Letters: Idea of democracy

With reference to "Fasting activism, feasting followers" by Shekhar Gupta (August 20), during the discussion that took place in the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949, BR Ambedkar, the then chairman of the drafting committee, raised serious concerns over the sustenance of the idea of democracy.

He emphasised the need to hold fast to constitutional methods of achieving social and economic objectives. For this, he felt it necessary to abandon the "bloody methods of revolution", namely civil disobedience, non-cooperation and satyagraha. He termed these methods the "grammar of anarchy", which were unconstitutional and had no justification when constitutional methods were open.

Ambedkar also cautioned about the limits to gratefulness as he felt that in India, bhakti or what may be called the path of devotion or hero worship played a part in its politics unequalled in magnitude by the part it played in the politics of any other country. This, he argued, was a sure road to degradation and eventual dictatorship.

Irom Sharmila may epitomise selfless sacrifice for espousing the "cause" of the people of Manipur, but the form of protest she adopted only helped further the interests of those who built entire careers out of her struggle. Now, after years, by abandoning fasting activism and expressing her desire to contest elections, her action has only resonated with the words of Ambedkar. One hopes that she succeeds in bringing "change" through the ballot.

Shreyans Jain, New Delhi

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