...The French Revolution (French: Révolution française; 1789–1799), was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France that had a major impact on France and indeed all of Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years. French society underwent an epic transformation, as feudal, aristocratic and religious privileges evaporated under a sustained assault from radical left-wing political groups, masses on the streets, and peasants in the countryside.[3] Old ideas about tradition and hierarchy – of monarchy, aristocracy, and religious authority – were abruptly overthrown by new Enlightenment principles of equality, citizenship and inalienable rights. When was the French Revolution?: Although historians are agreed that the French Revolution started in 1789 they are divided on the end date. A few histories stop in 1795 with the creation of the Directory, some stop in 1799 with the creation of the Consulate, while many more stop in 1802 when Napoleon Bonaparte became Consul for Life or 1804 when he became Emperor. A rare few continue to the restoration of the monarchy in 1814. This site prefers 1802. The French Revolution in Brief: A medium term financial crisis, caused partly by French involvement in the American Revolutionary War, led to the French crown first calling an Assembly...
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...Essay on Democracy in India Democracy is a form of government in which people are governed by their own elected representatives. It is a government of the people, for the people and by the people. In this system of government, it is the people who are supreme and sovereign. They control the government. They are free to elect a government of their own choice. Freedom of choice is the core of democracy. Democracy existed in ancient Greek and Roman republics but with little success. It had very little scope in ancient India. Democracy entered its golden stage in he twentieth century. Many countries in the world today follow the democratic form of government. Democracy depends on the following conditions (i) coexistence of ideas and of parties; (ii) the right to free discussion; (iii) universal adult suffrage; and (iv) periodic elections. Indian is the largest democracy in the world. The Constitution of Indian was enforced on 26 January, 1950. It ushered in the age pf democracy. India became a democratic republic infused with the spirit of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. The Preamble, the Directive Principles of State Policy and the Fundamental Rights reflect the Indian ideology as well as the caste, creed, religion, property, or sex have the right to cast their vote. After and election, the majority party or coalition forms the government and its leader become the Prime Minister. Political parties are the vehicles of ideas. Parties act as the bridge between social thought...
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...Democracy and Development in India: A Comparative Perspective By Pranab Bardhan University of California at Berkeley To most theorists of democracy in the West, India is an embarrassing anomaly and hence largely avoided. By most theoretical stipulations India should not have survived as a democracy: it’s too poor its citizens largely rural and uneducated its civic institutions rather weak. It is a paradox even for those who believe in a positive relationship between economic equality or social homogeneity and democracy. India’s wealth inequality (say, in land distribution, and even more in education or human capital) is one of the highest in the world. Indian society is also one of the most heterogeneous in the world (in terms of ethnicity, language, caste and religion), and social inequality, a legacy of the caste system, is considerable. Yet this country, with the world’s largest electorate (it is now larger than the electorate in North America, Western Europe, and Japan combined), keeps lumbering on decade after decade as a ramshackle, yet remarkably resilient, democratic polity. Of course, depending on the defining features of democracy the depth of Indian democracy may be rather limited. It is useful to keep a distinction between three general aspects of democracy: (a) some basic minimum civil and political rights enjoyed by citizens, (b) some procedures of accountability in day-to-day administration under some overarching constitutional rules of the game, (c) periodic...
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...2012 India: How Spirituality Can Affect Democracy India is often referred to as the "Land of Spirituality". There is no major religion that they hold and this is one of the reasons that it is so diverse. However, this spiritual land is a well formed constitutional democracy. Could there be some correlation between the two? If we explore the major religions in India, we can see that perhaps the reason democracy is holding so well is because of these spiritual people. The six major religions in India are Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Sikhism. These religions, all very different, have played a crucial part in forming India and keeping it so culturally diverse. These religions all promote equality and freedom of man and they contributed not only to India being a democracy, but they also helped India to be the superpower it is today. Hinduism is a religion that supports those that want to join. They do not convert others into Hinduism, nor do they have religious wars. "Hinduism offers lots of freedom to operate. An individual decides his Guru, and follows him or her. When many devotees come together a sect is formed. Like democracy, the people select a leader." (Prlog.org) These sects often are made and unmade, relating to the constant changes in democracy. People would argue that Hinduism is a confused religion because there is a certain lack of structure to those that do not follow. Even those that are not democratic would argue that democracy is unorganized...
