No order is permanent: Shashi Tharoor

On the fourth day of the 17th Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), Shashi Tharoor insisted that the dynamics of a nation as multifaceted as India extend beyond the influence of any individual or political entity. In conversation with Nidhi Razdan, Tharoor was his usual witty self, but very politically correct nonetheless. “Look, I genuinely believe that no particular political order is permanent in any country. I mean India, you know, is vastly larger than any one individual leader one individual political party, or any majority,” he said. 

Democracy is not a one-off event

Discussing the upcoming general elections, Tharoor highlighted a crucial aspect often overlooked – democracy transcends mere periodic elections. He argued that the essence of democracy lies in the actions between these electoral cycles. He cited Jaya Prakash Narayan’s concerns from the 1950s, expressing the fear that elections might become a ritual of “sheep choosing their shepherd,” who then dictates their course. He mentioned that The Varieties of Democracy Institute in Sweden has even labeled India as an ‘electoral autocracy’ implying that, despite the elections, leaders tend to govern autocratically.

Tharoor asserted that true democracy requires active citizen participation, which goes beyond casting ballots. He said that citizens must demand accountability from councillors, panchayat members, MLAs, MPs, and government officials at all levels. He also urged people to not forget the significance of India being the world’s largest democracy. “If you can find that feeling only to cast your ballot, then I think you’re limiting the power of democracy to just one electoral exercise. Democracy is not just a one-off event. It is an ongoing process and that process has to continue between elections and without elections and perhaps even despite or without opposition parties,” he said.

Adversaries, not enemies

When posed with the question of the diminishing space for political dialogue, especially evident in the Parliament where the connection between the opposition and the ruling benches seems strained, Tharoor expressed concern. He lamented that the avenues for communication have dwindled, both informally and officially. The writer-politician recalled an era when it was said that a parliamentary affairs minister would spend considerable time engaging with the opposition, a practice that seems to have faded. “This trend is disheartening, particularly in a democracy where clear ideological divisions exist, and one party holds a significant majority,” he added.

Democracy is not just a one-off event. It is an ongoing process and that process has to continue between elections and without elections and perhaps even despite or without opposition parties.

Shashi Tharoor

Tharoor also underscored the importance of fostering relationships and dialogue, especially when political lines are sharply drawn, and one faction dominates numerically. “In a democracy, acknowledging that both sides genuinely aim to serve the country’s best interests, albeit with varying approaches, becomes crucial,” Tharoor emphasised. He added that mutual understanding and collaboration were fundamental to the democratic process. “It’s so essential to be able to do that because in a democracy at the end of the day, we aren’t each other’s enemies. We are each other’s adversaries and we need to see that and to try and believe that each side has the best interest of the country,” he said. 

Finally, he was asked whether he felt the aphorism ‘never interrupt an enemy when they are making a mistake’ was relevant in the present political context. He laughed, “Not being very kind to my side at the moment. And therefore, I would rather not rather not venture into that. I mean, the truth is that in many cases we do find that people make tactical blunders and that happens in politics, but how you recover from them is what matters. I hope that ultimately we will be able to focus on the larger picture of what our country needs for the future.”