Yes, India is a Democracy

But that’s too generic a description. Besides being too general a description, democracy is hardly a comprehensive description of the Indian government. Surely, the democracy found in say Switzerland is quite different from what’s in India. We need better descriptors of Indian governance. Here’s a partial list, offered in the hope that you will add your own favorite.

albocracy – government by white people

This works since Antonia Maino aka Sonia Gandhi is white and she appears to rule, suitably aided by her minions such as Manmohan Singh and Digvijaya Singh.

argentocracy – government by money

Plausible: the government takes in money through taxes and bribes, and then buys specific vote banks.

barbarocracy – government by barbarians

Definitely. The people at the top are the worst kind of people. Exhibit A: Kapil Sibal.

demonarchy – government by a demon

She Who Must Be Obeyed.

dulocracy – government by slaves

This works if you consider that the whole bunch at the top — Diggy, Manmohan, Sibal, et al — are essentially slaves to the White Woman.

foolocracy – government by fools

Arguably so. Manmohan Singh is a fool. Kapil Sibal is an idiot. And the list goes on. Fools, knaves, thieves, treachers, liars, robbers.

infantocracy – government by an infant

Not yet. But they are trying. Amul Baby, Pappu, etc.

millionocracy – government by millionaires

Not true because those in high places are billionaires — the money stolen from the people they rule over.

pollarchy – government by the multitude or a mob

Not quite. Anna Hazare is pushing for this, though.

xenocracy – government by a body of foreigners

India has had this kind of government for the longest period. Indeed so long that became a sort of a habit with some Indians. They had to go get an uneducated Italian to rule over them. Oh the crying shame.

And finally, the one that I like the best:

kakistocracy – government by the least principled and the most corrupt

India is a kakistocracy.

Author: Atanu Dey

Economist.

12 thoughts on “Yes, India is a Democracy”

  1. Dilip Chitre’s poem from Ardh Satya:

    Chakravyuh mein ghusne se pehle,
    kaun tha main aur kaisa tha,
    yeh mujhe yaad hi na rahega.
    Chakravyuh mein ghusne ke baad,
    mere aur chakravyuh ke beech,
    sirf ek jaanleva nikat’ta thi,
    iska mujhe pata hi na chalega.
    Chakravyuh se nikalne ke baad,
    main mukt ho jaoon bhale hi,
    phir bhi chakravyuh ki rachna mein
    farq hi na padega.
    Marun ya maarun,
    maara jaoon ya jaan se maardun.
    iska faisla kabhi na ho paayega.
    Soya hua aadmi jab
    neend se uthkar chalna shuru karta hai,
    tab sapnon ka sansar use,
    dobara dikh hi na paayega.
    Us roshni mein jo nirnay ki roshni hai
    sab kuchh s’maan hoga kya?
    Ek palde mein napunsakta,
    ek palde mein paurush,
    aur theekh tarazu ke kaante par
    ardh satya!

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  2. Dhimmocratic regentocentric kakistocracy?

    These days, one word does not do it. This is the age of specialisation.
    sort of like being a cardiologist is not enough anymore, one needs to be a paediatric cardiologist or an interventional cardiologist. or perhaps functional brainstem neurosurgeon
    #somethinglikethat

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  3. It gets more and more bizarre in India. The government incompetent, clueless or incredibly cynical and sinister.
    There is a new program presented by Sonia Gandhi that will give rice to a lot of people for Rs 3 per Kg.
    They have started to buy votes for the election in 2014 from now. Incredible!!!
    This type of promising cheap food to buy votes used to happen in south India. In Tamilnadu they just send a envelope of cash along with a newspaper. They are not shy about their attempts to buy a vote 🙂
    But doing this on a national level?? … Wow incredible.
    There is no thought for fiscal discipline whatsoever.

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  4. New Political Psychotics making people crazy !

    Wo betide a great nation – ruled by a party with less than 40% popular vote – and half of it by those who were made illiterates for 61 years ! Suffer from mental disease to talk of Aam Admi but living in ostentation and with Heriditary Rights. Most convoluted secular logic and a press/media, barring a couple of exceptions since those Dark days, which willingly crows about and crawls infront of Dynasty and a Son in Law with Spl Priviliege at Airports.

    Mad common Bharat Jana – still willing to go by Vedic Themes !

    May be the days for Yada yadahi…srujahmyaham would happen.

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  5. You hit the nail on the head. Indians have a fascination for white skin. They think white people are aristocracy. Sonia Gandhi knows this. Albocracy is best definition for our deomcracy.

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  6. Absolutocracy

    as in “absolute power corrupts absolutely”

    Take some liberties with the spelling and “Absolootocracy” would work even better bringing in the “loot” aspect.

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