Our Sun itself is one of the million million million stars of the universe. Thousands of those stars we can see in the night sky without the help of a telescope. With a telescope thousands more can be seen; and the more powerful the telescope, the more stars we see. There seems to be no limit to their number.
If one looks at the sky at night, one will see that a part of it is so thickly scattered with stars that it is called 'The Milky Way'. Actually, our Sun is just a small star among all the million other sun-stars of the Milky Way. Astronomers call the Milky Way a 'galaxy', which means a collection of stars. They tell us that there are numberless galaxies in the universe, each containing perhaps millions of sun-stars as big as or much bigger than our Sun. From this one can have some idea of what a very small thing our globe, the Earth, is when compared with the vast universe.
But, though it is so small, our Earth seems to have a special importance of its own. Astronomers tell us that there are very few globes on which it is possible for living things to exist-or, perhaps we should say, things which have life of the same kind as the life on Earth. So far as we can tell, with the help of knowledge gained by scientists, there cannot be any life unless there are air, water, and sunlight, in which life can develop. Many of the other globes in the universe are much too hot for water and air to exist on them. Many are much too cold. In fact we know that, many millions of years ago, our own globe was too hot for life to exist upon it. But gradually it cooled, and then life began to develop on its surface. Scientists say that it is very unusual to have all the necessary conditions in which life can develop. In fact, they are not certain that such conditions exist on any other planet known to them. This means that, possibly, our Earth is the only globe-or one of the very few globes in the universe-on which life exists. If that is true, our Earth certainly is of unique importance-and so are we!
But, if our Earth has such unique importance because life has been able to develop on it, it is perhaps of even greater importance that Man-the highest form of living creature on the Earth (so far as we know)-should learns to live intelligently. The power of Man's brain, the power of thought, is the most wonderful thing that life has produced up to now so far as we know. It is so powerful that it has enabled Man to control the forces of Nature, the powers of fire, air, water and electricity. With their help Man can now make and do many wonderful things. But with their help he can also destroy not only things but even life on the Earth. The new danger of our present Age-the Atomic Age-is that Man now possess self-knowledge. Man can control many of the powers of Nature, but he cannot control his own nature, his selfish thoughts and desires. Until he learns how to do that, and does it, he is like a child playing with an electric generator : he may destroy himself through his imperfect knowledge. With he newly discovered atomic energy it is quite possible for Man to destroy all living things on the Earth and even the Earth itself.
It is important that this possibility should be seen and understood by every intelligent person. All of us who now enjoy life on the Earth-and every other living being-share this great responsibility. In olden times, kings made war on each other, and forced their subjects to kill each other. But nowadays we are no longer the slaves of kings. Wars are started nowadays because of national jealousy and fear. Nations are not living things apart from us. Nations are made up of living persons. Nations are ourselves. If we are peace-loving and non-violent in our thoughts, as well as in our words and actions, our nations and its governments will be peace-loving and non-violent. If we are selfish and greedy, our governments will be based on selfishness and greed. And our governments will not be able to change into better governments, based on love and truth, individual freedom, economic well-being and social justice unless we change. This is more true in our time than it was in ancient times; for, in ancient times, the power of government was usually in the hands of one man, the king. If he happened to be a kind and unselfish man, he could set up a just and good government for a few years, while he was alive. But such governments usually ended with the kings who set them up. In modern times, when governments are set up by the votes of the people, the government consists of the leaders chosen by the people-and they are neither better nor worse than the people who choose them. They make the systems of government and the systems of ownership that the people really want. If they do not do so, the people refuse to vote for them at the next election. Therefore, if we have a system of government in which there is a struggle for power among the leaders, it is because we ourselves have the same desire in our hearts, the desire to get power over others. If we have a system of ownership of property, based on greed and selfishness, it is because we ourselves have the desire for more possessions, even if others have to get less than their share in order that we may have more. So the system of government and the system of ownership of property are the result of what we are and what we desire. To change those systems, we must therefore begin with ourselves. When enough people are different, the systems will change; it will not be necessary to force them by violence and fear.
We had studied growth of Man, growth of Man's mind, Man's intelligence, and how he used it to discover better ways of living, and to build up orderly societies, which we call civilizations. Historians tell us that there have been more than twenty such civilizations during the period of about 7000 years since men first began to cultivate crops, instead of only hunting for food. But only about half those civilizations have left behind them results. In the course of our study of the growth and decline of civilizations, we had not only seen how men and women in various parts of the world have discovered things and done things which have been useful to their fellows and to us, but also tried to see and understand what mistakes they made, and the results of those mistakes.
We have traced the footprints of Man along the winding pathway of History, through the forests and the grasslands, the deserts and the plains. It is a long journey that has taken at least 1,000,000 years since human beings first stood upright on the Earth and began to behave differently from other animals. But it is only a short journey if we count from the time when Man first began to be civilized. The whole existence of civilization, from its very dawn until the present time, covers at the most a period of 20,000 years. 20,000 years is only 1/50th of 1,000,000 years out of a century. The period during which Man has been learning to be civilized is therefore equivalent to 2 years out of the life of a man who lives to be 100 years old. In civilization Man is now like a child less than two years old! Is it surprising that men make so many foolish mistakes and commit so many stupid cruelties? A baby less than two years old learns to walk only by trying to stand up, and by over and over falling down and getting up again. Sometimes the baby hurts himself and cries. We do not blame him. We know that he will learn at last, by trying and falling, and trying yet again. It is the same with Mankind learning to be civilized. We, in our time, have reached only the babyhood stage of civilization. There is no need to feel hopeless, even though the falls we have endured, and which are still to come, are often very painful.
