Where does government come from | Jagdeep Chhokar | TEDxJaipur

passion of TEDx as the unseen

passion of TEDx as the unseen I will begin with a question which I’d

I will begin with a question which I’d

I will begin with a question which I’d like you to focus on which hopefully

like you to focus on which hopefully

like you to focus on which hopefully will throw some light on the unseen and

will throw some light on the unseen and

will throw some light on the unseen and the question is where does government

the question is where does government

the question is where does government come from obviously the question is

come from obviously the question is

come from obviously the question is simple it is simplistic the childish

simple it is simplistic the childish

simple it is simplistic the childish everybody knows where the government

everybody knows where the government

everybody knows where the government comes from but a little reflection

comes from but a little reflection

comes from but a little reflection hopefully well show us the unseen I have

hopefully well show us the unseen I have

hopefully well show us the unseen I have asked this question to hundreds of

asked this question to hundreds of

asked this question to hundreds of audiences in the country in universities

audiences in the country in universities

audiences in the country in universities in schools and colleges in in social

in schools and colleges in in social

in schools and colleges in in social gatherings like the Rotary Club and the

gatherings like the Rotary Club and the

gatherings like the Rotary Club and the Lions Club obviously I cannot ask the

Lions Club obviously I cannot ask the

Lions Club obviously I cannot ask the question here because the format are not

question here because the format are not

question here because the format are not interactive so therefore we’ll have to

interactive so therefore we’ll have to

interactive so therefore we’ll have to go by the answer that I provide and the

go by the answer that I provide and the

go by the answer that I provide and the answer is that everybody I asked this

answer is that everybody I asked this

answer is that everybody I asked this question to says we elect the government

question to says we elect the government

question to says we elect the government it is very heartening for me to hear

it is very heartening for me to hear

it is very heartening for me to hear that because that tells me how deep as

that because that tells me how deep as

that because that tells me how deep as the concept of democracy seeped into the

the concept of democracy seeped into the

the concept of democracy seeped into the Indian psyche and that’s a matter of

Indian psyche and that’s a matter of

Indian psyche and that’s a matter of great satisfaction pride joy to me but

great satisfaction pride joy to me but

great satisfaction pride joy to me but when I pursue this a little further and

when I pursue this a little further and

when I pursue this a little further and ask people if you select the government

ask people if you select the government

ask people if you select the government how exactly do you do that and they tell

how exactly do you do that and they tell

how exactly do you do that and they tell me they vote in the elections then I got

me they vote in the elections then I got

me they vote in the elections then I got a little deeper and say when you go into

a little deeper and say when you go into

a little deeper and say when you go into a polling booth do you what for what

a polling booth do you what for what

a polling booth do you what for what shall be the government who shall be the

shall be the government who shall be the

shall be the government who shall be the government they think a bit and they are

government they think a bit and they are

government they think a bit and they are a little confused and then I tell them

a little confused and then I tell them

a little confused and then I tell them or do you vote for one of the six eight

or do you vote for one of the six eight

or do you vote for one of the six eight twelve fourteen twenty four forty two

twelve fourteen twenty four forty two

twelve fourteen twenty four forty two candidates on the ballot or on the

candidates on the ballot or on the

candidates on the ballot or on the electronic voting machine the evm this

electronic voting machine the evm this

electronic voting machine the evm this is a little simpler to handle they say

is a little simpler to handle they say

is a little simpler to handle they say yes we vote for one of the candidates

yes we vote for one of the candidates

yes we vote for one of the candidates then I ask people where do candidates

then I ask people where do candidates

then I ask people where do candidates come from

come from

come from and they say anybody could stand and

and they say anybody could stand and

and they say anybody could stand and contest the election next question is if

contest the election next question is if

contest the election next question is if anybody will stand and contest the

anybody will stand and contest the

anybody will stand and contest the election how many people stand a

election how many people stand a

election how many people stand a realistic chance of getting elected or

realistic chance of getting elected or

realistic chance of getting elected or winning the election then we get a

winning the election then we get a

winning the election then we get a little more specific and people say

little more specific and people say

little more specific and people say maybe two or three and then I ask them

maybe two or three and then I ask them

maybe two or three and then I ask them do you

do you

do you would you like to vote for somebody whom

would you like to vote for somebody whom

would you like to vote for somebody whom you are absolutely certain will lose the

