Thursday, May 22, 2014

Constitutional Definitions for Dummies

Considering the election fever and the sudden interest of youth in country's well being; I would like to attempt to reiterate a few fundamental definitions with my understanding of it. You are free to accept, reject, agree or disagree to it.

So here are 5 definitions which I think need to be revisited. We can add more post these are understood by everyone.

1. EQUALITY: the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, or opportunities.

My understanding: Equality is a state where both parties walk hand in hand, eye to eye (not the hilarious song eye to eye. WHAT?? YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THAT SONG?? Stop reading this, go to youtube, listen to eye to eye - Taher shah. And no, I am not related to him at all). But well, I am deviating. So equality is about being at same level.
Thus, when you make special provisions for a particular gender; you are making the base assumption that they are not equal and hence need special support. Special coaches / reservations is not equal.

2. SECULAR: not connected with religious or spiritual matters.

My understanding: Secularism is not to be confused with Minority appeasement. Secularism does not recognize religion. So when you say that a particular religion is minority; it is not secularism; at the most Idiotism.
As Shri Nana patekar says in Krantiveer, "Bata isme Hindu ka khoon kaunsa hai aur musalmaan ka, jab banaanewale ne fark nahi kiya to tum kaun hote ho fark karnewale". Quotas based on religion are against secularism.

3. JUSTICE: the process or result of using laws to fairly judge and punish crimes and criminals

My understanding: The key word here is 'using laws'. Thus, Shahrukh khan killing Shilpa Shetty in Baazigar was not justice. ( It may have been the only time KKR wins over RR, but not justice). Going on hunger strikes or vandalizing public property in the name of justice is not only wrong, but also contributor to injustice for various affected parties.
At the worst it is 'Gunda-raj'; at the best, an uprising; but not justice in either case.

4. LIBERTY: Freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship

My understanding: It is not a brand of footwear endorsed by Hrithik Roshan; well it is, but not in this context. It is giving freedom to a person to act on his own till it is in purview of law.
Thus, arresting and vandalising people for facebook status or comment is NOT liberty. Attacking a person for his faith in one religion is not liberty. Restricting people of country from owning land in certain state is not liberty.

5. DEMOCRACY: A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.

My understanding: It is a system where every stakeholder's opinion matters. In case where the stakeholders disagree, the majority would determine the course of action. It is also the reason, Himesh Reshamiya can torture people with his movies, but that's a separate discussion area.
Thus, when a particular stakeholder wants to support one ideology, you MAY NOT call him names rhyming with retard. You may argue, debate and attempt to convince, but all in the spirit of democracy. You may also not abuse and insult the representatives you yourself had selected. Criticism is ok, Abusing is not.

If you have any different opinions on these definitions, they are welcome. However, remember that its a democracy and hence I have liberty to share my opinion. You may do justice to the blog by commenting below. :)

10 comments:

  1. firstly, video of eye to eye is not pleasant on the eyes...and hard on the ears too...is Mr. Taher really stupid or pulling off an award winning act of stupidity...either way, it sux (or may b i just wasn't in the mood to njoy such overdose of sarcasm in a song)

    ur interpretations of these heavy words is meaningful and logical but then there r these things as

    - harassment of women in Delhi...reservation of first coach in delhi metro helps, right...no offence meant to the ideal of 'equality' but the reservation works
    - subvention on petrol / diesel / LPG...the OMCs r getting hit but it saves the ultra poor from the hits of inflation on their hungry tummies
    - ban on Salman Rushdie from attending book fairs...this is actually unfair but it prevents riots, right?

    the thing is...Agar daag lagne se kuch achcha hota hai...toh daag ache hain.

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  2. Financial aid based on economic strata are absolutely valid. They fall under the socialist head of our preamble. However, religion and caste based quotas are not valid.

    Women security or for that matter, every citizen's security should be priority. While crime on women are high and should be curbed, I believe the discussion should still be on citizen's security. A lone woman in general coach needs safety but so does a man on platform from terror attack.

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  3. N by the way... eye to eye is on my all time most weird songs list...

    If you r looking for something classier, search for
    What does the fox say - Ylvis
    Do what the official video!

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  4. I guess I was expecting a bit more humour on this one given the title! But this one was more on the opinionated / judgemental style! More of what I do but definitely the writing style exemplary as usual!

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    1. Desh ki baat me mazaak nahi hota... :P

      Arey, I just travel for one hr in train. Ek ghante me bacche ki jaan loge kya??

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  5. Hey nice attempt. I quite like your interpretation of democracy, secular, Liberty and justice. However you could have put a better example for equality than the one given. In this country with a separate queue we have to face harassment., imagine if we were in the same queue... hmmmmm. As always keep writing and come up with interesting blogs.

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    1. Precisely why separate lines should not be there. It has affected your mentality. You have assumed you will be harassed; kind of accepted it.

      Reconfirms the dire need of equality in its true meaning...

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