A child of two years cannot learn except by experience; it would be a waste of time to give him a lecture on how to stand and walk properly. We are a little more fortunate in this. We are old enough to read History : and the history of mankind's mistake and successes can provide us with some very useful lessons. It can show us what has made Man tumble down in the past, and how he can get up again and do better. We have learned about brave, unselfish men and women of many countries who have done noble deeds which stand out in letters of gold on the pages of history. But we have also seen that foolish, cruel and selfish people have often undone much of the good that heroes and sages accomplished. Have we ever wondered at this, and asked ourselves why men are so destructive? Why cannot we have peace on the Earth, keeping ourselves busy doing only harmless things, making the world more beautiful to live in? Many wiser people than ourselves have been trying to find an answer to these questions ever since men first began to think about life and how it should be lived.
Let us ask ourselves what we are struggling to get from life, and what makes men fight one another in that struggle. First, it is clear that every one wants to have enough food for himself and his family, and also enough clothing and shelter from the weather because human beings have no natural protection like other animals. Men also desire to be free from the fear of want (not having enough) in time of sickness, unemployment, old age, and such other difficult times which come to most people. They want enough work to do, but also enough leisure-free time in which to do whatever they like, or to do nothing. They also want to be free from the fear of oppression by others : that is, they do not want to be forced to do what they believe to be wrong, or to be prevented from believing, saying or doing whatever thy believe to be right. All these 'wants' are included in what President Roosevelt called The Four Freedoms- (1) Freedom from Want (of food, etc.), (2) Freedom from Oppression, (3) Freedom of Religion (or belief), (4) Freedom of expression. There is also a fifth freedom which is more difficult to get-that is, (5) Freedom from selfishness.
When we begin to think how we can get and keep these Five Freedoms, we find ourselves faced by problems of several kinds. They are (a) Political Problems, (b) Economic Problems, and (c) Moral or cultural problems. We find that, for people to be free in all the five ways, when living together, they must arrange to have the following conditions:
(i) An economic arrangement: that is, a system of production and distribution by which everyone gets enough food, clothing, shelter, work, leisure, help in time of difficulty-but not more than a fair share of these for each person.
(ii) A political arrangement: that is, a system of government by which everyone is protected from oppression and injury, and under which everyone is compelled to do his share of work for the good of all (if he needs to be compelled) but is free to spend his spare time as he pleases, provided he does not injure others or prevent them from enjoying the same freedom.
(iii) A moral or cultural arrangement : that is, a system of education by which everyone is helped to develop all his qualities to the fullest advantage to himself and those around him, and to get rid of qualities which are harmful to himself and others.
Now let us consider in what ways men have up to now tried to make the above arrangements for getting and keeping the Five Fredoms, and what are the chances of our succeeding better in future.
(i) A just economic system: There have always been people in the world who are willing to work hard, and also people who are willing to take what others have earned, rather than work for themselves. Until everyone is willing to do a fair share of work without having to be compelled to do it, it is necessary to have a system by which lazy and greedy people can be compelled to do their share of work, and allowed to take only their proper share of the things produced. The problem is to find the best way of doing that.
People work better if they work for private profit, stimulated by competition, and that therefore private ownership of the means of production should be allowed, the Government only checking people from making too much profit, by means of taxation. This is a question which we should study more deeply, in order to arrive at a well-balanced opinion of our own, as a citizen of a democratic country.
(ii) An efficient political system : The only system, so far invented by Man, by means of which people can be protected from oppression, is the system called democracy. It is still far from perfect, and experiments are going on in many countries to improve it. The most important point about democratic government is that the people who are governed are able to control those who govern them, because the government itself consists of persons chosen by the people governed, usually by means of election by ballot (secret voting). Such a system can work well, however, only if the people who are voters are well educated and intelligent, capable of deciding how to vote after a careful study of all sides of the problems placed before them, and not as a result of personal feelings or of persuasion by bribery or fear. This system therefore depends for its dfficient working on the existence of good education. Therefore we must also have:
(iii) A good educational system : It is not easy to have this, because the educational system of nations is usually under the control of their government; and when men get power they like to keep it. The danger of government controlled education is therefore that those in power usually try to educate the people in such a way that they may believe only those things which are to the advantage of the rules that they should believe. Therefore state controlled education often educates people to support and obey the government, and not to seek information about all sides of important questions, which might lead people to oppose the government.
This problem has not yet been wholly solved in any country. In countries ruled by 'totalitarian' governments (where individuals were or are entirely subordinate to the State, as in Italy under Mussolini, Germany under Hitler, and Russia under Stalin, those who rule the country do not hesitate to take away Freedom. 1. In more fully democratic countries there is apt to be less efficiency because it is believed that Freedom 2, 3 and 4 are not less important than Freedom 1. It is difficult to discover a system which perfectly combines the advantages of having all the Freedoms, and also efficiency. Perhaps it can come into existence only when a larger number of men and women have achieved Freedom 5.