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...second largest nation with 1.1 billion people. Corruption in India runs so deep within the society that it can no longer be considered simply a problem with the society but instead a way of life that there is no escaping. This problem has grown to such a magnitude that the corruption is affecting the fundamental establishments of democracy. As Ben Doherty, a reporter for Guardian Australia and twice a Walkley award winner for his foreign reporting, states, “[India] instead of being of the people, for the people, by the people, has become a government of the corrupt, for the corrupt, by the corrupt.” The sad truth is that India, although once prided as the world’s largest democracy, can no longer retain that title as it has transformed into an oligarchy where the power lies in the hands of the rich and the corrupt. While a democracy must be driven by the people, it is not necessarily a good form of government. The definition of a democracy, according to Sean Connolly in his book Democracy, is a “government where the people have the power and… [that] works to benefit these people” (3). Essentially, he is saying that the government in a democracy is “of the people” and “by the people” so that the people have the power, and “for the people” so that the government actually works for the people and not for its own selfish interests. In addition, Connolly supports the definition that Winston Churchill put forth calling democracy the “worst form of Government except for all those other forms...
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...WORKING OF INDIAN DEMOCRACY More than six decades have passed since India has adopted the democratic form of government. The reason for the adoption was the familiarity of the Indian people with the democracy. The working of Indian democracy is stick to the words of Abraham Lincon about democracy i.e. the government is by the people, of the people and for the people. Elections are the essence of every democratic country. On the basis of number of voters, India is known as the largest democracy of the world. In India elections are held from time to time so that the voters may choose and change their representatives. Voters vote in a free and frank manner so as to register their will in the battle of ballot box. All the citizens irrespective of their caste, colour, creed, language and sex are given right to vote. Our country ensures universal adult franchise to all the citizens. Elections in India are not merely symbolic but they are competitive, periodic, inclusive and definite elections. Indian democracy ensures maximum freedom to press. As public opinion plays very significant role in a democratic society, freedom of press is necessary for the formation of public opinion. Media serves as a connecting link between the people and their representatives in India. No discrimination is allowed on the grounds of religion, caste, colour, creed, place of birth etc. The discrimination that is allowed is the protective discrimination, which is done for the upliftment of weaker sections...
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...Democracy is a form of government in which people are governed by their own elected representatives. It is a government of the people, for the people and by the people. In this system of government, it is the people who are supreme and sovereign. They control the government. They are free to elect a government of their own choice. Freedom of choice is the core of democracy. Democracy existed in ancient Greek and Roman republics but with little success. It had very little scope in ancient India. Democracy entered its golden stage in he twentieth century. Many countries in the world today follow the democratic form of government. Democracy depends on the following conditions (i) co-existence of ideas and of parties; (ii) the right to free discussion; (iii) universal adult suffrage; and (iv) periodic elections. Indian is the largest democracy in the world. The Constitution of Indian was enforced on 26 January, 1950. It ushered in the age pf democracy. India became a democratic republic infused with the spirit of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. The Preamble, the Directive Principles of State Policy and the Fundamental Rights reflect the Indian ideology as well as the caste, creed, religion, property, or sex have the right to cast their vote. After and election, the majority party or coalition forms the government and its leader become the Prime Minister. Political parties are the vehicles of ideas. Parties act as the bridge between social thought and political...
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...Democracy Mukulika Banerjee A s India is hailed as the next superpower, do its political credentials stand up to scrutiny? Is its record on governance and development up to the challenge of its newfound reputation? India has been a democracy for over six decades. In this time it has achieved some remarkable successes but also failed in significant ways. While economic growth has been rapid over recent decades, this has not translated into greater welfare for the majority of the Indian population. Despite being severely critical of its politicians, the electorate however remains enthusiastic in its political participation, especially at elections. In 1947, when India gained her independence from colonial rule, the choice of parliamentary democracy and a universal franchise for such a poor, vast and largely illiterate nation was considered foolhardy by many observers, at home and abroad. Nevertheless the first general election was held with great rigour, enthusiasm and success in 1952. In the meantime, a Constitution reflecting the political and ideological goals of the new nation had been adopted. It was authored by the Constituent Assembly made up of 299 members who represented the enormous class, religious and linguistic diversity of India’s population and who after much debate and deliberation set out the framework for India’s future as a republic and parliamentary democracy. Enshrined within it were the principles of the separation of powers, a universal...
