India is a democratic country. Are we a mature and fully functional democracy? We are not. Whether our political parties are democratic. Absolutely not. It is notional to comply with rules. Congress has a partial internal democracy but more dictated by leaders and their groups.

How internal democracy in Congress was eroded and corroded is a long story but it lost its strength with the dilution of democracy within. Most of the leaders, media blamed it on the ‘Dynasty’. It is far from true. Gandhis including Indira staunchly believed in democracy.

Call it charisma, sacrifices or brand value Gandhi family had a hold on the masses and it weakened with the rise of individualism and group culture. The syndicate leaders in their greed for power divided the Congress party creating their own groups with Congress cadres.

Indira as a mass leader could rejuvenate, repair and reconstruct the Congress party in many states where it lost its roots. She won both external and internal war. But before she could stabilise, the combined forces of various opportunistic groups misguided people to defeat her.

Being a mass leader alone is not always enough to win elections. They require organisational support to reach out and communicate with the masses. Indira was charismatic and had the trust of the people. She was not a great communicator, though she had clarity, sharpness of mind.

Media, intelligentsia and opinion-makers also played a role in building perception against Indira. The educated elites felt how a ‘dynasty’ without proven administrative experience and merits could lead them. It was taken as a challenge as it hurt their intelligence and egos.

This educated intelligentsia did not forgive the masses for electing ‘dynastic’ leaders. But they combined with the masses to elect Modi when he fooled people with all his lies and propaganda. In a way, they punished themselves and also the people and the country.

How these ‘theoreticians’ imagined that administrative experience is the only or prime qualification to lead the country or a state. Modi was 3 times Chief Minister. How his mismanagement of state was missed by them. So Modi with that expertise is now mismanaging the country.

The entire country and its people are now in ICU along with its democracy. Where was this educated intelligentsia when every institution, bureaucrats were strangled and choked? Why were they silent when every leader and state was purchased and democracy was dying.

Mass leaders and democracy are essential for the people and the country. The supremacies of individuals, groups or authoritarianism will be a death knell for democracy. If leaders, groups, parties, people do not fight it out democracy will be pushed into Ganga dead or alive.