Democracy means protecting dignity and self–respect of every human being: PM

Paying glorious tributes to 'Father of the Nation' Mahatma Gandhi and his non–violence philosophy of 'Satyagraha,' Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has urged everyone to uphold and respect the principles of democracy which includes respecting the innate rights of all human beings.

In the Valedictory Address delivered on the occasion of the International Conference on 'Peace, Non–Violence and Empowerment – Gandhian Philosophy in the 21st Century,' New Delhi, January 30, 2007, Prime Minister Dr. Singh asserted that the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi is relevant in our times and "for all times."

"The ideas that Mahatma Gandhi is remembered for are based on universal ideals. Many 'Isms' battle for our minds, but few succeed in touching our hearts. Many political ideologies have come and gone over the past century, some with doubtful legacies and others with terrible consequences. The only political philosophy that I believe will remain relevant for as long as humankind seeks peace, peace in our societies, peace between nations and peace with nature, will be the ideas and values we associate with Mahatma Gandhi," the Prime Minister said.

"These ideas and values are today remembered not just when we gather to celebrate the life and teachings of Gandhiji. They are remembered across the world when people gather to honour the legacy of his many disciples – like Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Vaclav Havel, Lech Walesa, and scores of others who have opted for the path of non–violence in the struggle for purposeful social change," he said.

"Why do we celebrate Satyagraha? We do so because of the timeless relevance of this unique form of assertion of the human dignity and the human spirit. Gandhiji himself explained the term Satyagraha in these words: 'Truth (Satya) implies love, and firmness (agraha) engenders and therefore serves as a synonym for force....the force which is born of Truth and love or non–violence,'" Dr. Singh explained.

"As long as we live in a world of conflict, as long as human societies are divided by differences, as long as people resort to might to assert their right, there will always be a Gandhian to remind us of the power of truth, of love, of compassion, of peace. That is why I believe Mahatma Gandhi was the most modern thinker of the 20th century," he said.

"The essence of Gandhiji's political philosophy was the empowerment of every individual, irrespective of caste, class, creed or community. Representative democracy is the institutional form in which modern societies have sought to empower individuals. Democracy is not just about periodic elections. Democracy is not just about keeping alive democratic institutions. Democracy is about respecting the innate rights of all human beings. Democracy is about tolerance. Democracy is about asserting the right to dissent. Democracy is about protecting the dignity and self–respect of every human being," Dr. Singh said.

Explaining the meaning of democracy, the Prime Minister said that everyone must respect the value of dissent and those who dissent must also respect the value of building a viable consensus. "We must foster tolerance for the other point of view. Every one has a right to be heard, and must be heard. We must learn to listen to the other point of view. Violent conflict never allows this. Violence deafens us. Non–violence helps us to hear," he said.

"A civilized society must offer space for discussion and dialogue. All human progress must be based on the firm foundation of societal consensus. But in a modern democracy, we must respect the role of institutions that seek to create and translate that consensus into policy action," he said.

"Satyagraha should never be viewed as a means of obstructing dialogue or obstructing change. I believe Gandhiji always viewed it as a means to a dialogue, as an instrument of change and progress. Satyagraha was, therefore, not an end in itself. It was a means to an end. That end being the liberation of all people, their peaceful co–existence and, above all, their well–being and progress," he concluded.