Topic 1 : First, listen
Introduction: The official consultation process set in motion for gauging the viability of simultaneous elections is unfolding like a chronicle foretold. According to the Union Law Ministry, 81 per cent of the 20,000-plus responses received by the High-Level Committee on One Nation, One Election have favoured the idea.
What is the One nation one election?
- One nation one election refers to the idea of holding simultaneous polls for State Assemblies and the Lok Sabha instead of separate and continuous elections.
Historical Background
- One Nation one election was the norm in India until 1967. Simultaneous elections were conducted for the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies in 1952, 1957, 1962, and 1967.
- However, due to the premature dissolution of some Legislative Assemblies in 1968 and 1969 the simultaneous election cycle got disrupted. Further in 1970, the Lok Sabha was dissolved prematurely and fresh elections were held in 1971.
- All these events led to the breakdown of the cycle of simultaneous elections in India.
High-Level Committee on One Nation, One Election
- The Indian government has formed a committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind to examine the possibility of implementing "one nation, one election".
- The Committee issued a public notice asking for suggestions between January 5-15.
- Unfortunately, given its constitution, manner of functioning and the larger context of one-party dominance, the Kovind Committee gives the impression of being partisan at best and a rubber stamp at worst.
- The blame for the lack of robust debate on the proposal also lies with the Opposition, particularly Congress.
- On an issue with far-reaching consequences, it has refused to engage.
Concerns about the committee
- The eight members of the Committee have either openly expressed support for simultaneous polls — as president, Kovind did, in Parliament, in 2019 — or are seen to be close to the government and therefore broadly in agreement with its pet projects.
- Congress Leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, refused to be a part of the Committee arguing that it is imbalanced.
- The Committee’s very terms of reference assume that One Nation, One Election is in “national interest”.
- But despite this, an Opposition leader could have played an important role — by voicing concerns the government may not want heard and by pushing for greater transparency in the process.
- As things stand, the concerns of the Opposition and the states look scattered and are being voiced piecemeal: Congress has called it “undemocratic”, AAP has said it will give an “unfair advantage” to the ruling party, the DMK has labelled it “dangerous”, and the TMC described it as “against the federal structure”.
Way Forward
Political Consensus
- Building a broad political consensus on the concept of "one nation, one election" is paramount. The government should engage in dialogues and consultations with various political parties to address their concerns and seek their input. A consensus-driven approach is essential to garner support for this significant electoral reform.
Legal Amendments
- To move forward, the government must initiate the process of drafting and proposing the necessary constitutional amendments and legal changes. This includes addressing issues related to no-confidence motions and government stability. Legal experts, lawmakers, and constitutional authorities should collaborate to ensure that the proposed amendments are well-considered and well-crafted.
Pilot Projects
- Before implementing simultaneous elections nationwide, it may be prudent to conduct pilot projects or trials in selected states or union territories. These pilot projects can serve as testing grounds to assess the feasibility, identify challenges, and fine-tune the logistical aspects of simultaneous elections. The lessons learned from these trials can inform the broader implementation strategy.
Public Awareness Campaigns
- To ensure that citizens are well-informed about the benefits and implications of simultaneous elections, comprehensive public awareness campaigns should be conducted. These campaigns can help citizens understand the changes in the electoral process, the importance of their votes at various levels of government, and the potential advantages of synchronized elections.
Parliamentary Approval
- Any proposed constitutional amendments and legislative changes must go through the established parliamentary approval process. This involves debates, discussions, and voting in both houses of Parliament. Lawmakers should have the opportunity to scrutinize and provide input on the proposed reforms, ensuring a transparent and democratic decision-making process.
Consultation with State Governments
- Since states play a significant role in the electoral process, it is crucial to consult with state governments and seek their input on the implementation of simultaneous elections. State governments may have unique concerns and considerations that need to be addressed in the reform process.
Expert Committees
- Establishing expert committees comprising legal experts, political scientists, election commission officials, and representatives from various political parties can help analyze the technical and practical aspects of implementing simultaneous elections. These committees can provide valuable recommendations and insights.
Gradual Transition
- Rather than implementing simultaneous elections abruptly, a gradual transition approach could be considered. This could involve synchronizing elections in phases, starting with a subset of states and gradually expanding to cover the entire country. Such an approach allows for a smoother transition and better management of resources and logistics.
International Best Practices
- India can learn from international best practices in implementing synchronized elections. Studying how other countries have managed simultaneous elections can provide valuable insights into the challenges and solutions.
Continuous Evaluation
- After the initial implementation, a system of continuous evaluation and feedback should be established. This will help identify any issues that arise during the transition and allow for timely adjustments and improvements.