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...“The spirit of democracy is not a mechanical thing to be adjusted by abolition of forms. It requires change of heart.” Mahatma Gandhi The real name of Mahatma Gandhi is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He also knew as Father of the Nation, Bapu (Father) and Gandhiji. The word Mahatma (often employed in ordinary journalistic usage without any definite article, as if it were Mohandas Gandhi’s first name) is actually the Sanskrit word for “Great Soul.” Mohandas Gandhi is considered the father of the Indian independence movement. Gandhi spent 20 years in South Africa working to fight discrimination. It was there that he created his concept of satyagraha (fast, civil disobedience), a non-violent way of protesting against injustices. satyagraha would resist the injustice by refusing to follow an unjust law. In doing so, he would not be angry, would put up freely with physical assaults to his person and the confiscation of his property, and would not use foul language to smear his opponent. A practitioner of satyagraha also would never take advantage of an opponent's problems. The goal was not for there to be a winner and loser of the battle, but rather, that all would eventually see and understand the "truth" and agree to rescind the unjust law. “My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God. Non-violence is the means of realising Him.” Mahatma Gandhi. While in India, Gandhi's obvious virtue, simplistic lifestyle, and minimal dress endeared him to the people. He spent...
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...Democracy is a form of government in which people are governed by their own elected representatives. It is a government of the people, for the people and by the people. In this system of government, it is the people who are supreme and sovereign. They control the government. They are free to elect a government of their own choice. Freedom of choice is the core of democracy. Democracy existed in ancient Greek and Roman republics but with little success. It had very little scope in ancient India. Democracy entered its golden stage in he twentieth century. Many countries in the world today follow the democratic form of government. Democracy depends on the following conditions (i) co-existence of ideas and of parties; (ii) the right to free discussion; (iii) universal adult suffrage; and (iv) periodic elections. Indian is the largest democracy in the world. The Constitution of Indian was enforced on 26 January, 1950. It ushered in the age pf democracy. India became a democratic republic infused with the spirit of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. The Preamble, the Directive Principles of State Policy and the Fundamental Rights reflect the Indian ideology as well as the caste, creed, religion, property, or sex have the right to cast their vote. After and election, the majority party or coalition forms the government and its leader become the Prime Minister. Political parties are the vehicles of ideas. Parties act as the bridge between social thought and political decision...
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...The Story of Indian Democracy 1. Interest groups are part and parcel of a functioning democracy. Discuss. Ans- Since India is a democratic country, this is why many of the interest group play different role to enhance democracy. • These all interest group always do competition among them and try to achieve better for their group, and in order to doing this they in fact enhance democracy by impartiality. • In working order they always present many types of example before other interest groups to monitoring way of work and pattern of work. • Since they always criticize to each other on the way of working and alert to one to avoiding corruption and in that way, they enhance and strengthen democracy. • It is universally truth without criticize...
