Referendums

Everybody knows that the government of Ireland held a free and fair referendum on 22nd May, 2015 on two proposed amendments to the constitution of Ireland. The amendments, which were to reduce the age of candidacy for the President of Ireland from 35 to 21, and the permitting of same-sex marriage. According to information laid out in Wikipedia other amendments were considered but not proceeded with, including reducing the voting age from 18 to 16, and sanctioning the establishment of a Unified Patent Court.

The result on “marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex” was  supported by the Government as well as all major political parties and was approved by 62.07% of voters and the other one was rejected: the  proposal to reduce the age of eligibility to run for president from 35 to 21 by 73% of the populace.

Another referendum that took place in Scotland was on 18 September 2014 on the matter of Scottish independence from Great Britain. The question was “Should Scotland be an independent country?” and the voters had to vote “Yes” or “No”. Again, according to Wikipedia, The turnout of 84.6% was the highest recorded for an election or referendum in the United Kingdom since the introduction of universal suffrage. The ‘No’ side won with 55.3% votes going in that favor.

Two or rather three examples of wonderful maturity on decision making in a democratic society. Possibly the larger geography of India makes it quite difficult or may be it is the economics of such a referendum that makes its improbable in a country like India. There is also the probability of disinterest among the larger populace in matters such as a Temple at Ayodhya when there are larger issues which require much more attention and the quests that make it an exercise which does not deem such attention. But then there is that maturity level of our population in accepting democratic processes and results which would showcase itself that makes this for a good argument.

The question is should a temple be built in Ayodhya at the disputed location? Should a national monument that showcases cultural diversity as well as innovative growth and futuristic thinking be made instead?

Wouldn’t it be great to have a referendum on this and get the opinion of the complete country? And, once decided, whichever way the referendum goes, the acceptance of the opinion. Would not that showcase an immensely sophisticated social group? The beauty of acceptability of things that are prudent and judicious is the temperament that promulgates the power of an individual and also a nation.

I believe that we need to exercise our right of universal suffrage that makes us part of the decision process especially in matters such as these and as a mature society a lot of these things could get validity. The amount of money wasted on unnecessary propaganda as well drumming up of support for menial affairs should go; making way for a mature society willing to give solutions as well as answers to the larger sociological questions that circle around our current systems.

The women security issue is also something that needs to be looked into with a referendum approach. There has to be an answer to the question as to whether we let our women feel safe and how. The best possible way may be drastic but there has to be fear among the layman about the law as well its reach and judgement. There has to be death penalty for rapists as well as murderers. Any society with the woman being harassed, ridiculed as well as talked upon has to have a justice system that molds itself to make changes that deem fit for the times. Any society thus would be able to tell the larger populace of being a mature, value-laden, morally correct, forward thinking group of individuals. A referendum on this matter can also showcase to the world as to how the Indian man really thinks about matters that involve his woman folk. Currently the communication that goes across the world as well as that comes from around the world is of a bunch of immature, haughty, and high-libido-but-shameless bunch of men fill every room, corner, terrain and place in India. Which is not true! There is a larger population in the country that respects all women folk and also dignifies the aspect of asking her permission in any deed that would step into the realm of her freedom of space or physicality. The angst against the time taken and doling out of meager punishments by our justice system shall be showcased in a referendum that can ask the question: Should Death penalty be imposed for rapists and murderers in India?

The betterment of international relations and showcasing of India to the world happens when the communication of the deeds that India as a whole commits itself to and delivers. The message need not be shouted from rooftops or banged against walls, or shared a million times over social media so as to be heard. The message gets loud and clear when the actions would speak for itself and when the world would start whispering among themselves and the grape vine would reach us, we can tell each other that we have arrived.