Democracy in olden days and Directive principles of state policy now -a-days
Soviet Russia and china, which are communist countries, also claim to be democratic because they say that the worker and the farmer is ruling force in their countries.
Democracy has been in existence in the world since early times. Plato and Aristotle of Greece referred to the opinion of the people in the governance of a country. Ancient Indian books are referring to the strong influence which public opinion had it the government of those days. In the Ramayana there is a reference to lord Rama who sent Sita to the hermitage of Balmiki, after wresting her from the clutches of Ravana by killing the latter. He took this step on account of respect for the public opinion. Democracy has, therefore, its roots in ancient India where civilization had reached an advance stage.
The Manga Carta of England laid the foundations of democracy and human rights in Europe. After its independence, America also laid down a democratic from of government where the will of the people was given maximum importance. Abraham
Lincoln, the president of America established the rule of the people, for the people and by the people. For his propagation of this cause he even sacrificed his life. He became a martyr for equal rights to the Negroes in America.
The rise of Hitler and Mussolini in Germany and Italy respectively during 1930’s was a blow to the cause of democracy. Hitler and Mussolini joined hands in nipping the democracy in the bud in Europe. It was due to the strength of democracies like Russia, America and England that dictatorship of Europe had to loss in the battlefield during the Second World War. The second war was a war between democracy and dictatorship.
Democracy has been functioning smoothly in most of the countries since the Second World War. Most European countries have successfully worked out democratic governments and made good progress. They built their economics which had been destroyed during the war. Japan, Malaysia, east European countries and Russia have also made remarkable progress under democratic set-up. The United States has become the richest country of the world under a democracy set-up.
As regards India, democracy has been functioning here smoothly since the times of independence. The country made great progress. The country set up an economic system in democracy lines and it helped industrialization on a large scale. Small-scale industries were also developed to maintain equality in distribution and to avoid concentration of economic power.
Directive principles of state policy now -a-days
In addition to the fundamental rights and duties, the constitution has long list of directive principles of state policy. They are the guidelines the government is supposed to follow.
Lows should be farmed for raising the standard of living of the people.
It must also ensure that some people do not exploit others and become rich.
Enough opportunities of education and providing are free and compulsory education to the children up to 14 years of age.
The backward classes like the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other weaker sections of the society should be protected.
Equal wages for equal work to both men and women.
We are all different in my ways but we all belong to one country, i.e., India. We have to work for the unity of the country. We must be honest and hard working. Our constitution has paid enough attention to the welfare of the people. It is our duty to follow the rules and make our country great in such a way that we can be proud of our motherland.
Fundamental duties
Rights with out duties are incomplete. There is a close relationship between rights and duties. With out performing duties one cannot hope to have rights. Some of the fundamental duties mentioned in our constitution are-
We must obey the lows of the country.
All citizens must respect our national flag and the national anthem.
We must protect our national property and environment.
We must help to keep the country united.
We must defend our country in times of need.
We must pay our taxes.
We should avoid acts of violence.
All citizen of India are equal and we must treat them as such.
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