Conclusion: One Nation, One Election panel will be seen as a rubber stamp unless it gives space to Opposition, which must join the process.
Topic 2 : Many, not one
Introduction: There are, however, several hundred Ramayanas beyond the Hindi belt, composed in the last 2,000 years, that deserve equal respect. Here is a sampling of over a dozen retellings, with their dramatic variations, of Valmiki’s ancient tale.
Different versions of Ramayana: Different tales
- In the 5th century Vishnu Purana, Ram and his three brothers are all considered forms of Vishnu. However, in the 15th century Adhyatma Ramayana, only Ram is a form of Vishnu while Lakshman is a form of Sesha, the serpent, and Bharat and Shatrughna are forms of Vishnu’s conch and discus.
- In the 19th century, the Shankara and Prakash Ramayanas were written in Kashmiri. They state that Sita was Ravana’s daughter who he cast away as oracles predicted she would be the cause of his death. The child survived and found its way to Janaka’s home. This idea is found in many Jain and Southeast Asian Ramayanas.
- In the 8th century Sanskrit play Mahaviracharitra by Bhavabhuti, Ram and Sita meet in a garden before Ram breaks the bow. They fall in love and this adds to Sita’s anxiety as she wonders if the man she loves will be able to succeed in the challenge posed before him.
- In the 4th century Sanskrit work, Raghuvamsa of Kalidas, Dashrath notices grey hair near his ears and decides it is time to crown Ram king and retire to the forest.
- In the Buddhist Dasharatha Jataka, Ram-Pandita is told by the king to leave the palace, and return only the king’s foretold death 12 years later. This is to save the prince from the king’s junior wife who plans to kill him.
- In the 17th century folk Sinhalese narrative, Kohomba Yakkama, Ram goes to a forest to escape the ill-effects of the planet Saturn (Shani). He has to take the form of an elephant and while he is away Ravana abducts Sita. In this version, Sita has three children, not two.
- The 7th century Tamil songs of Alwar poet-saints state that as a child Ram playfully threw clay balls at Manthara to straighten her humped back but she misunderstood his intentions, got angry, bore a grudge against him, and so poisoned Kaikeyi’s mind against him.
- In the 3rd century Pauma Charitra of Vimalasuri, a Jain monk, Lakshmana, accidentally kills a monk called Shambuka, who happens to be Chandranakha’s son. She asks her brother to avenge his death but Ravana falls in love with Sita, roars like a lion to distract the brothers, and abducts Sita while they are away.
- The idea of Lakshman rekha is a late creation found in the 12th century Sanskrit Bhusundi Ramayana, 15th century Ananda Ramayana and the 15th century Krittibasa Ramayana.
- In the 18th century Burmese Ramayanas, such as Rama Thagyin and Rama Vetthu, the golden deer is a form taken not by Maricha but by Surpanakha herself, or by Trigatha, the mother of Khara and Dushan, killed by Ram and Lakshman.
- In 18th century Odia Ramayanas, Ram elongates the neck of the crane who does not give him information on the whereabouts of Sita, and he gives a crown to the rooster who does share information. There is a folktale among fisherfolk in coastal Odisha that Ram shot arrows at Ravana’s Pushpak Viman and caused his umbrella to fall on the earth. What fell on earth turned into mushrooms. What fell into the sea became jellyfish.
- The 15th century Odia Dandi Ramayana of Balarama Das mentions Ram eating mangoes provided by a tribal woman (sabaruni), who tastes them first to ensure they are sweet. This metamorphosed into the famous story of Shabari’s berries in the 18th century Bhakti-rasa-prabodhini of Priyadas.
- In the 19th century, Giridhara composed the Ramayana in Gujarati. Here Hanuman is identified as the 11th Rudra.
- In the 8th century Tibetan Ramayana, we find the only explanation why in many artworks Ravana has a head of a donkey on top of his nine human heads. This is where his life is hidden. During the war, Ravana becomes invisible. Ram challenges him to fight like a true Kshatriya and show one body part at least. Ravana shows his toe and Ram calculates where the donkey head would be located and shoots the fatal arrow.
- In the 10th century Katha-sarit-sagar, Sita gives birth to only one child, Luv, who she leaves in the care of Rishi Valmiki. Luv disappears and a frantic Valmiki recreates Luv using Kusha grass. Thus Sita ends up having twins.
- In the 18th century Assamese Adbhuta Ramayana by Raghunath Mahanta, Sita misses her children while living under the Earth. So she asks Vasuki, the king of snakes, to abduct Luv and Kush and bring them to her. Hanuman follows Vasuki. A war follows and peace is restored when Sita agrees to let her children go, promising to visit them secretly.
Conclusion: This is but the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more. One should listen to all these different variations of Ramayana and find his/her own version of Rama from them.