A dynamic and vibrant society creates institutions to regulate and propel forward the human innovations collectively for its application to enrich humanity. One such admiringly and universally acclaimed institution among myriad of others that our forefathers propounded is democratic system of governance and its institutions. Thus the evolution of democratic ideals and process is a long cultural culmination inherited from forefathers and handed down to forthcoming generations for creating an ideal society.
In our context, democracy which was captive under the tyrannical rule in different forms for generations was reinvented and rejuvenated with peoples’ hard fought struggles in different periods of succession and finally in 2063 BS. The promulgation of a new Constitution and declaration Nepal as a federal democratic republic is heralded as a dawn of democracy with people centric political transformation with the firm conviction that federalism can materialize peoples’ dream for change. Federalism as a system of governance invokes people as the center of all activities that a state conducts. Now for the overall development of Nepali society- politico-socio-economic-advancement democratic federalism has become a means for fulfilling their long unresolved aspiration for better life.
What really sustains democracy? The answer should be deemed and extracted from historical perspective and geo-strategic location of the nations. If we look at the thriving democracy in countries, the circumstances in Switzerland, United States of America, Britain, France, Sweden, and India are different in each country and continent. Democratic history of Nepal is short in comparison to those countries and intermittently obstructed its full functioning. Democracy which seeks to be groomed and nurtured with great care to be developed as a culture is tested time and again and experimented with the newer one. And in every political change and system of governance, we have created a new set of elites, who rose to power and grabbed scarce state resource for their personal gain depriving the people from their rightful share.
The use of adult franchise through periodic elections mandates political parties to govern the country. Election as one of the basic characteristics of democracy has been dishonored by the rulers often in Nepal’s political history. The Nepali Congress government elected with two thirds of majority in the first ever held general election of Nepal in 2015 BS was overthrown in about a year. All three elections held after the reestablishment of democracy in 2047 BS, the elected governments were short lived, neither one completed their full terms. Presently, in the new political set up under federalism, the Communist Part of Nepal has repeated the history by securing absolute majority in the elections held in 2074 BS. So the helm of state power is under the communist party of Nepal with a historic chance to convert peoples’ expectation into reality by pursuing policies befitting with peoples’ aspiration for the development.
Peoples’ expectation for development, in economic term, is demand side- socio-economic advancement- for fulfilling the basic needs of the people. However, people are well aware of global prosperity with ultra-modern facilities of glittering housings, roads, railways, hospitals, educational establishments, digital industries and several other scientific and technological advancements, contrary to those lofty dreams. Nepali’s current necessities are fixing the potholes of the roads, controlling the dust particles and pollution of the cities, affordable quality education, affordable health care, supplying regular potable drinking water, uninterrupted regular supply of electricity and job opportunities for the youths. Delivery of public goods and services with timely completion of projects, which will contribute for well-being and uplifting the living standard of the people are the supply side of the government. The construction of mono-rail, sleek rail from east to west of Nepal or north to south and building water ways is probably not the demand of people currently. It is the supply of the government, induced by the government on its will.
In induced development model, leaders regard people as an ignorant entity and leaders are poised to design and develop developmental plan for people. In order to draw the attention of voters, leaders are prompted to make high sound and project their personality aligned with big projects. Building big is good for the states whose economy is strong and self-sustained, but the importance of building small with a participatory approach goes with peoples’ choice. Small success fuel transformative changes by leveraging tiny advantages into patterns that convince people that bigger achievement are within their reach. But conversely to this, leaders want to erect large monumental structures to allure voters with their achievement. If we forget to cut the piece according to size, it is doomed to be failed once again the onerous responsibility of fulfilling peoples’ aspiration. Our new found democracy with devolution of state power to the local level of governance under the federal system rather demands for self-propelled development model for its sustainability and making solid foundation for further advancement.
In every time whenever the democracy failed or overturned by force, the blames were directed to leaders for their failures in delivering public goods, patronizing corruption, nepotism and favouritism etc. People does not want repeat such an event again. It is assumed that the democracy delivers public goods in an accountable and transparent manner subdues corruption and represents people in every level. Coincidently, when the civic societies are questioning on the fairness of representation, campaign cost and electoral system, the mega corruption scandals at the higher echelons of the governance are coming out putting mark on the success of democracy itself.
People are mute spectator of all the activities going around on their periphery and evaluating quietly of the promises and performances of leaders. Since people does not come to the street easily, the undercurrent within society remains active as a sleeping volcano, no one know when it becomes active and explodes. Nepal cannot sustain yet another experiment on democracy. The political parties and their leaders have to walk carefully in a tight rope for the successful implementation of democratic federalism with promoting and strengthening the democratic ideals, value and culture in order to fulfill the cherished dream of Nepal with prosperity and happiness of the people.