sabha as a testing ground and puting pressure to negotiate in forming state Govt.
3. Voting should be made mandatory. Gujrat’s bill should be discussed in Lok sabha.
All the above are mandatory the last one I would like to bring forward for having a Brain storming discussion on whether we should have proportionate representation or not? Proportionate representation means : the ruling party,opposition party gets 30%, 25% of the total votes cast and the rest are divided among the regional parties.This is the situation of each polling center. Irrespective to the number of MPs a party has, the number of MPs can be selected from the elected results based on % of votes secured.
April 4th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Hi Sir,
Many experts has proven that EVMa are not safe and not tamper-prof. Even EVM violates secrecy of ballot by booth proffing. Even everywhere in the world there is a question on credibility of EVMs, then why we are using it? Why cannot we go back to Paper ballot? We people of India (Majority) wants to go back to paper ballot. There was a possibolity of rigging of EVMs and electoral output in last elections (lokasabha 2009 and Maharshtra 2009 election). Because these results were not expected and shocking. What UPA has done in 5 years to come back in power? There is question on honesty of CEC (Mr. Navin Chawla). I don’t know why BJP is silent on this? This is serios national issue.
April 4th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Hi,
Here are few weblinks for information. Please click on these links to get additional information on rigging of EVMs in election 2009 and much more.
http://government.wikia.com/wiki/Review_the_2009_Lok_Sabha_Election_Process:_Promises_and_Reality
http://sites.google.com/site/hindunew/electronic-voting-machines
Thanks,
Yogesh
November 10th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
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December 31st, 2010 at 7:16 pm
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Quite inspiring article, Thank you !!…