A Feast of Vultures: The Hidden Business of Democracy in India

by Josy Joseph

and futureless children, the words of Ambedkar ring so true: Democracy in India is only a ‘top dressing on an Indian soil, which is essentially undemocratic’.

What is constant is the grip of corrupt politician–businessman–criminal syndicates on governance.

Without an examination of the rise of Goyal, it would be impossible to appreciate the crisis at all levels of the Indian democracy – the oligarchy that is India’s political class, the power of money to swing decisions, the meek regulatory systems that are bent and broken regularly by business interests, the elite’s blatant disrespect for laws and norms, and eventually, the disappearance of even a semblance of morality from public life.

As a diverse society struggles to strengthen its institutions in the face of powerful politician–businessman nexus, it would be yet another Indian miracle if democracy survives and flourishes. If democracy continues to gasp for breath, and finally dies one day, it would be the final outcome of a collective conspiracy. It would be a death foretold.

‘A Nation that prides itself in modern self-sufficiency Is it real for a few – and a dream for all?’

There was one imagination of government when I joined the civil services in 1980; there was no doubt that the theory of government was that its primary duty was towards the poor and the disadvantaged. There were lots of deviations from that ideal, but then they were perceived and recognized as deviations from that ideal.’

The new theory is that a government that facilitates the market will benefit everyone, get people jobs, create wealth and educate people.