The world is at present divided into two powerful groups, with many people in the middle between them, At the one extreme are the people who have inherited or earned enough possessions to give them Freedom 1, and who usually do not want to change the economic system of private ownership, because they have enough and do not want to risk losing it, These are mostly the wealthy people of all countries. Such people are usually strongly opposed to the introduction of a new economic system. At the other extreme are those who think that a new system is necessary in order to give Freedom 1 to everybody, and to prevent selfish people from taking more than their share. These are the rules of a few other thoughtful people and many of the poorer but socio-economic conscious people of all countries.
Most People are between the two extremes. They would like to have Freedom 1, but they do not want to lose the other Freedoms, which they feel to be equally valuable. The extremists of both sides try to win over the people in the middle to their side, either by argument (in democratic countries), or by force and fear (in totalitarian states).
The most serious problem facing the world today is whether this struggle between the extremists can be settled without war. It is certain that war would be disastrous to all, for modern warfare is far more destructive than war was in ancient days. Another war, fought with the weapons which Science has now provided (including aero planes which fly faster than sound, and explosives so powerful that a single bomb can destroy a whole city) might end in the complete destruction of the present civilization, or even of mankind. So long as the extremists on both sides fear the destruction of war more than they fear each other, they will not start another war.
But it is possible that there may be another way of solving this terrible problem. The struggle is mainly over the question of how to give Freedom I to everyone in the world. At present, Man has not found out how to grow enough food for the rapidly increasing populations of countries such as China, Ceylon, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, or how to distribute the surplus products of other countries, such as the U.S.A., without causing unemployment. Science has made such rapid progress during the past fifty years that it seems possible that discoveries will very soon be made which may completely save the world form the danger of starvation. The 'splitting of the atom', achieved in the past few years, is already leading to the discovery of how to make good use of the inexhaustible energy locked up in every atom of matter in the universe. There are numberless ways in which such energy might be used for the benefit of the world. It might make possible, among other things, the generation of electricity on such an extensive scale, and so cheaply, that all problems of irrigation could be overcome wherever there exists any water to be lifted and distributed. Great areas of the earth’ surface, such as the Sahara and other deserts, which at present cannot be cultivated for want of water, would then be available for growing more food. Other possible new sources of power, which may also soon be put to use by Science, are the tides of the oceans and the heat of the Sun.
Another great discovery likely to be made within a few years is concerned with the green substance of vegetable matter (chlorophyll), which enables plants to obtain their nourishment. Scientists are trying to find out the secret of this, and if they succeed, it is possible that almost unlimited supplies of food may be made to grow both on land and in shallow water. Yet another possible source of food is the substance called plankton, which is found in normous quantities in seawater, and is the principal source of nourishment of the whale and of many fish.
If mankind can by any means be set free from the fear of not having sufficient food, it will go far to solve all other problems: for when men feel sure of Freedom I, they will be much less inclined to fight other men for the other freedoms, or to wish to take those Freedoms away from anyone. If there is plenty for everyone, the only food problem will be to make sure that is fairly distributed. But a danger of disputes about distribution will always remain while people are so selfish that they do not care if some have too little while others have more than they need. There will be much less danger of this when the world can provide more than enough for all; but still the danger will not wholly vanish until men become less selfish. Is it possible that men will ever have the Fifth Freedom-freedom from selfishness? Some people say, 'Human nature never changes'. Fortunately that is not true. If it had been true, Man could never have reached even the present stage of civilization. Human nature does change, though it seems to change with great difficulty. How can we change it?
Man has a wonderful brain, and he is learning to use it more and more wonderfully. But all the inventions and discoveries of Man's intelligence not made men happier and more peaceful. The people who lived in Egypt, Bangladesh and China thousands of years ago had to get on without many of the advantages we have today. They could not travel quickly from place to place; very few of them could read and write; there were very few books, and no cinema, radio and other entertainments of that kind. But those people of ancient times were not less happy then we are except for the discoveries that have helped to get rid of disease, most of Man's inventions seem to have made life more dangerous and more unhappy, not more peaceful and happier. Why is that so?
It is because the knowledge we have gained has given us more power, but not more wisdom to use that power for good. Many of the wonderful modern inventions are being used for war and destruction. Others are used to make things quickly and in large quantities, so that some men can become very rich, and other have no work to do. Men behave selfishly, thinking only of their own power and wealth, and safety for themselves and their families, not really caring much about the fate of others.
This is the greatest of all problems. It is the problem to which all the great religious teachers have tried to find the answer. Unless we can find the answer ourselves, we and each one of us, all the other problems of the world will continue unsolved, and the struggle of Man will go on. There will be wars as long as men want power over other men: there will be poverty as long as men want great wealth which gives them power. Even if scientists discover how to provide enough food and clothing for all, and even if a strong government gets things distributed fairly, as long as there are men and women who are greedy and want to rule others through the possession of more things or more knowledge, there will not be peace and happiness.
The World Problem is the Individual Problem. This means that unless there is a change in ourselves-in us and each one of us- the world will not change. So long as we have greed in our hearts, we are helping to make a greedy and cruel world. Blaming others and expecting them to change is of no use. Even blaming us, telling ourselves that greed is a horrible thing and that it is wicked to be greedy, will not put an end to greed. Then how can there be an end to it, and to all the other evils, which bring sufferings to mankind?
