In keeping with the increasing anger of the nation’s common citizens against corruption, poor governance and unequal development opportunities, K.C. Agrawal, an electrical engineer and industrialist, has authored the wordily named “It’s Time to Implement the Forgotten Constitution of India for Liberty and Dignity”, which was launched at an event at Kailash Sabhagar, Noida recently.
Agrawal has authored a number of books that attempt to focus attention on the sad state of India’s democratic institutions. His latest book was launched by Lok Sabha MP Mahesh Sharma.
The author points out that 67 years of the current form of democracy have failed India’s impoverished millions, whose lot has not improved. His position is, “Consistent shortage of water and electricity, creaking infrastructure, lack of job opportunities, galloping inflation and dwindling value of the rupee present a nightmarish scenario of our nation which haunts the common man.”
Sharma called the book “an eye-opener” and a “true education”. Maintaining that only a responsible and accountable system of governance can bring about prosperity, Agrawal said, “I analysed the whole constitution and the people of our country and after this research I want to tell the truth about our country in front of colleges, schools.” He said he plans to launch the book in other languages also.
The author is clear that “just and fair elections must take account of the actual developmental work carried out by the parties and candidates in the past and their plans to accomplish the basic objectives of the constitution.” However, this advice, along with the demand for putting a stop to criminalisation of politics and his conclusion that the last 67 years of independence have seen a “gradual dilapidation of India’s governing prudence and lack of fiduciary relationship with the people”, has been heard often enough before. The question remains how to tackle these problems.
The author offers, in the third section of the book, the concept of city centres and discusses how we can still place our country amongst the most prosperous and powerful nations by making optimum use of our resources.
