By Aristotle Lyngdoh
Sociologists like Auguste Comte believed that human societies evolve in a unilinear way- that is in one line of development. According to them social change meant progress towards something better.They saw change as positive and beneficial and to them the evolutionary process implied that societies would necessarily reach new and higher levels of civilization. L.H Morgan believed that there are three basic stages in the process such as savagery, barbarism and civilization. This process of evolution further created an organized structure in the form a nation state which is governed by the rule of law and not by the command of a ruler or monarch. And the meaningful ‘rule of law’ implied that the level of accountability rises in the society. This means that the sense of ownership to the principles agreed and enacted are expedited consciously in letter and spirit without being forcefully enforced or demanded. But for the purpose of maintaining and sustaining this smooth flow, a systematic mechanism of administration evolved to further delegate responsibilities for tangibility. But such a situation has not yet developed in our Indian society and for this reasons offences of various types and degrees continue to flourish despite the active involvement of enforcement agencies.
Societies are also established through dialectical process whereby people or groups of people after a set of discourses and dialogues after careful examination of every angle enter into an agreement to reorganize themselves for a better future. A unified Germany is a perfect example in this case and we hope that North and South Korea will one day follow suit. Revolution or uprisings are other means that some societies have adopted in order to achieve their goal and determination. In all these cases there is without doubt a clear blueprint in the mind of the people that serves as a roadmap for their journey to the future. Based on this clear roadmap, lawmakers emerged and are elected from among the people especially those with the capabilities to steer the mechanism that translate these strategies into physical reality. In this manner societies are then managed by people who can maintain the momentum and level of progress in the path of civilization without disruptions. And for this reason perhaps the wealthy province of Spain, Catalonia, with per capita income of more than $30,000 feels that they are better off alone than with the rest of Spain. But in our Indian societies the situation is just the opposite. Lawmakers are those people from influential backgrounds either financially or from established families who are excellent in making promises sans a clear roadmap.
Various states in our country are created out of numerous agenda and issues. Some are carved out just by political decision from the top to fit the number game of politics. But when there is a genuine demand from the people such as Gorkhaland, the same people in authority are silent. The demand for a separate Khasi-Jaintia & Garo land orchestrated by few people drew insignificant support in both the communities. Going back to the days where Meghalaya was created, the process seems to be simple and bloodless but those who engineered the movement perhaps were purely guided by the idea that self-determination and governance is mere detachment from legislative system of the plain regions. But as for the process of governance, most of the laws and procedures are inherited from the erstwhile state of Assam. The idea of self determination towards a better future was overshadowed by the frequent conflict of governance coupled with the fractured public opinion whose mentality is strictly confined to certain sectional areas of their perception. A mass movement in a professional manner to drive the state forward is absent. As a result of which, self-made saviours of the society or‘jaidbynriew’ emerged here and there that further created confusion and complication. A society needs to be intellectually guided and not on the assumption that traditions is preeminent.
A clear roadmap for the future is the need of the hour but the level of our lawmakers is so pathetic that this idea is dwindling away from both political and public domain. Societies in general are not stagnant but are transformed under various types of influence. Therefore, lawmakers are also watchmen who can identify areas that may have severe impact on the dynamics of the commonwealth of a society. In a country like India, the presence of illiterate lawmakers in the democratic process has only benefited those in power in order to consolidate their numerical strength to fulfill their whimsical objectives. A self-reliant society on the contrary is characterized by multitudes of opportunities where people can generate income and create wealth that will further enrich the nation’s revenue. But as of now most of the income generating sources are being dried up or stopped. So how we tackle this problem requires a strong political will and determination.
The attributes of post-civilization are marked by rapid and robust technological invention and development to the extent that it has triggered many social changes and adaptation to the society at large. The dynamics of law making process should also conform to this fast changing scenario. Lest we forget, this robust technological advancement is also a threat to society and civilization and this threat is both normative and conspiratorial in nature. Here also lies the doctrine of sagacity and discernment. In the normative dimension, societies are deeply under constant affliction due to territorial or ideological conflicts which prompt many nations to aspire and pursue nuclear warheads. The effrontery industrial expansion has further created ecological imbalances and environmental changes detrimental to the society. On the conspiratorial aspect, terrorism, cybercrimes and encroachment on individual privacy constitutes to be the major challenges and danger to the society and civilization. Understanding these challenges we should also weight the caliber of lawmakers we intent to elect by keeping in mind the betterment of the whole society and not only a part of it.
In a small state like Meghalaya the reason for having an elected government with sixty lawmakers or legislators is meaningless if the situation of the state remains the same as it was twenty years ago and the condition of the people does not improve. I strongly believe that things will not change even if there is no elected government or people’s representatives. The point I want to make is that lawmakers are people’s representatives who should make a difference to the society. And this difference is reflected in different sectors of the society such as education, health, employment, environment, economic growth, empowerment, security and protection, infrastructures and many others. But as of now the state is lagging behind in every area. My respected lawmakers and aspirants in the coming general election what do you have in mind to offer to the society on these important issues confronting the progress of the society, based on your experience and credentials. Therefore, it is high time that people apply their deep sense of judgment and weightage during election and not to cast their vote just for the sake of emotion.