We can be free from greed and other such feelings only by watching fearlessly how they arise in our minds, and by understanding the mind, which creates them. It is the power of Man's mind that has discovered so many secrets of Nature of society. We have studied in this book many of those wonderful discoveries and inventions. But very few of us have discovered the secret of our own nature. The wise men of ancient Asia said that most important thing in the world is self-knowledge. 'Man, know thyself!' said the Greek oracle. We know many other things, but not that. Our mind makes us think that each one of us is a separate being, because we have bodies, which appear separate (though the matter of which they are made is constantly changing). Science is now finding out that there is only one Life in the universe. Things are only separate in appearance. Even men are not different in this, for we too are a part of the universe. But our minds cannot understand that the appearance of separateness is not a real thing. Therefore, our thoughts and actions are always based on this misunderstanding this false idea of separateness. 'What a man thinks, he becomes,' said Buddha. We think of ourselves as separate, and we become selfish, isolated. Then we want more for ourselves, not caring if others have less.
All quarrels and fights and unhappiness come from this. They can come to an end only when our minds see this truth clearly, for, when we see clearly, we cannot help thinking differently, and acting differently. The truth shall make us free. In that freedom the struggle of Man will cease, and his real life as a civilized being will begin.
"Transform Thyself before Transforming Society" has focussed our attention on certain principles of the liberal movement in Bangladesh. L P B has drawn the attention of the leadership to the decadence of the peoples movement of the country. According to a recent research by Institute of Liberal Democracy peoples movement is stagnating, perhaps in decline. The stagnation is not of recent origin but perhaps started about two-three decades ago. Prior to independence, a large section of our middle class youth joined our national liberation movement. Another large section accepted socialism as its guiding philosophy for social justice. Many of these young people came from well-to-do families and were brilliant students of colleges and universities. Joining the national and socialist movements meant hardship, imprisonment, and loss of lucrative careers, physical torture and sometime even gallows. Still these young people were not afraid. The national movements always had a good number of self-sacrificing workers. But the situation has completely changed today. Our middle class has gone more or less completely consumerist; it is not worried over the fact that a big section of the population continues to live much below the poverty line without education, without health facilities, etc. etc.
December 16, 1971 was the date on which we have attained independence. On this day, the seeds of development and realignment of social forces of our country were planted and during the last 30 years, these seeds have taken the form of what we see today. If during the pre-independence days, the middle class youth who flocked to the national movements, national identity and national self-respect could be given proper leadership and guidance for people oriented policies they would have been the driving force of such a trend. The main pillar of the nationalist movements was the middle class. Even now the social force for the movements is the middle class. With the attainment of independence, this class reaped considerable harvest next to the upper class. As the society advanced or rather the productive forces started to gain their natural momentum, the middle class gradually lost its radical character. On the whole, the class, which supplied maximum number of workers to the different parties, became a highly privileged one in the post-independent years. The youth belonging to this class are no longer interested in any social change; they are completely consumerists. Their movement as salaried persons is to draw maximum financial benefits from their employers, be it a government or quasi-government organisation, research institution, bank, insurance company, private organisation, primary school, college or university.
These sections are no longer interested in the welfare of others. Trade unionism for these people is to grab as much money and other benefits as possible. The Government and leaders and industrialists are also ready to oblige them to separate them from the teeming millions of poor countrymen and to provide a consumer market for goods imported or manufactured by multinationals or joint ventures. The parties with their base and leadership in the middle class cannot antagonize this class. But this class or members of this class now avoid the people oriented politics because they fear rough politics will not allow such politics to continue. Being frustrated they either join other parties or become apolitical. There is no need to shed tears for this; it is but natural. Their programme, and particularly activity, should be modified to serve the interests of these poorer sections.
The majority of our people has a quality of life not worth living and a good fraction of our people lives below the poverty line. There are unorganized workers and farmers, socially backward classes, tribal people and adeevasi (sons of the soil). These constitute the natural force of the present. Trade unions of middle class, salaried employees are at present tacit centers for corruption and support lack of work culture. White-collared workers, blue-collared workers, traders and others are not the natural force for social advancement today. The activity of the political workers should include fight against economic exploitation, spread of education, fight against superstitions, and to serve as watchdog for social justice and civil rights for all, particularly for the socially backward people. The present parliamentary system does not suit the social reality. The slogan of a coalition government or a Third Front indicates bankruptcy of present political parties and an opportunity for liberal philosophy.
From the 1970s onward, a new technological revolution (NTR) started to take shape. As a result of this revolution, the productive forces have undergone a change; productivity and surplus value per unit of labour has increased in an amazing way. The management can now part with more money as salary and other facilities to its salaried staff and workers. The NTR has changed the nature of most industries. A new type of organised working class is being generated. Advent of agriculture created a surplus value which led to the origin of a new class and a tertiary sector. After the Development in a few industrial sector, surplus value per unit labour increased and the tertiary sector got further strengthened. With the NTR there is still further increase in the surplus value per unit of labour; the tertiary sector received a further boost and expanded both quantitatively and qualitatively. All these have social implications.
The full significance of the NTR and its potential danger leading to the development of social strains require thorough analysis and assessment. On the basis of the productive forces and social relationships that are in existence the future of liberalism is bright. With the collapse of imperial powers after Second World War and the advent of the NTR, no worthwhile study has been made by the parties to work out a new strategy and tactics.
