There are periods when the Southasian political milieu gives us hope. One such was the huge popular upsurge and Maoist win for democracy in Nepal. What emerged as a success was an acceptance of democracy as a mode for popular participation – and subsequently bolstered our faith in it. The participation of the poor reinforced our belief that we are indeed capable of guaranteeing our own political future. The importance of any movement in our region is gauged by the impact that it has on similar processes in the neighbouring countries. The success of this movement is the hope it has outlined for Southasians battling for a more egalitarian system. The Indian people's movements – forever fighting battles against inequality, marginalisation, oppression and suppression within a larger democratic system – have also drawn strength from this process in Nepal.
However, the battles in a national democratic system are different from fighting a colonial master or a feudal system. The stated commitment to equality and social justice can often remain mere symbols to be invoked in documents and election campaigns. The fight for real equality, participation and inclusion within an overarching structure requires a completely different set of tools, as we in India have come to understand. The British left behind systems of governance that remained untouched by the change in political leadership; and in our naiveté we believed, in the initial years, that it would be different with our own people.
The Indian Constitution defines sovereignty as being vested with the people of this country. Article 19 (1a) guarantees the people the right to freedom of expression. But in practice, one has had to resort to Supreme Court judgements to access simple information. With the fervour of nationalism left far behind, corruption and the arbitrary use of power in governance grew. Along with it, a steady resolve likewise grew amongst the bureaucrats and politicians to protect their 'right' to be opaque. The Official Secrets Act was a British legacy that independent India should have quickly done away with, but has not.