you are absolutely certain will lose the

you are absolutely certain will lose the election or would you like to vote for

election or would you like to vote for

election or would you like to vote for somebody who has a reasonably good

somebody who has a reasonably good

somebody who has a reasonably good chance of getting elected obviously all

chance of getting elected obviously all

chance of getting elected obviously all of us want our efforts including our

of us want our efforts including our

of us want our efforts including our vote to be effective and not utterly

vote to be effective and not utterly

vote to be effective and not utterly useless and which we know from the start

useless and which we know from the start

useless and which we know from the start so people prefer to vote for a candidate

so people prefer to vote for a candidate

so people prefer to vote for a candidate who has a reasonably good chance of

who has a reasonably good chance of

who has a reasonably good chance of winning and those in people’s perception

winning and those in people’s perception

winning and those in people’s perception are only two or three in every

are only two or three in every

are only two or three in every constituency and then I ask them how do

constituency and then I ask them how do

constituency and then I ask them how do these two or three become candidates

these two or three become candidates

these two or three become candidates after a certain reflection and certain

after a certain reflection and certain

after a certain reflection and certain deliberation people say they get tickets

deliberation people say they get tickets

deliberation people say they get tickets from political parties which is called

from political parties which is called

from political parties which is called the nomination or support of a political

the nomination or support of a political

the nomination or support of a political party to contest the election on behalf

party to contest the election on behalf

party to contest the election on behalf of the political party so then I ask

of the political party so then I ask

of the political party so then I ask people then does that mean that you vote

people then does that mean that you vote

people then does that mean that you vote for a person who has already been chosen

for a person who has already been chosen

for a person who has already been chosen by a political party and the answer

by a political party and the answer

by a political party and the answer after certain thinking is yes and if you

after certain thinking is yes and if you

after certain thinking is yes and if you pursue this line of argument a little

pursue this line of argument a little

pursue this line of argument a little further we will find that the choice of

further we will find that the choice of

further we will find that the choice of a water is pre-call strained by the

a water is pre-call strained by the

a water is pre-call strained by the choices made by a set of political

choices made by a set of political

choices made by a set of political parties whether that set of political

parties whether that set of political

parties whether that set of political parties two three or four in any

parties two three or four in any

parties two three or four in any election or five or six which is quite

election or five or six which is quite

election or five or six which is quite rare but the fact is a water can

rare but the fact is a water can

rare but the fact is a water can effectively what only for one of the

effectively what only for one of the

effectively what only for one of the people who have been chosen or

people who have been chosen or

people who have been chosen or selected by a political party and I

selected by a political party and I

selected by a political party and I repeat the sentence the choice of a

repeat the sentence the choice of a

repeat the sentence the choice of a voter is pre constrained by the choices

voter is pre constrained by the choices

voter is pre constrained by the choices made by a set of political parties so

made by a set of political parties so

made by a set of political parties so this is whom we vote for political

this is whom we vote for political

this is whom we vote for political parties control in a way whom we can

parties control in a way whom we can

parties control in a way whom we can vote for so that’s what part of the

vote for so that’s what part of the

vote for so that’s what part of the story a person is able to get the

story a person is able to get the

story a person is able to get the nomination of a political party then

nomination of a political party then

nomination of a political party then also spends a fair amount of money and

also spends a fair amount of money and

also spends a fair amount of money and does a lot of hard work and let’s not be

does a lot of hard work and let’s not be

does a lot of hard work and let’s not be cynical about the like the computer here

