Page 8 - Mann Ki Baat January, 2023
P. 8

country  is  also  the  Mother  of   of Warangal were also very
        Democracy. Democracy is in        famous. The Bhakti movement
        our veins, it is in our culture – it   furthered  the  culture  of
        has been an integral part of our   democracy in western India. An
        work for centuries. By nature,    article has also been included in
        we are a  democratic society.     the book on the democratic spirit
        Dr. Ambedkar had compared         of the Sikh Panth which throws
        the Buddhist monks union to the   light on the decisions taken by
        Indian Parliament. He described   the consensus of Guru Nanak
        it as an institution where there   Dev Ji. The book also has good
        were many  rules for  Motions,    information  on   community-
        Resolutions, Quorum, Voting and   driven and consensus-driven
        counting of votes. Babasaheb      decision-making  –  in  Oraon
        believed that Lord Buddha must    and Munda tribes of central
        have got inspiration  from the               India. After reading
        political systems of                         this book, you will
        that time.                                   feel how the spirit
            There is a small                         of     democracy
        but famous village                           has  been  flowing
        in Tamil Nadu –                              in every part of
        Uthiramerur. Here                            the   country   for
        an inscription from                          centuries.      As
        1100-1200   years                            the   Mother    of
        ago surprises the                            Democracy,     we
        whole world. This                            should constantly
        rock edict is like a                         think deeply about
        mini-constitution.                           this topic, discuss
        It   has     been                            it  and  also  inform
        explained in detail                         the world. This will
        how    the  Gram                            further  strengthen
        Sabha      should                           the     spirit   of
        be   conducted                               democracy in the
        and what the                                  country.
        procedure for the
        selection of its members shall be.    My dear countrymen, if I ask
        Another example of democratic     you, what  is common  between
        values in the history of our country   Yoga Day and our different types
        is the Anubhav Mandapam of        of coarse grains – Millets, then
                                    th
        Lord Basaveshwara of the 12       you  might  think…  what  is  this
        century. Here, free debate and    comparison?  If  I  say  that  both
        discussion were encouraged.       have  a lot  in common,  you  will
        You  will  be  surprised  to  know   be surprised. In fact, the United
        that it is even before the Magna   Nations has taken the decision
        Carta. The republican traditions   to  observe  both  International
        of the Kakatiya dynasty kings     Yoga Day and International Year

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