Voters - The Strength of a Democracy - Can Also Be Its Weakness

Many who have been decorated and rewarded for their “outstanding” contribution in the field of Journalism are not just reporters of facts and information but also commentators, critiques, strategists, spin-doctors and masters of “networks of (dis)information.”

The criminal-politician nexus of yester years, which has been a menace for our democracy of illiterate voters, seems to be getting replaced by a new nexus of business-politician-journalist nexus which is more menacing with literate voters.

Politicians always seek good media coverage and many voters are influenced by such coverage. Some politicians even negotiate good coverage ahead of the voting. That is why they have press secretaries and media advisors.

Can a statute be drafted by the parliament which makes positive media coverage the "quid" or "quo" necessary for a conviction of a legislator for bribery?

Can the legislators not use their power over framing of policy and statute for political, partisan or even personal advantage? What would constitute a criminal abuse of their legislative and executive power, as distinguished from a political or moral abuse....?

The central aspect of the rule of law is that no one may be investigated, prosecuted or impeached unless his conduct violates pre-existing and unambiguous prohibitions. Neither the parliament nor the prosecutors can make it up as they go along, because they, too, are not above the law.

Politicians can be convicted if they are found guilty of the crimes specified in the Constitution, namely, "treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanours." It is simply not a crime for a law-maker to use his power over policy-making for political, partisan or even personal advantage.

Political leaders in power have even engaged in military and police actions for political gain. They have given aid to foreign countries and lobby groups to help themselves get elected. They have appointed ambassadors and bureaucrats based not on competence but on past and anticipated future political contributions. None of these has ever been deemed criminal.

Neither the parliament nor the prosecutors can seek to criminalise the exercise of a legislator’s power over framing of policy and statute on the ground that they do not like the way he used it or even if he abused it.

Do democracies need voters who are literate, informed and knowledgeable?

May be! May be not!!

For sure, democracies need voters who can rise above some mean self-interest and seek an enlightened self-interest within the national interest. Democracies need voters who have the wisdom to discern the good from the bad.

People acquire wisdom in many ways; but wisdom cannot be taught.

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Use of Academic Titles as Prefixes to Names is Erroneous and May be Illegal

Doctor of Philosophy is a general degree for any subject earned through research and presentation of a thesis. A doctorate is usually regarded as a higher degree than a bachelor's degree (such as B.A. or B.Sc) and a Magister (Master’s) degree (such as M.Com.  M.B.A. or M.Sc.) Universities may award doctorates to people who have done a lot in their fields of study: these are called honorary doctorates. There is no set rule for this. Very often, these are abbreviated "Doctor h.c." (for "honoris causa").

In the higher education space, common job titles in a hierarchy are Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor. They are designations and not distinctions. Use of job title as a prefix to the name is not proper, except in the military.

Article 18 of the Constitution talks about abolition of titles: “No title, not being a military or academic distinction, shall be conferred by the State. No states can officially issue titles.”

There is a Supreme Court ruling which prohibits even the use of “Padma Shri” as a prefix to the recipient’s name under Article 18. One can only use “Padma Shri awardee” or “recipient of Padma Shri” as a prefix to the name.

Use of Dr or Doctor as a prefix to a name should be limited to only the medical doctors. Medical doctors examine, diagnose and treat patients. Becoming a medical doctor requires a doctoral degree in medicine and participating in clinical training. Medical doctors need a licence, and certification and serve public at large.

An academic Doctor using the title onboard a flight manifest serves no useful purpose to any co-passenger on board while a medical doctor using the title onboard the same flight projects expertise which may come in handy to the crew in case of any medical emergency.

Use of titles like Dr. (Doctor) and Prof. (Professor) should be confined to interactions between and within the academic community and inside the academic campuses. Using such titles is neither appropriate nor legal outside the academic space. 

In September 2018, Elizabeth Jensen, the ombudsman/public editor for National Public Radio in the US had explained why the news organization did not confer “Doctor” on PhDs; it reserved the title for “individuals who hold a doctor of dental surgery, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine or veterinary medicine.” This news organization's reason for the distinction is “that for most listeners, a ‘Dr.’ practices medicine.” As it turns out, this practice is followed by many journalistic outlets, including Scientific American, because it is the standard laid out by The Associated Press Stylebook. The New York Times is one of few news outlets that does not abide by this guidance.

For those unfamiliar with the Style-book, it’s “an English grammar style and usage guide created by American journalists working for or connected with the Associated Press over the last century to standardize mass communications.”  It serves as a guide and resource to journalists; and many news organizations follow its recommendations by choice.

Using the title and name: Dr. (First Name) (Last Name) fails to differentiate between the holder of a philosophical doctorate and a professional medical doctor? It is more appropriate for a PhD holder to have the title and name expressed as (First Name) (Last Name), PhD and the usage of the expression Dr. (First Name) (Last Name) must be restricted for use by medical doctors.

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If you don’t care for India, you don’t belong to India

“... I repeat: we do not hate our Indian brothers, Mohammadans, Christians, or whatever they may be; we have no grudge against them. The only thing we hate is anti-national religious fanaticism, from wherever it may come. We know that we have shared, in the past, the same eternal Indian culture with those who have since then, become the Indian Mohammadans and Christians, and, in the same spirit and with the same earnestness as we preach India above all sects to the Hindus, we urge those Indians who believe in so-called world-religions to put India above them. We call them back to our common national culture and civilisation, for the sake of the Nation. If they love the Nation, let them come and join us. They are welcome.”

“But whoever does not care for India and her culture, whether he be born a Mohammadan, a Christian or even a Hindu, should have no place in the country but, at most, as a temporarily sojourning foreigner. Whoever loves any community more than India should go out of India.”

-                     Savitri Devi, “A WARNING TO THE HINDUS” Calcutta, May 1939

[Born as Maximiani Julia Portas in 1905 in Lyon, France, Savitri Devi Mukherjee was the daughter of Maxim Portas, a French citizen of Greek and Italian ancestry and an English woman, Julia Portas. Savitri Devi studied philosophy and chemistry, earning two master's degrees and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Lyon. Asit Krishna Mukherji attended the University of London taking a doctorate in history. Mukherji used his connections with Subhas Chandra Bose and the Japanese authorities to put them in contact with one another, thus facilitating the formation of the Indian National Army. In January 1938, Mukherji met Savitri Devi who was deeply impressed with his knowledge. They married on June 9, 1940 in Calcutta.]

[A Warning to the Hindus was first published by Brahmachari Bijoy Krishna of the Hindu Mission in Calcutta in 1939 with a foreword by G.D. Savarkar (brother of V.D. Savarkar). It was translated into six Indian languages, including Bengali, Hindi, and Marathi. It was re-published in 1993 by Promilla Paperbacks (New Delhi, ISBN 81-85002-40-1)].

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