cynical about the like the computer here

cynical about the like the computer here good people do a lot of work and get

good people do a lot of work and get

good people do a lot of work and get elected once elected they go and sit in

elected once elected they go and sit in

elected once elected they go and sit in the parliament or the state assembly do

the parliament or the state assembly do

the parliament or the state assembly do they have the choice to vote for or

they have the choice to vote for or

they have the choice to vote for or against a bill that comes to Parliament

against a bill that comes to Parliament

against a bill that comes to Parliament ah State Assembly for discussion debate

ah State Assembly for discussion debate

ah State Assembly for discussion debate and voting once again after some

and voting once again after some

and voting once again after some reflection the answer is no not really

reflection the answer is no not really

reflection the answer is no not really and then I ask them why I am told that

and then I ask them why I am told that

and then I ask them why I am told that there is a anti-defection law in Disha

there is a anti-defection law in Disha

there is a anti-defection law in Disha do ten of the Constitution which says

do ten of the Constitution which says

do ten of the Constitution which says that if a member of parliament a State

that if a member of parliament a State

that if a member of parliament a State Assembly votes against the width issued

Assembly votes against the width issued

Assembly votes against the width issued by his horrid political party his or her

by his horrid political party his or her

by his horrid political party his or her membership of the Parliament of state

membership of the Parliament of state

membership of the Parliament of state legislation legislature can be

legislation legislature can be

legislation legislature can be terminated so in other words the choice

terminated so in other words the choice

terminated so in other words the choice of a and here I am being a little

of a and here I am being a little

of a and here I am being a little cynical the choice of a so-called

cynical the choice of a so-called

cynical the choice of a so-called elected representative is totally

elected representative is totally

elected representative is totally controlled by the political party that

controlled by the political party that

controlled by the political party that he or she represents so look at these

he or she represents so look at these

he or she represents so look at these two sentences number one which I’ve

two sentences number one which I’ve

two sentences number one which I’ve already said twice one the choices of

already said twice one the choices of

already said twice one the choices of the choice of a voter is pre constrained

the choice of a voter is pre constrained

the choice of a voter is pre constrained by the choices made by a set of

by the choices made by a set of

by the choices made by a set of political parties sentence number two

political parties sentence number two

political parties sentence number two the choice of an elected representative

the choice of an elected representative

the choice of an elected representative is completely controlled by the

is completely controlled by the

is completely controlled by the political party which he or she

political party which he or she

political party which he or she represents if you read these two

represents if you read these two

represents if you read these two statements together

statements together

statements together we get a hint of the unseen where does

we get a hint of the unseen where does

we get a hint of the unseen where does the government come from what is common

the government come from what is common

the government come from what is common between these two statements what choice

between these two statements what choice

between these two statements what choice having water is pre constrained by a set

having water is pre constrained by a set

having water is pre constrained by a set of political parties the choice of an

of political parties the choice of an

of political parties the choice of an elected representative is totally

elected representative is totally

elected representative is totally controlled by his or her political party

controlled by his or her political party

controlled by his or her political party what is common is political party so the

