YET ANOTHER THOUGHT ON DEMOCRACY

‘So, you have done one more of your vanishing tricks? Where were you for last one month?’ Shish welcomed me to his TKS with the question.

‘I had gone and stayed with my friend – not for one month, but 3 days. Could not stay for more number of days.’

‘Your democracywalah friend? The one with democracy in his household?’

‘Yes’, Naradaa confirmed.

‘So, how is the democracy working there?’

‘Well, how is it working is not the question. Is it working?’

‘Why, what happened? You said they had elections and they had lot of new reforms. And there are lots of foodstuffs being made there and the neighbors are having their restaurants and stalls there and everything is hunky-dory?’

‘That is what I wanted to find out. Last time, I told you they had these special conferences where mostly there are lot of people talking at the same time and people shouting at each other etc?’

‘Yeh, such conferences are part of democratic system, that is what you said.’

‘Well, I believed it at that time. And most of the people in the household are brainwashed into believing, that we should have that kind of conferences, I think.’

‘Why do you think that?’

‘After I went last time, till this date, they did not have a proper conference. My friend says at every conference, the same shouting match happens and then they all go. Why is it happening this way so that the conferences do not happen, I would never know.’ A kind of disillusionment was clearly seen on Naradaa's face.

‘I think they are worried that some good may come off it if the conferences happen.’ Shish was not very convincing.

‘So, do you think it is good?’

‘It is good and not good….’ Shish was sounding philosophical

‘The whole visit was maddening. And now your interpretation of it is more maddening. What do you mean; it is good and not good?’

‘Let us assume, the ruling guys want to bring some change, the opposing party will oppose it because they are opposition and in principle they have to oppose it. There is another reason they would oppose it because if the rulers does a good thing, the opposing guys will not get elected next time. So it will be good for rulers and not good for non-rulers’

‘I see’. Actually, Naradaa did not see the point yet.

‘The other side of the coin is, there are points not good for the rulers, but good for the non-rulers…..’ Shish was trying to elaborate.

‘I think I will not have that kind of democracy in NA. It is better to have a Napolean so that Boxer can shout that 'Napolean is always right' and repeat 'I will work harder’a few times..'

‘Are you sure? I am not sure that you are sure about your thoughts….’

‘Of course, I am not sure. So I am deciding to leave things as it is in NA… No more discussions on this.’ Naradaa is firm.

‘So, Napolean is always right?’

'Come on now, Let us have couple of those delicious dosas of yours....'

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