Autocratic democracies

NEW YORK, US: This is with reference to Farzana Versey’s article “Autocratic democracies" (August 17). I appreciate the author’s views, but does she remember how much people loved Rajiv Gandhi? That cannot be manufactured. I still remember his words that we have to prepare India for the 21st century. Who would have thought after the shameful communal riot in 1984 that 20 years down the road India will re-elect a Sikh prime minister. Indian democracy is a work in progress. We all have to work constantly to make it better. The greatest danger of our democracy is not illiterate or poor people but the scepticism of the educated people. Let’s get involved with it in whatever way we can. India is a great idea.

Amit Kumar

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2010.