NCERT 9th Class (CBSE) Social Science: What is Democracy? Why Democracy?

Question: There are 40 villages in a district where the government has made no provision for drinking water. These villagers met and considered many methods of forcing the government to respond to their need. Which of these is not a democratic method?
1. Filing a case in the courts claiming that water is part of right to life.
2.  Boycotting the next elections to give a message to all parties.
3. Organizing public meetings against government’s policies.
4. Paying money to government officials to get water.

Answer:

4. Paying money to government officials to get water is an undemocratic method.

Question: Write a response to the following arguments against democracy.
1. Army is the most disciplined and corruption-free organisation in the country. Therefore army should rule the country.
2. Rule of the majority means the rule of ignorant people. What we need is the rule of the wise, even if they are in small numbers.
3. If we want religious leaders to guide us in spiritual matters, why not invite them to guide us in politics as well. The country should be ruled by religious leaders.

Answer:

1. Though army the most disciplined and corruption-free organisation in the country, however, it cannot be justified that they should rule the country. Primarily, because they do not form a democratic government i.e. are not elected by the people. Secondarily, people will not be allowed to voice their opinion or expression as all their fundamentals rights would be curtailed. Also, there would be no assurance that the army cannot turn into a truthful dictator at any point of their rule, making the life of the people difficult. For example: people of Chile suffered under the rule of General Augusto Pinochet.
2. Such a thing would be against the principle of the Universal Adult Franchise, wherein every person above the age of 18 yrs in our country irrespective of religion, caste, sex, socioeconomic background etc. has the right to vote. Everyone has the right to participate equally in the formation of the government. Therefore ignoring some sections of the society would be unfair. Moreover, wise men need not be necessarily good administrators.
3. Those who say that the country should be ruled by religious leaders are making a very risky statement. Because in a multi-religious country bringing religion into politics can cause serious conflict among the people. Moreover, religious leaders can bring trouble to the country due to their mutual conflicts of ideologies. Besides, many even do not have any experience in administration. Thus, it is very necessary for them to run their own religious institutions and need not meddle in the political affairs of the country.

Question: Are the following statements in keeping with democracy as a value? Why?
1. Father to daughter: I don’t want to hear your opinion about your marriage. In our family children marry where the parents tell them to.
2. Teacher to student: Don’t disturb my concentration by asking me questions in the classroom.
3. Employee to the officer: Our working hours must be reduced according to the law.

Answer:

1. The statement made is an undemocratic statement as the girl is being denied as opportunity to voice her opinion and choose her partner. As per our Constitution, every citizen who is 18 or above has the right to marry according to his / her choice.
2. The statement made is undemocratic as the student is being denied the right to ask questions / clear his doubts. The best the teacher can do is to ask the student to ask his query at the end of the lecture; however, stopping him from doing so is incorrect.
3. The statement made is a democratic statement because here the employees are asking for their fundamental right. Within the norms of the company, the employees are always entitled to ask or request their office for something.

Question: Consider the following facts about a country and decide if you would call it a democracy. Give reasons to support your decision.
1. All the citizens of the country have right to vote Elections are held regularly.
2. The country took loan from international agencies. One of the conditions for given loan was that the government would reduce its expenses on education and health.
3. People speak more than seven languages but education is available only in one language, the language spoken by 52 percent people of the country.
4. Several organisations have given a call for peaceful demonstrations and nation wide strikes in the country to oppose these policies. Government has arrested these leaders.
5. The government owns the radio and television in the country. All the newspapers have to get permission from the government to publish any news about government’s policies and protests.

Answer:

1. Two important features of democracy are regular elections and universal adult franchise.
2. A democratic government works for the welfare of the country and enhances dignity of the citizens. Therefore, it cannot perform any functions which go against the welfare of the country and its people. Moreover, it does not allow an international agency to interfere in the internal matters of a country.
3. The national language can be a single language because such a concept will bring about national integrity but other languages also should be encouraged to cultivate in their respective regions.
4. Democracy provides people the right to strike or the right to free speech and demonstrations.
5. A very important part of democracy is the freedom of the press. Therefore, the total control of media shows that there is no freedom of speech and expression and right to speak against the government.
   Thus, though the country is democratic in some manners, it is also undemocratic in some ways.