Wednesday, July 9, 2025
spot_img

The civil society dilemma

Date:

Share post:

spot_imgspot_img

By Naba Bhattacharjee

A shoe-thrower; a swami who wants to raise a private army; a national debate over whether dancing is decorous; determining the length of a skirt; blockades; human chains; burning effigies et al – as governance vacillate from silence to uncertainty. The events during last few years were unique in many ways. As people, we must also confront our contradictory responses to the phrase that has come to define — ‘civil society’. It’s a term has that has countless definitions. As a concept, it was born in the effort of citizens to assert their individual rights in 18th century Europe, in the face of an aristocratic State. In India, the ‘civil society’ debate is a polarised one, pitching ideologues of the left against right; left of centre and right of centre against each other while the “centre” dithers. After all, civil society is not an exclusive, members-only club. In our country civil society can be construed as a group of the ‘dominant classes’ of society.

 In case of advanced capitalist societies where civil society is highly developed, it works as a powerful system of bulwark standing behind the State. In developing societies, it is a fraction of an entire society where the State seeks its protective armour directly from the masses. We are witnessing this scenario in India today, where civil society is agitating against the State which in turn is deriving its legitimacy from the masses directly. Hence, civil society organisations need to expand their reach by engaging with the masses to be the true bearers of public opinion vis-à-vis a popular mandate. Or else the predicament and cynicism shall continue.

spot_imgspot_img

Related articles

Barring West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, nationwide strikes by Trade Unions remain peaceful

New Delhi, July 9: A nationwide strike gripped India on Wednesday, as more than ten central Trade Unions,...

Over 1,000 Maoists surrender under ‘Lon Varratu’ drive as 12 more Maoists lay down arms in Chhatisgarh’s Dantewada

Dantewada, July 9: In a landmark achievement for Chhattisgarh's counter-insurgency and rehabilitation efforts, the Dantewada police have claimed...

Third crash in 2025: IAF confirm death of two pilots killed in Churu incident

New Delhi, July 9: In a tragic incident, a Jaguar fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF)...

HM Amit Shah shares ‘retirement plan’, pledges to take up natural farming in later years

Ahmedabad, July 9:  Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that he will take up natural farming...