what is common is political party so the

what is common is political party so the unseen ladies and gentlemen

unseen ladies and gentlemen

unseen ladies and gentlemen which forms the government are a set of

which forms the government are a set of

which forms the government are a set of political parties now this would be fine

political parties now this would be fine

political parties now this would be fine I would have no problem with this or I

I would have no problem with this or I

I would have no problem with this or I would not have any sense of discomfort

would not have any sense of discomfort

would not have any sense of discomfort about this but we are and there’s no

about this but we are and there’s no

about this but we are and there’s no denying and there’s no questioning the

denying and there’s no questioning the

denying and there’s no questioning the statement we are a vibrant democracy

statement we are a vibrant democracy

statement we are a vibrant democracy India is the largest democracy in the

India is the largest democracy in the

India is the largest democracy in the world it is also about the most vibrant

world it is also about the most vibrant

world it is also about the most vibrant and Indian democracy if you compare it

and Indian democracy if you compare it

and Indian democracy if you compare it to all the countries on India’s

to all the countries on India’s

to all the countries on India’s perimeter or borders you can go

perimeter or borders you can go

perimeter or borders you can go anti-clockwise or clockwise Indian

anti-clockwise or clockwise Indian

anti-clockwise or clockwise Indian democracy is in a much better shape than

democracy is in a much better shape than

democracy is in a much better shape than democracy anywhere else in our

democracy anywhere else in our

democracy anywhere else in our neighborhood all around us test one the

neighborhood all around us test one the

neighborhood all around us test one the second test is the country’s in in in

second test is the country’s in in in

second test is the country’s in in in Asia in Africa in Latin America which

Asia in Africa in Latin America which

Asia in Africa in Latin America which got independence from colonial rule

got independence from colonial rule

got independence from colonial rule around the nineteen forties and fifties

around the nineteen forties and fifties

around the nineteen forties and fifties if you look back around the world and

if you look back around the world and

if you look back around the world and look at all those countries that became

look at all those countries that became

look at all those countries that became independent around the nineteen forties

independent around the nineteen forties

independent around the nineteen forties and fifties and look at the statement

and fifties and look at the statement

and fifties and look at the statement democracy there and look at the state of

democracy there and look at the state of

democracy there and look at the state of democracy in India India stands as a

democracy in India India stands as a

democracy in India India stands as a shining example so Indian democracy is

shining example so Indian democracy is

shining example so Indian democracy is alive and well my friends but the

alive and well my friends but the

alive and well my friends but the government is found by political parties

government is found by political parties

government is found by political parties our political parties Democratic in

our political parties Democratic in

our political parties Democratic in their internal functioning that is the

their internal functioning that is the

their internal functioning that is the million dollar question or the million

million dollar question or the million

million dollar question or the million two thousand rupee question

two thousand rupee question

political parties are supposedly the

political parties are supposedly the pillars of democracy in the country

pillars of democracy in the country

pillars of democracy in the country and on these pillars at the last count

and on these pillars at the last count

and on these pillars at the last count there were 2000 there were 1050 five of

there were 2000 there were 1050 five of

there were 2000 there were 1050 five of them on these pillars stands the

them on these pillars stands the

them on these pillars stands the superstructure of democracy which is

superstructure of democracy which is

superstructure of democracy which is very vibrant and solid but the pillars

very vibrant and solid but the pillars

very vibrant and solid but the pillars are hollow this is why we criticize the

are hollow this is why we criticize the

are hollow this is why we criticize the government Ron last 40 years I’ve been

government Ron last 40 years I’ve been

government Ron last 40 years I’ve been hearing the government doesn’t do this

hearing the government doesn’t do this

hearing the government doesn’t do this the government doesn’t do that

the government doesn’t do that

the government doesn’t do that everything that happens in the world

everything that happens in the world

everything that happens in the world even if Donald Trump gets elected the

even if Donald Trump gets elected the

even if Donald Trump gets elected the government of India is responsible how

government of India is responsible how

government of India is responsible how do we improve governance how do we

do we improve governance how do we

do we improve governance how do we improve government the answer my friend

improve government the answer my friend

improve government the answer my friend does not lie in the wind

does not lie in the wind

does not lie in the wind it lies in getting political parties to

it lies in getting political parties to

it lies in getting political parties to become internally democratic why don’t

become internally democratic why don’t

become internally democratic why don’t politicize want to be democratic because

politicize want to be democratic because

politicize want to be democratic because the established leadership of political

the established leadership of political

the established leadership of political parties is unsure that if there were

parties is unsure that if there were

parties is unsure that if there were democratic elections there will be

democratic elections there will be

democratic elections there will be elected or they will not be elected

elected or they will not be elected

elected or they will not be elected there is a disconnect between the

there is a disconnect between the

there is a disconnect between the established leadership of political

established leadership of political

established leadership of political parties and their membership itself what

parties and their membership itself what

parties and their membership itself what to talk of people at large how do people

