Democracy Cannot Be Defended by Destroying Talent Within Our Own Ranks
Dr Santosh Kumar Mohapatra
The rich, the powerful and celebrities do not necessarily fight for democracy or stand up for the rights of ordinary people. Many are more concerned about protecting their wealth, influence and privileges. Some seek to evade taxes through unfair means, while others use their power and influence to secure tax concessions or shape tax laws to serve their own interests.
Those who remain insulated from the hardships of ordinary people may find it difficult to understand the pain and deprivation experienced by the masses. After all, only a hungry person can truly understand the pangs of hunger.
The struggle to defend democracy and fight against vote chori—the manipulation or theft of the people’s electoral mandate—can assume gargantuan proportions and acquire gigantic dimensions only when progressive and democratic forces unite across diverse platforms, support one another and promote each other’s strengths and contributions.
No single individual, organisation or platform can win this battle in isolation. The struggle requires solidarity, mutual respect, intellectual openness and the collective mobilisation of people committed to democratic values.
Progressive forces must recognise that differences in approach, organisational affiliation or individual style need not become barriers to unity. Instead of treating fellow progressives as rivals, they should appreciate their contributions, encourage their talents and amplify their voices. Every sincere effort that strengthens democratic consciousness deserves recognition and support.
We cannot defeat authoritarianism outside by reproducing authoritarian tendencies within our own ranks. Nor can we defend democracy by suppressing dissent, undermining capable individuals or destroying talent in our immediate surroundings. Those who weaken their own progressive colleagues through jealousy, insecurity or narrow organisational interests ultimately weaken the larger democratic struggle.
The strength of a movement lies not in eliminating potential competitors within its own ranks, but in nurturing more thinkers, writers, activists and leaders who can challenge injustice and inspire people.
If progressive forces want to protect democracy, they must practise within their own organisations the democratic values they seek to uphold in society. They must learn to appreciate merit without insecurity, encourage independent thinking without hostility and cooperate across platforms without demanding uniformity.
The battle for democracy will grow stronger not when we diminish one another, but when we help one another grow. The need of the hour is not the annihilation of talent among our own people, but its fullest development and collective mobilisation in the service of society.
Only through solidarity, mutual encouragement and the collective strengthening of progressive voices can the struggle against authoritarianism and electoral malpractice achieve its full potential.