The New Technological Revolution has strengthened the capitalist world for the present. The capitalist world is no longer divided. In the shape of G-8, European Union, NATO, it has formed its own "International". The working people’s international is non existent. Before the Second World war, the capitalist world was divided into different imperialist powers with different spheres of influence in the form of colonies. Today the picture is totally reversed. In the name of globalisation, liberalisation, World Trade Organisation, common intellectual property rights and patent systems, free trade and free flow of capital market economy the world Libera has the whole developing world as its fertile ground. At one time, people of the colonies were united for the national liberation movement. Subsequently the NAM, anti-war movements, movement against nuclear warfare, campaign against global hegemony, and the interest of the national economy united the Third World. Today, the NAM and other such movements have either collapsed or are shadows of their earlier "selves". The liberal world is uniting the people of the developing world. But political parties are concerned only with day-to-day marginal problems and have failed to give any leadership for the generation of Liberalism for the welfare of all people in this region.
Globalism is an important pivot of the movement. At present political parties do not carry out any worthwhile probing discussions on the international happenings. The USA has taken the leadership of the capitalist world in the interest of world capital. China appears to be opening up to international border for development. Iraq, with the most progressive outlook in the Muslim world, is being choked economically and militarily. The Taliban-a force of Muslim youth control Afghanistan reversing the progressive measures introduced by Islamic theology. In India, there is no guarantee that in the near future Hindu fundamentalists will not gain absolute majority in Parliament, to reverse the progressive social measures and institutions introduced as a result of the national movements. Already, the process has started. Social revolution in the post-Second World War period requires continuous change and liberalism is consistent with the political requirement and economic advancement of the society. The leadership of the CPSU was incapable of understanding the people's aspirations and their extremely hostile attitude to the system on account of the lack of democracy, civil and minimum freedom in the USSR. Till Gorbachev came to power, the Soviet Union did not allow any freethinking and expression in any field, be it literature, science and technology or matters of people's interest. As a result, the system choked the development of productive forces and other creative work of art and literature. Gorbachev initiated step to change the system. He understood the disease but not the cure. under the slogans of glasnost and perestroika, Gorbachev wanted to make the socialist system of the USSR democratic and efficient. But the erstwhile USSR is now under jungle rule and more uncivilised and unproductive than the earlier regimes. The reactionary, not progressive, forces are in command. Taking advantage of the people's hostility to the system, a social counter-revolution was made successful.
Corruption has permeated the society both horizontally and vertically. From the level of politicians and ministers to the level of the under-class staff-most are involved. In the earlier days also it was there but now a quantitative change leading to a qualitative change has taken place. And this is bound to affect the efficiency of the productive forces and their expansion and help develop the reactionary forces. Many overlook this stating that it is a natural social phenomenon. Trade unions by their silence tacitly support corruption. But who benefits from corruption and who is the loser? Let the study be done in the total social context. Corruption has various ramifications and social implications.
There cannot be revolutionary practice without a revolutionary theory. Very true. The scientifc theory of Liberalism to change the society and class approach to charter the path of human development attracted the youth of the present era. These attracted a good section of our youth to Liberalism. At the advent of the twentefirst century, the liberals have everything to offer to the youth for its intellectual satisfaction and for social activity. The New Technological Revolution shows the strength of Liberalism.
CERTAINLY there are weaknesses in the present politics and economies of Bangladesh. Due to the eventual shrinkage of the market, the system will be under serious strain in due course. Indirect evidences are already there. At time people will flare up in blind rage but in the absence of a socially conscious party, ultimately nothing will happen except some cosmetic dressing. Herein lies the necessity of the world liberals to help build up a conscious leadership and a course of action. Liberalism has immense capacity to adjust when it is dictated by social strains. Only skillful steering is needed. But it may take time or happen quickly depending on the people's movement and leadership. In the national scenario, the role of middle class in the post-independent period, corruption and its socio-economic effect, the lack of emphasis on the poor and the unorganised sections of people and on culturally and economically backward people should agitate the liberals both national and world over to avait the opportunity and co-operate with each other for the opread of Liberalism. r
Politics In Bangladesh
The history of human civilization is the history of conflict and resolution. Human society in all ages advanced toward fulfillment through assertions and negations of their natural rights, which implies that individuals have widest possible scope to live their lives as they choose. John lock argued that right to vote is based on the existence of natural rights putting emphasis on a system of government by consent. This freedom of choice allows them to engage directly and continuously in shaping life of their community. Rousseau was a strenuous critic of participation in electing representatives through this system of voting. He held every individual entirely responsible for their economic, social and political circumstances, as it is "obedience to law as one prescribes for oneself." He said, "people believes itself to be free, it is gravely mistaken; it is only free when it elects its members of the parliament; as soon as they are elected, the people are enslaved; it is nothing. In the brief moment of freedom, people makes such use of its freedom that deserves to loose it." Rousseau was cent percent right. When mobocracy in the form of democracy grabs the steering people are robbed of their right.
Politics is the 'master science', the activity through which human beings attempt to improve their lives and create good society. On broader sense, it is the activity through which people make, preserve and amend the general rules under which they live. Hence, as there are conflicting opinions, different wants, competing needs and opposing interests, so politics is a process of conflict resolutions in which rival views or competing interests are reconciled with one another. Politics, to some, is dirty word. It conjures up images of troubles, disruptions and violence, in the social arena; on the other hand deceit, manipulation and lies are the characteristics of the elected representatives. Politics is associated with power and authority. Power is the ability to achieve a desired outcome. Authority is legitimate power or right to exercise the power. Authority is based on acknowledged duty to obey rather than being under any form of coercion or manipulation. Authority is power to do the right. This extols the virtue of a political society in which each and every individual is able to achieve self development through the promotion of openness, accountability and decentralisation. By participating in political life people enhance their understanding, strengthen their sensibilities and achieve a higher level of personal development, It is an educational experience where nobody teaches anybody any lesson.
