Future of Indian Democracy

Future of Indian Democracy

Future of Indian democracy is going to depend on the youth of India(18 to 30 years) . And in future course of democracy will be decided by this age cohart of voters.

     Important determinants will be as below

1.  This group will decide what future it dreams for itself. This group has to be self awared about their material conditions like education, employment, income, civic liberties, role in decision making etc. If this group recognizes it's material well being it will vote for developmental politics and will prefer those who have faciliated such things in past.

But if this group gives identity related questions priority in choosing government then democracy will continue to be plagued by populist rhetorics which will ensure firm steps of authoritarianism in the country.

2. Second determinant will be actual participation in the voting process itself. If most of  those who are aware of their material misries and developmental regressiveness the results will be in favour of performing parties . But if those who believe in communal vigilantism vote in more greater number the results will be other way round.

3. Third  important determinant will be the role of political parties. There may be two opposite trends in this respect. One condition is that in which political parties teach voters about their dues, about their rights, about their present material and civic  status and about their expectation. The alternative is that in which political parties will train voters in the art of identity politics .

4. Fourth important determinant will be type and role of media. No one can deny their role as opinion builder and influencer. Social media will definitely play the major role. TV channels will continue to be in favour of the power because they depend on the power for their survival but today social media is the primary source of information and news for the youth population. So dominant  narrative on the social media will also play a role which will not be less than any other factor. It is in this context fake news and hate speech will also decide the narrative. If the political parties succeed in containing them the narrative will be more balanced. Struggle for democracy will also be faught on the social media and accordingly it will be played in the theater of polling stations.

The future of Indian democracy is at crossroad from where it can proceed in either way, either becoming more democratic or becoming more authoritarian.