to talk of people at large how do people

to talk of people at large how do people get chosen to become candidates you pick

get chosen to become candidates you pick

get chosen to become candidates you pick up a candidate from as air lifts air

up a candidate from as air lifts air

up a candidate from as air lifts air unless the candidates from Hyderabad and

unless the candidates from Hyderabad and

unless the candidates from Hyderabad and air drop him in were Olivette for three

air drop him in were Olivette for three

air drop him in were Olivette for three days nobody members of this particular

days nobody members of this particular

days nobody members of this particular party are willing to distribute flyers

party are willing to distribute flyers

party are willing to distribute flyers of this candidate because they wanted

of this candidate because they wanted

of this candidate because they wanted their own person to be contesting the

their own person to be contesting the

their own person to be contesting the election and after three days where this

election and after three days where this

election and after three days where this person offered five times the going rate

person offered five times the going rate

person offered five times the going rate of daily wage people started

of daily wage people started

of daily wage people started distributing flyers for him and finally

distributing flyers for him and finally

distributing flyers for him and finally he won that is a separate story if

he won that is a separate story if

he won that is a separate story if candidates were elected by members of

candidates were elected by members of

candidates were elected by members of the politic

the politic

the politic partying in a constituency in a

partying in a constituency in a

partying in a constituency in a democratic way will they have to spend

democratic way will they have to spend

democratic way will they have to spend so much money no the fact is if

so much money no the fact is if

so much money no the fact is if political parties could we make

political parties could we make

political parties could we make internally Democratic a lot of problems

internally Democratic a lot of problems

internally Democratic a lot of problems of Indian democracy Indian elections

of Indian democracy Indian elections

of Indian democracy Indian elections could be dealt with not totally removed

could be dealt with not totally removed

could be dealt with not totally removed because democracy is not a perfect

because democracy is not a perfect

because democracy is not a perfect outcome there’s a cliche which says

outcome there’s a cliche which says

outcome there’s a cliche which says democracy is the destination is a

democracy is the destination is a

democracy is the destination is a journey not a destination we can never

journey not a destination we can never

journey not a destination we can never be in a state where we say democracy is

be in a state where we say democracy is

be in a state where we say democracy is perfect and now we can sit back and

perfect and now we can sit back and

perfect and now we can sit back and relax but who is responsible for making

relax but who is responsible for making

relax but who is responsible for making democracy better and better we see that

democracy better and better we see that

democracy better and better we see that the established leadership of political

the established leadership of political

the established leadership of political parties hangs by extension political

parties hangs by extension political

parties hangs by extension political parties don’t seem to be interested in

parties don’t seem to be interested in

parties don’t seem to be interested in doing so not because they are readable

doing so not because they are readable

doing so not because they are readable or mean but they are afraid of change

or mean but they are afraid of change

or mean but they are afraid of change fear of th the universal phenomenon this

fear of th the universal phenomenon this

fear of th the universal phenomenon this job can only be done by citizens by

job can only be done by citizens by

job can only be done by citizens by media and by the judiciary working

media and by the judiciary working

media and by the judiciary working together the ultimate responsibility

together the ultimate responsibility

together the ultimate responsibility lies on the citizen unless we as

lies on the citizen unless we as

lies on the citizen unless we as citizens take our role seriously we all

citizens take our role seriously we all

citizens take our role seriously we all know about our rights but we forget

know about our rights but we forget

know about our rights but we forget about our duties and responsibilities

about our duties and responsibilities

about our duties and responsibilities unless we take politics back from

unless we take politics back from

unless we take politics back from politicians the state of democracy India

politicians the state of democracy India

politicians the state of democracy India will not improve it is reasonably good

will not improve it is reasonably good

will not improve it is reasonably good but it can be far better and it is for

but it can be far better and it is for

but it can be far better and it is for you and me all of us to make it happen

you and me all of us to make it happen

you and me all of us to make it happen thank you very much

thank you very much

thank you very much [Applause]