Parliamentary democracy essentially means responsible and representative government. Its main merit is that the representatives are by virtue of their education and opportunities that they have to deliberate and debate, supposedly better able than people themselves to define peoples best interests. The public interest consist of the general or collective interest of a community, that is, that which is good for a society as a whole. Rousseau stated that interests of the public are higher than or morally superior to those of the individual. The representatives have to think for themselves on behalf of their constituencies. Alexis de Tocquevelle, the famous political thinker said, "in politics shared hatreds are almost always the basis of friendship." This is very much perfect as natural right to nurse and maintain jealousy and engage in a competition with colleague representatives as to who does how much for the wellbeing of the people. But it is very difficult to see how this any way restrict politicians once they are in power and possess authority.
It should not have been said so much unless this 56 thousand 1 hundred 26 sqmiles of land comprising Bangladesh would not have become the land where the innate ideals of liberalism being trampled under foot everyday. Millions of downtrodden men women and children are crying for emancipation and praying for the emergence of some one or a body to raise voice for them. The land for whose independence they fought, suffered innumerable losses of lives, honour and properties, the land of their dream where they thought they would live with honour, equality and justice has turned into a wasteland for them. It seems that the 'state of nature' where life was 'nasty, brutish and short' has established its absolute reign and demanding unquestioned loyalty under the threat of shameless brute force and naked cunnings. Under the veil of governance an open challenge is thrown, "you could not realise your ideals, now you must idealise my reals."
As the chariot of civilization moves fast forward the strategy of socio-economic, political, civil and cultural repression change and adopt some sort of sophistication. Barbarism is freely exercised under the pretension of governance. The external authority and the vested interest groups have formed between them an unholy alliance and strange relation to suck up the wealth, courage and honour of the mass people with a view to destroy their spirit. They very well know that if the spirit of humanism and natural rights are allowed to live their downfall will be a matter of time-the right moment to ignite the flame of original human nature that is asleep in the very heart of millions of oppressed people of Bangladesh. 'A sleeping lion is more dangerous than thousands of provocated bears' so goes the saying.
The centralising tendencies of the government have bedeviled the objectives of developing socio-political harmony and an overreaching national consciousness. The inability or unwillingness to accommodate social diversity and provide democratic space to a variety of groups has in turn returned and intensified centrifugal tendencies. The compulsion of the govt. to forge a nation-state in its thrall invariably involve the prominence of coercible strategies and gradual erosion of democratic right and freedom. The institutionalization of hegemony through the insistence of political party conformity and no less insidious practices of elevating the majority party to a foremost position have struck at the fundamental tenants of identity in a representative democracy. In Bangladesh such factions clearly characterise perception of discrimination and societal conflict. The failure of the present party in power to deliver its promises with regard to the good life of the people, and its tendencies to camouflage its limited capabilities with coercion and authoritarianism resulted in anti-establishment and anti-systematic governance that is corrupt, exclusive and bankrupt and economic development is denied democratic legitimacy.
Party in power in Bangladesh has adopted a policy where all power is jealously guarded at the center and concentrated in a class of party members and thus in the office of a single individual. Hence, the reasoning of those who believe that the system is not working, for them is to capture power through similar system and means. This is a course of action which serves only to replicate the problem. Authority and opportunity when stem from partisan affiliation the development of flourishing institutions of Press and Media and civil society that would serve as independent guardian of democratic right is weakend. The government has struck a severe blow and brought down individual freedom, basic human rights including the rights of women, children and the minorities, democratic politics, traditional socio-cultural values, moral and ethics, freedom of judiciary and media to their knees.
The world 'law' and 'order' have so frequently been misused as an excuse for oppression that the very phrase has become suspect. Law and order as expressed in official term has become in truth quiet-crouch-crush-flatten to the alert and progressive citizenry. There is no intrinsic virtue to law and order unless 'law' is equated with justice and 'order' with the discipline of a people satisfied that justice will be done. The true concept of law is based on righteousness, not on the power to impose harsh and inflexible rules on a defenseless people. The true measure of perfection of a system is the amount of protection it guarantees to the weakest. Here, numerous instances can be cited where attempts on the part of the judiciary and media to act independently, have been squashed by the capricious exercise of political power. Some media organs have functioned as champions of independent and democratic opinion whilst others have invariably succumbed to government control or patronage. Here, journalists have been victimized, arrested, abducted, harmed upon physically, even killed for their independence and nonconformity to the government party orders not to expose the real. In addition to the imposition of censorship from above, journalists themselves have had to practice self censorship to placate the government party led terrorists, as a life insurance policy.
