OBSERVING DHARMA IN POLITICS

A recent observation by Wipro founder Azim Premji at one of the Indian Institute of Management needs to be paid attention to in light of what is happening in politics. Premji’s contention was that in politics the first requirement is to be unresponsive or compassionless.

He was, of course, talking about what is apparent in present day politics. We have seen how Parliament proceedings are getting disrupted and how this important institution of the country is held to ransom. Interestingly it is not political party X or Y that can be blamed. The whole political culture has become like that and what Premji has observed is based on sound logic.

We often hear the words ‘raj dharma’ that is the ideal conduct of the ruler. But raj dharma cannot be observed without praja dharma. However, that was when the rulers were kings. These are different times and rulers are not kings but elected representatives. The basic issue is that democracies can function effectively when the two sides, that is the ruling side and the opposition side, cooperate to make governance right. It is important therefore, that there is need for both raj dharma or the dharma of the ruling party, and vipaksha dharma or dharma of the Opposition party or parties. Unfortunately, the Opposition in our democracy has become opposition for the sake of opposition. This has been the trend discernible in the recent past. The fact remains that both the ruling party and the Opposition party have to observe their dharma or righteous conduct, without which democracy becomes ineffective.

What needs to be done is a difficult question to answer. But if we closely observe politics we can come to the conclusion that the teachings from Vedanta can offer clues.

In the section on  ‘Shiksha Valli’ of Taittiriya Upanishad, the crux of all teachings is mentioned as satyamvada, dharma chara, the English equivalent of this Sanskrit lesson is “Always tell the truth and follow righteous conduct.”

This was the lesson given to the students by their guru when they completed their education in the ashram of their teacher and were ready to face the world. It was like the modern day convocation ceremony or the dikshanta, that is completion of gurukul education. After given the exhaustive training in the educational system of those days, the final instruction in the form of how to lead life was given by the teacher through the phrase satyamvada, dharmam chara, his convocation message addressed to the disciples which meant that the disciples should always be truthful and follow the path of righteousness. These two, that is satya or truthfulness and dharma or righteousness, were also central of the teaching of Gautam Buddha.

Against this backdrop let us examine what is happening in politics. Even a casual observer will find out that satya and dharma are largely missing from the political scene. The answer certainly lies in the lesson satyamvada, dharman chara. We often talk of cleansing the political system, but without emphasising truthfulness and righteousness how politics can be transformed? Obviously, making the political class adhere to the vedic tenet Satyamvada, dharmam chara is a tall order. But there is no way out. If a democracy is to function effectively, the ruling party has to follow raj dharma and the Opposition the vipaksha dharma.