COMPETENCE TO GOVERN Universally democracy prescribes that the leaders they elect need to be only citizens of that country.
But the quality of democracy suffers if the leaders who aspire to lead them politically and govern them suffer from certain biases on the basis of race, religion, caste, creed, color etc.
If the people who vote and people who lead are not thoroughly exposed to the democratic values, inequities, underdevelopment and divisions persist.
This is especially true in developing countries where poverty, inequities and divisions can mar the judgment of the voters as well as the leaders they elect.
This results in the perpetuation of divisions within the societies and frequent clashes that mar equal opportunities for all.
Especially in countries where democracies that took root during the past 50 years or so require special attention and focus till they develop into mature democracies.
The role of money power, muscle power and mafia in the electoral process in the new democracies succeeded in keeping the people more divided than united.
Many political parties in the developing democracies have regional, caste, communal and linguistic interests above the broad national interests and national vision.
This has resulted in poor quality of democracy.
It is unfortunate that in countries like India even after 50 years of independence, the governance failed to even deliver basic needs to its people like potable drinking water, power supply and reasonable housing.
What you see in metros and urban areas are islands of plenty amidst oceans of poverty.
Go to a city like Mumbai, you will realize that the real India lives in jhuggies and hutments and pavements without basic amenities.
Vast multitudes of the population have no access to literacy nor access to reasonable living.
Vast multitudes of the population appear to be suffering from poverty and illiteracy.
The reason for this sorry state of affairs despite India being the largest democracy is the faulty governance that perpetuates divisions among the people than uniting them.
Tickets are given to those who can manipulate caste, communal, regional or linguistic equations to garner the votes.
Money flows to lure the voters, muscle power is used to coerce the citizens and even mafia comes to the rescue of the political parties in times of need.
The choice before the electorate is not very ideal.
It is the quality of governance that requires fundamental overhauling.
Every person in the society requires some qualification or experience to serve the society and make a living.
Be it a barber, doctor, lawyer, administrator, engineer, scientist, worker, a business man, he either got trained by his forefathers in that profession or got qualifies through education.
But politicians who govern nations need neither experience nor qualifications for contesting successfully and winning positions in governance.
With the support of caste, community, regional groups many a time we elect leaders who are not worthy of governing.
You have choice to change the doctor, engineer, lawyer, barber etc if their service is not satisfactory though they are fully trained to do the job.
If you elect a leader who is not bridging the divide among the people, who favors some on his own equations at the cost of others, you have to suffer the misrule for the fixed period.
Then also he often gets reelected on the basis of his caste equation, religion or vote pulling strength.
There fore many leaders in the developing world have not ingrained the basis principle of democracy "greatest good of the greatest number" You cannot prescribe basic qualifications for voters in democracies.
That is against universal adult franchise.
Since it takes a longer time for the voters to mature politically while exercising their franchise, we can prescribe some basic qualifications for the leaders for competent governance.
Political Science students of Degree and PG hardly become rulers.
Why not redesign the curriculum that enables the aspiring leaders to get exposed thoroughly to the basic principles of governance, democratic values, importance of rule of law acquaints them with the problems and solutions, widen their horizon to unite people and remove the barriers and create development all round and equality of opportunity for every body to flourish.
With proper education the aspiring leaders will be able to look beyond caste, creed, linguistic, religious, communal considerations and develop proper understanding of the problems and solutions.
The aspiring leaders then will realize that it is the basic things first, potable drinking water, reasonable housing, proper educational avenues, increased employment that are the priority.
They will not then propagate their group interests but ensure that they represent the true aspirations of the people and work for solution to the problems and ensure development that benefits the largest number in the shortest time.
They should also be taught the principles of sound governance so that the babu's don't take them for a ride.
Besides all thisthe most important qualification must be allthose opting for a political career must face a test of ability to look at the issues likely to be faced by them objectively and take no rash decisions that seriously affect population at large.
If making pre education as compulsory for the aspiring candidates is not possible, then after the elections, a year should be set apart to impart the necessary education to the leaders and hone their skills in understanding the nation's problems and in governance.
This training will make them qualified to govern the way people wanted and not the way the present day leaders want.
Unless we undertake drastic changes to the electoral process and educate and train the leaders before they actually handle the responsibilities, the quality of governance is likely to suffer eternally.
Then only India can truly emerge as a global player.
Then only the leaders we elect will be competent and qualified to serve us and unite us on all matters that divide us.