Obsession with personalities, dynastic leadership, power politics accompanied by politics of 'all-or-nothing' and 'now-or-never', terrorism, insurgencies, wide-spread corruption, feudal attitude and rampant mistrust and suspicion are only a part of dominant features of Bangladesh political culture and reality as it exist to-day. It is as if "ends justify means" has become the motto and the end being power and retainment of it at any cost. Therefore, be it restoring to communal politics, evoking anti religious sentiment in the garb of secularism under the pretext of nationalism, all is justified as long as it seems the end objective of getting voters or driving away voters for staying in political seat. Another alarming feature in current politics is the growing nexus between criminals and politicians. Competitive formal democratic politics is now an expensive business. Election campaigns require large sums of money and since that much vast sums are not available through legitimate means, it is a question of getting funds from extortion, looting and plundering and occupation, hoblobbying with black money operators and being indebted to them. Here, all means are justified-money, corruption, religious sentiment, muscle and arms power with help of criminals and terrorists-for the ultimate aim is to secure or stay in power. By the time politicians play their power game, their terms normally get over (either by ballot or bullet) and issues which needed urgent addressing remain unresolved.
No one takes the people seriously. The politicians have lost credibility. Thus the growing erosion in the confidence of the people vis-à-vis the government is creating discontent and disillusionment. It's a dangerous trend and can at any time lead to the rending of the social fabric.
Human beings, being what they are, there is temptation to gain advantages and indeed the very basic ambition to gain power. The leaders in the party in power and the leaders in the opposition party have engaged themselves in hurling blames against each other. Whenever the oppositions speak against the misrule, corruption, sacrificing national interest only for personal benefit, spending national exchequer on unproductive purposes, forgoing agriculture and industrial development, doing nothing to move towards technological advancement by the party in power, they are being abused in the most barbarous method. Police harassment, abduction and secret killing and unleashing a reign of terror, victimization by false cases are most common methods to hush up the opposition. Even when they give constructive suggestions they are termed as agents of this or that country. The opposition parties have also blamed the party in power with equal energy and vocabulary. But none of them speaks for the welfare of the state and the nation. Not only that, they are employing their party men to launch vehement physical attacking operation against each other, sometimes with such fury that killing, looting, raping and occupation of house and property make news headline. What is more surprising is that for showing power, authority and supremacy they are killing their own men whom they think can gain a stature and challenge their authority and take over the chair. Just after the killing spree is over they throw full throated allegation against the opposition and start so called retaliation operation in which innocent opposition party men are killed. This is killing two birds with a single stone.
We wonder and find no place to hide our face in shame when the chief of the party in power orders her armed cadres to kill ten opposition men for one of her party men in for one of her partymen every hit to retaliate an incident where her men killed eight of their own men only to regain supremacy of that locality and that order came in broad daylight in a public meeting. Her men in the parliament, even in the cabinet order their armed cadres to mutilate the journalists who dare to report their crimes. Not only that, in the open public meeting order the policemen not to admit case entries or arrest the terrorist cadres. It is a fact that the opposition could not reach that height, but it is not because they are angels, rather in fear of more and more rude repressive measures to be adopted by the cadres of the party in power. Instead of taking the people into confidence the opposition parties are busy in power mongering within the party.
Doing some good for the people, providing the people with some relief from rampant corruption, terrorism, extortion, abducting young girls and raping and killing, being victim of cross firing between party cadres are nobody's business now. While the party in power is doing all their best, taking every measure to retain power, the opposition parties have employed all their efforts to regain power. Winning power, not people has become the goal, the target. To reach that target the parties are asking their student front to become active in political organizing but not in study; the bureaucrats are being ordered not to act according to government decision or to be indulgent in co-operation with the legitimate suggestions of the opposition but not to serve the public interest; the labour fronts are asked to take over the CBAs but not to increases production; law enforcing authorities are asked to hush up the opposition but not to curb crimes; the teachers are asked to co-operate with student wing of the parties but not to be regular in their profession, the civil societies are asked to propagate lies but not to speak for the people, the NGO leaders are asked to co-operate in fetching votes but not to serve the distressed, the industrialists are asked to pay large sums in party funds even if by levying it over the people or by non payment of bank loan but not to use money to get better technologies for the upliftment of his industry, the bank and financial institutions are ordered to issue huge amount of money as different types of loans to their party men but not to invest in small scale industries which will create employment and income generation, the youth forces are being provided with heroin, phensydiles and arms but not with books and education expenses and training.
Those are the persons whom the people elected to be their representatives, their guardians. It was supposed, that they will keep up to their promise and serve the interest of the people, the state and the nation; work relentlessly for a bright future; frame laws, rules and regulations, Acts that will provide the people with all their basic needs and ensure the implementation of individual human rights, ensure peace, prosperity and progress. All other South Asian nations even Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Nepal Bhutan and Maldives who do not have that much human or natural resources are moving fast forward, so fast that even the developed countries are terming them as emerging economic tigers. And Bangladesh, who was even in the first half of nineties was supposed to be the emerging economic tiger has turned into a lame tortoise.
The main acusation that the chief of the party in power hurls against the opposition parties that they are being agents of Pakistan are disrupting the peace and stability of the Bangali nation and Bangladesh. A serious acusation : But what she hides most cautiously is that Pakistan, being one of the super powers and economically in a much more sound position thinks very little about us. The vast hostile Indian territory between the two countries makes it impossible; the valiant freedom fighters in the opposition camp, even at the cost of their lives, will not allow it, and the general people who knows very well what a sacrifice they had to make to see this Bangladesh free will never let it happen. The one and only reason behind such accusation is an ultraferior motive to arouse public sentiment against the oppositions parties. The lower grade leaders of the party in power loudly echoes the words of their chief in public meetings but in their respective localities maintain tight-lips as they themselves know that people are much conscious.
