| The points of discussion in this article are "role", | | | | through our creative writings. History books are |
| "unorganized mass" and "democratic polity". Let's | | | | flooded with examples of great writers like Karl |
| discuss each of the words and their meanings. | | | | Marx, Trotsky, Gramsci, and Weber who have |
| "Role" here means function. But this is a very | | | | changed the polity of entire nation and even the |
| narrow definition. When we say function we | | | | entire world. Today the mass media is so vibrant |
| should also involve the dysfunctional aspects also. | | | | but the pity is that the reporters are so less |
| The next key word is "Unorganized mass". What | | | | educated and interested about the day to day |
| is the meaning of it? The simplest take would be | | | | happenings that most of the news today has |
| those people who are not part of any | | | | become a spicy potpourri. (One needs to see |
| organization. Here by organization we mean an | | | | India TV to know what I mean). So the onus |
| association, which may be a political party, a | | | | comes on us to take up this activity. Socialization |
| pressure group, a non government organization, | | | | through writing is the best and durable method of |
| an interest group, a non-profit group or whatever | | | | socialization and more so if it comes to political |
| it may be. | | | | socialization. I don't ask everybody to become a |
| So unorganized people are those who basically | | | | Shasi Tharoor or Guruchan Dash, but if we think |
| lead a voluntarism life, they may be common | | | | about our political interests, then if not anybody |
| people, the voters or any other person whose | | | | else we will be politically aware about the |
| associational interactions are close to null. The | | | | happenings. This is not limited to writings only, any |
| other key word is democratic polity. Democracy | | | | creative act like poems, paintings or even reading |
| is that form of government in which there is an | | | | about the political happenings itself brings about a |
| institutional mechanism for changing the governing | | | | high level of political awareness in the country. |
| elite and a social mechanism to bring about | | | | 2. Participation: - Some may question this concept |
| change. Then question arises who makes those | | | | because political participation is an organized |
| changes happen? - We the people. (Here people | | | | activity. But I am not talking about political |
| include both the organized and the unorganized). | | | | participation directly. We can create awareness |
| With this much of definition let's try to find a | | | | among the mass. We need not form organizations |
| common link between the three. We (the | | | | to do that. Great people like Anna Hazare or Baba |
| unorganized mass) have some functions in the | | | | Amte are fighting their lone battles. Are not they |
| political set up in India. So simple to find a | | | | doing something spectacular for the country? Of |
| common link! But the difficulty is to decide what | | | | course they are blessed souls and not every |
| roles we play. Let's enumerate from common | | | | mortal like us can become like them but at least |
| sense what can we do in our polity. | | | | we can do our bit. |
| 1. Voting: - Voting is an important concept in a | | | | 3. Showing interests: - Are we showing interest in |
| democratic polity and most of us surely exercise | | | | the way the country is run? Do we know there |
| our votes. So through the system franchise we | | | | are provisions like PIL, RTI through which we can |
| can choose our leaders and that way we put an | | | | ask for information which we always complain |
| impact on the polity of this country. | | | | about government being secretive? We always |
| 2. Political socialization: - We can teach our children | | | | complain the government being corrupt, but are |
| at home about the political developments in the | | | | we using all the things at our disposal? No , |
| country. So the knowledge our children should not | | | | because we are not aware of them. If educated |
| be limited to the civics books. | | | | people like us behave this way what to talk about |
| 3. Generalized out look :- We should have a | | | | the rural uneducated people. There is a trick down |
| general out look about how this country is running, | | | | effect every where in society. The lower level |
| what are its foreign policies, what are the | | | | follows the upper level of society. If we are so |
| democratic ideals, what is the economic structure | | | | uneducated what others will learn from us. If |
| etc. | | | | educated people like us don't exercise voting, how |
| The above are the commonsense perceptions of | | | | can we expect a village beetle shop man will go |
| what people like us who have no time for | | | | voting conscientiously without any allurement? We |
| associations can do for the country. But is it | | | | need to change ourselves. |
| enough? I understand the fact that we are mere | | | | The democratic polity of India needs the |
| individuals when we say we are unorganized, but I | | | | unorganized mass more than the pressure groups, |
| think there are many creative ways through | | | | the interest groups or political parties. It is high |
| which we can contribute to our country. Let me | | | | time that we do self introspection and decide |
| enumerate some of them:- | | | | what we can do for our country. |
| 1. Creative writing: - we can create awareness | | | | |