September 12, 2012, IIC, Delhi
Chaired By: Prof. J. S. Rajput, Former Director, NCERT
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Ramji Singh, Veteran Gandhian Thinker & Former MP
Guest of Honour: Dr. I M Kapahy, Former President, NDTF
India takes pride calling it to be the biggest democracy in the world. But even after 65 years of independence, can we truly claim to possess real democratic credentials? We are severely lagging behind in ensuring free, fare and continuous participation of every sections of society in the process of democracy. This is the concern that inspired IPF to organize the present seminar. It was also the occasion of launching IPF’s series of publication on the subject “Health of the Nation”. Dr Ramji Singh, former MP and renowned Gandhian launched the series. Foundation's first Newsletter was also released on the occasion.
“Parliamentary democracy in India is a poor adaptation of the British Parliament and is grossly insufficient in handling a vast and diverse country like India.” - Dr. Ramji Singh
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Ramji Singh said that the reason of under performance of our parliamentary democracy is rooted in its flawed fundamentals. Present structure of parliamentary democracy in India is a poor adaptation of the British Parliament and is grossly insufficient in handling a vast and diverse country like India. He highlighted that India itself had a very vibrant system of democracy which goes back to the Vedic era. But instead of believing in our own credentials of democracy we chose to give a free hand to the neo-imperialists to use our democracy. Dr. Singh also criticized the five year bound gap between two elections and by quoting Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia said “living communities do not wait for five years”.
Dr J.S. Rajput, former Director NCERT, in his concluding remarks emphasized on the need of instilling basic democratic ethos among citizens right from early childhood.