On the other hand the accusation of the chief of the main opposition party that the ruling party is selling Bangladesh to India is mistermed. The ruling party has already made Bangladesh an economic colony of India. The Indian industiralist, businessmen and even traders have swarmed Bangladesh markets with their goods sent through black marketeers ninety five percent of whom owe their allegience of the ruling party. In the agricultural sector they are pushing fertilizers and insecticides that kills the lands fertility and destroys the ecological as well as environmental balance, so that their remains no alternative in future but to depend on Indian products. Their cultural aggression is so well planned and ill motivated that it destroys the patriotic spirit of Bangladeshi youth force. In the international boder, the farm land in Bangladesh are cultivated by Bangladeshi farmers but the crop are reaped by the Indian farmers with active firepower help from the Indian Border Security Forces.
In propaganda campaign the chief of the ruling party is a titan whereas the chief of the opposition party is swarmed by her own bees with their stings open and out. Gentlemanship in politics, particularly in Bangladesh, does never pay.
When society faces intolerable crack and its stability is in danger only faith can serve no purpose. It requires socio-economic, political and cultural reformation. According to Roman philosopher, statesman Marcellus Cecero, "state is nothing but a community of law. It may not be possible to administer equal distribution of wealth or equalize the innate capabilities of all citizens, but is very much possible and the state should ensure persons right to equalize their individual right. True law is right reason in agreement in nature. Those who have right reason in common must have right in common. conception of justice and consciousness of love must go together. If the political society cannot establish a balance of righteousness with the mass people than the stability and discipline of a state is bound to collapse." Verily, this is the state of Bangladesh now.
"Quis custodiet custodes" (Who guards the guardians)? Thus the great Greek philosopher Aristotle expressed his anxiety and concern while responding to Plato's theory of philosopher king as guardian. Bangladesh, our dear motherland is being repeatedly cheated by her sons and daughters who were given the guardianship to form the government and the guardianship to impose check and balance but all of them became over mighty. Politics have become rough, people are terrified. Darkness reigns everywhere. This has become the place where guardians clash-----clash----and clash.
What's wrong with our political leaders? Did they forget we won freedom by fighting with one of the mighty military powers and that we have that much honour and dignity and mentality to take measures to solve our own problems? The tradition of the Bangladeshi people is a tradition of pride and performance. This is the very reason the neighboring countries as well as the foreign developed countries honour Bangladesh and on the other hand continuously keep themselves engaged in comparative efforts to weaken it politically, economically and culturally. They create and promote pockets of their influence in every rank and file, place and position in national life. The patriotic intelligentsia and the people who could understand the outcome of such indifference raised warnings but no-body cared to pay heed to those. The result, the onslaught of the internal mischievous trio with money and arms from the external hegemonist forces gradually gained strength and ultimately appeared with full power and velocity of a blood thirsty monster, vicious and mighty.
As the most powerful party with grassroots level work force hundred percent dedicated and loyal to their leader, Awami league started the culture of adoring foreign donors and influencing them not to co-operate with the ruling BNP. Emerging as undisputed leader of the internal discontent forces Awami league waged continuous strikes, hartals, disrupting normal affairs of the state along with adopting all monosterous activities that pleased the hegemonist neighbor and foreign forces. The culture of adoring the foreign emissaries and embassies continued. The destructive activities of the discontent forces under the leadership of Awami League inspired the foreigners to poke their nose into the internal affairs of Bangladesh. The consortium of donors, IMF, World Bank, WTO all began to impose conditions even interfered with independence. Nothing unnatural. When the internal powerful political forces beg the foreign power not to co-operate in the development of economies and social services, the foreign power get chancs to adopt measures to exploit the resources of the land and force unacceptable conditions in exchange for donations, grants and aids. What an impudence! Vieing for power by winning over the people was replaced by winning over the foreigners taking them as friends. Self-respect, honour, dignity and prestige of a nation thrown under the feet to foreign donors. It is a wonder, Awami League, while adoring the feet of the donors did not feel a little ashamed. Seeing the internal conflict the donors raised demands that no dignified nation will consider honorable and those were promptly swallowed. The aid consortium, in the nomenclature of aid began continuously imposing conditions to carry on this or that reforms economic and socio-political that they would not impose in their country for fear of public reprisal. Bangladesh being aided by the doner countries is, becoming poorer everyday. Her economy politics and social culture, morality, ethics are being dominated by their wishes. The bankruptcy of the political leaders leadership, ideological knowledge and patriotism has inspired the foreigners to such an extent that it seems they are delivering speeches that amounts to dictate national policies. In every sphere of national life, be it politics, economic development, socio-cultural heritage and tradition, their interferences have gone beyond the ethies of emissaries. On occasions their words are direct threats. Any government policy that does not suit their interest faces naked criticism from them. In sectors where international contract is concerned they compete with each other viciously and whenever one of them is dissapointed they show their real face, the face of a coyote. Openly they are terming the patriotic efforts of our politicians and bureaucrats as inefficient, corrupt and what not. The foreign donors in the camoufiage of friends are behaving as masters. Finding the ground fertile and infested by insect like politicians who have no idea that they themselves are eating up their own crop the foreignners have dug into the soil their tillers. Is that day far away that these friends will even dictate politics only to serve their interest? The present Awami League regim had invited these apparent friends to interfere in national politics and at present