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...3. 4. M.C.Q. Short Answer (S.A.) Long Answer (L.A.) Map Question Total 2. Marks of Each Question 1 3 5 4 Number of Questions 10 12 8 1 31 Total Marks 10 36 40 04 90 MM : 90 UNIT-WISE DIVISION OF QUESTIONS Unit No. (Subject) Unitwise Marks 23 No. of No. of No. of Map 1 mark 3 marks 5 marks Question Questions Questions Questions 2 2 3 Total 1. India and the Contemporary World I (History) Contemporary India I (Geography) Democratic Politics I (Pol. Sc.) Economics I TOTAL 23 (7) 2. 3. 4. 23 22 22 90 2 3 3 10 4 3 3 12 1 2 2 8 1 1 23 (8) 22 (8) 22(8) 90(31) 1 SOCIAL SCIENCE SYLLABUS CLASS IX Term-I (April to September 2011) Time : 3 hours UNIT 1 (HISTORY ) India and the Contemporary World - I Section 1 : Events and Processes Maximum Marks : 90 1. 2. The French Revolution Russian Revolution OR (Chapter 1) Compulsory (Chapter 2) OR (Chapter 3) 3. Rise of Nazism UNIT 2 (GEOGRAPHY) : India-Land and the People 1 2 India Drainage (Chapter 1 and 2) (Chapter 3) UNIT 3 (POLITICAL SCIENCE) : Democratic Politics - I 1 2 What is Democracy? Why Democracy? Designing of democracy in India (Chapter 1 and 2) (Chapter 3) UNIT 4 (ECONOMICS) : Understanding Economic Development - I 1 2 The economic Story of Palampore People as Resource (Chapter 1) (Chapter 2) UNIT 5 DISASTER MANAGEMENT (For projects and Assignments only) 1 2 Note : Introduction to Disaster Management Common Hazards (i) (Chapter 1) (Chapter 2) Chapter 1 and 2 of Disaster...
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...The Reality of Media in India In the by now tedious cliché, India, with a population of 1.22 billion (122 crores) and with an elected parliament, is supposed to be the largest democracy in the world. The relation between democracy and size is problematic. In small communities, voters can be presumed to have some personal knowledge of both candidates and issues arising from their life experience. But democracy in such communities in India is, to put it very mildly, slight. The various Panchayat systems set up to implement the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments are deprived of either significant jurisdiction or even minimal resources, and in most cases both. The sole exception is in West Bengal, where the Panchayat system was created fifteen years before the 73rd Amendment, and developed into real -- if flawed -- organs of local self-government. In consequence panchayat elections in West Bengal alone in all of India are truly serious matters and, as we are at the time of writing painfully aware, reflect a democracy increasingly overshadowed by gangsterism and force. But, for the rest, "democracy" amounts to periodical electoral exercises where the electors choose among candidates and programmes not on the basis of their personal knowledge or life experience but on information received from the media. If such democracy is to be meaningful, the first condition is that reasonably accurate information must be available. But the ground realities show that the ingredients...
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...Even the worst form of Democracy is better than Dictatorship. Democracy is a process not an event. Democracy, like anything in world, has its significance and its disadvantages at the same time. So, the question arises as to what really is democracy and in what aspects is it different from dictatorship. Democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. Therefore, one can call democracy as the will of the people. This definition is self explanatory as to the advantages of democracy. How can a thing be the will of the people living in the land and still not be advantageous to them? This question explains that democracy is a cure to certain ills; it is the voice of people. However, democracy is not as clean as it looks from the outside, it does has its own foes that needs to be answered so for that purpose we are going to compare it with dictatorship and in conclusion establish which system is better than the other. Like democracy, dictatorship has also its own advantages and disadvantages. Dictatorship is believed to be a system where the power is centralized and rests with one person called the dictator. As it is a centralized system of governance it carries with it all the advantages a centralized system has and it has to cater to all the disadvantages a centralized system has to deal with. However, it is to be regretted in the very beginning that dictatorship has got a much worse of image as compared to democracy due to certain reasons, which...
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...An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office.[1] Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated since the 17th century.[1] Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the executive and judiciary, and for regional and local government. This process is also used in many other private and business organizations, from clubs to voluntary associations and corporations....Election is the real participation of people in democracy, where the people participate in direct way to form in government. Election is not only a process where people go on cast his vote, though it is a festival of democracy system. Democracy depend on people, people depend on election there they elected his representative to parliament or government. Government needs to go with election for taking fresh memorandum through people of his country. Election shows the country is rule by the people of that country. Whenever government need for a fresh new term of his government they will go for election. Election is a power of government also a power of people. The dominance of the Indian National Congress was broken for the first time in 1977, with the defeat of the party led by Indira Gandhi, by an unlikely coalition of all the major other parties, which protested against the imposition of a controversial Emergency from 1975–1977. A similar coalition, led by VP Singh was swept to power...
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