Watch | ‘India an Elective Despotism. Modi a Despot, But So Are Many CMs'
Debashish Roy Chowdhury, one of the authors of the recently published and highly acclaimed book To Kill A Democracy: India's Passage to Despotism, says that India is “an elective despotism” and Narendra Modi is a “despot”. However, he adds that is also true of several chief ministers amongst whom he named Mamata Banerjee and K. Chandrashekar Rao. Asked how he would respond to the question “If Modi is a despot how do you explain the fact you are able to say this in a television studio and still walk out and remain free?”, this was Chowdhury’s reply: “So I should be thankful that I can walk out and remain free?” adding if his freedom is not established on the basis of his rights but on the goodwill and mercy of Narendra Modi, then that proves his point.
This 33-minute interview begins with a discussion of Debashish Roy Chowdhury’s broad definition of democracy. “Democracy is much more than monitory democracy – periodic elections plus a plethora of watchdog bodies that publicly scrutinise, check, and restrain those who exercise power. Democracy is a whole way of life in which people from different walks of social life see eye to eye, rub shoulders, cooperate and compromise, and generally think of themselves as the equals of one another.” Why has he chosen to define democracy in this very broad manner and not just in terms of holding periodic elections and the right and power to change governments? This is the first question put to him.
Thereafter the interview discusses four examples of conditions that Roy Chowdhury believes must be fulfilled for democracy to exist. They are: “Democracy is freedom from hunger, humiliation and violence”; “Democracy is hygienic living conditions, and answering nature’s calls in safety and privacy. It’s public and private respect for different ways of living”; “Democracy is not being forced to travel in overcrowded buses and trains like livestock”; and “Democracy is sharing and caring for others”. In particular, Roy Chowdhury is asked about the third and fourth conditions.
At the end of this section, it’s put to Roy Chowdhury that more than defining democracy he seems to be propounding an ideology. In reply, he says democracy is an ideology. In the interview, he explains why he holds this view.
Thereafter the interview discusses two consequences that are likely to follow in countries which claim to be a democracy but the essential conditions that define democracy are not met. In brief, the first consequence is the emergence of Caesars and dictators. The second is that democracy becomes “a fancy mask worn by wealthy political predators”.
At this point, having discussed Roy Chowdhury’s broad concept of democracy in detail, the interview focuses specifically on India.
Roy Chowdhury points out that in terms of the four sample conditions necessary for democracy to exist, which are mentioned above, India fails each time. His conclusion is: “The India story has lost its credibility. India is not the world’s largest democracy. India is the world’s largest case of endangered democracy.” He says the danger is “very great”.
Following on from this, Roy Chowdhury believes that the rise of Modi was inevitable, both because India has failed to fulfil the essential conditions that make for real and meaningful democracy and also because checks and balances that should restrain a leader's power are missing. Modi has complete control over his cabinet, his party and the legislature but also his influence over the judiciary and the Election Commission, to name two other institutions, is enormous and effectively unchecked.
Roy Chowdhury’s conclusion is that India is now an “elective despotism”. Modi, he says, is a “despot”. However, he also points out that this is true of other chief ministers. His point is that the Indian political system, both at the Centre and the states, produces elective despotisms with a despot at the top.
These are some of the highlights of the interview. Please see the video for a fuller and better understanding of Debashish Roy Chowdhury’s arguments.
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