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So, we have been lurching along, I mean we are probably flourishing as a
democracy by most of the characteristics IDEA would consider for a healthy
democracy in that index. But ultimately as an insider, I feel that there is so
much more that we need to do to ensure that that promise of our founding
fathers, that promise that we made. We will create the new inclusive
democratic India to make that reality as we go forward. There’s a lot of work.
So, democracy is very much like Professor Peter has mentioned. It’s always in
the state of flux. It’s a revolving set of engagement between people and
stakeholders from different sides, and we have to pursue it with idealism and
faith and hope that we can do the right thing for ourselves and for those who
come after us. Thank you.
#UUQE 2TQH &T ,CFG &QPCXCPKM
Thank you very much, Professor Gowda. A very delightful charming
country, India. Not easy to manage billions of free people. As Professor Gowda
pointed to us that all Indians are free in all the respects, freedom of
expression, freedom of religion, and all many other freedoms. So, that is not
easy, billions of people, think about that. However, within 70 years of Indian
democracy, Professor Gowda described it as a success, extreme diversity of
that country with strong executive, legislation, and judicial branches. However,
with independent bodies, such as the Electoral Commission, 22 national
languages, a system that responds to people’s demands, the constitutional
promises, turn to practice, though amended more than 100 times. Lots of Thai
people are happy to hear that, because our constitution was complained by
whole bunch of people that we amended our constitution 20 times. So, we’re
happy to hear that the Indian constitution was amended a hundred times. But
within that 100 times, there’s always development. There’s always more
impressive features being embedded into the constitution. Some astonishing
statistic pointed out by Professor Gowda, 10 out of 20 Supreme Court judges
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were corrupted. I don’t think this is a true statistic, may be it is the allegation.
So, that number cannot be. And I believe, knowing a country like India, it
cannot be that bad.
One other very fascinating feature is the armed force is under strict
civilian control. My Thai translator, can you translate that into Thai? The armed
forces under strict civilian control. That’s very nice. So, hearing from all our
distinguished panelists, you probably gain lots of knowledge, many ideas, and all
these perspectives around the world. Now the floor is open to all of you, to
have questions, comments. But if you have comments, please keep it short. If
you have questions, please try to ask about one or two questions each person.
And if you can, introduce yourself and please point to each of our panelists
