Democracy in India is a hollow shell
Mr. Arthur Sebastian Bonner noted author and journalist fees that the idea of euologising India as the biggest democracy in the world was a myth. He has edited a book, Democracy in India: A Hollow Shell,
along with Kancha Ilaiah and Suranjit Kumar Saha (American University Press ; 1994).
This book exposes Indian democracy. It has contributions from Asghar Ali Engineer on secularism and Kancha Ilaiah on the
Dalit movement in Hyderabad. There are also articles on RSS' activities in Madhya Pradesh, the growth
of the BJP, the growth of the Dalit movement over the years and a comparison of racism in the U.S.
and casteism in India. There is also an article on the anti-liquor movement by the women of
Andhra Pradesh.
He feels that democracy is a hollow shell in India because caste masks it. He says "Most people, academics
in particular, deny what I believe is the reality. It is caste that determines everything in India. And that
is a real bane. Democracy is used as a mask by the leaders to cover up many things. They talk about democracy
all the time. Democracy in India cannot copy the European system. There has to emerge a democratic structure
that is sui-generis - that which suits India."
Mr. Arthur Sebastian Bonner noted author and journalist fees that the idea of euologising India as the biggest democracy in the world was a myth. He has edited a book, Democracy in India: A Hollow Shell,
along with Kancha Ilaiah and Suranjit Kumar Saha (American University Press ; 1994).
This book exposes Indian democracy. It has contributions from Asghar Ali Engineer on secularism and Kancha Ilaiah on the
Dalit movement in Hyderabad. There are also articles on RSS' activities in Madhya Pradesh, the growth
of the BJP, the growth of the Dalit movement over the years and a comparison of racism in the U.S.
and casteism in India. There is also an article on the anti-liquor movement by the women of
Andhra Pradesh.
He feels that democracy is a hollow shell in India because caste masks it. He says "Most people, academics
in particular, deny what I believe is the reality. It is caste that determines everything in India. And that
is a real bane. Democracy is used as a mask by the leaders to cover up many things. They talk about democracy
all the time. Democracy in India cannot copy the European system. There has to emerge a democratic structure
that is sui-generis - that which suits India."
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