Chapter 1: What is Democracy? Why Democracy?

What is democracy? Why democracy? is the 1st chapter from NCERT Civics textbook of class 9. Here in this chapter, we will first start by discussing the introduction of the chapter, followed by the what is democracy why democracy questions and answers.

Introduction

Class 9 civics chapter 1 what is democracy why democracy NCERT Solutions gives students a clear understanding of our nation's democratic traditions. In earlier lessons, students must have learnt in previous classes and have already read about several forms of governance. Here, students will have a clear understanding of what democracy is and why it is necessary after reading this chapter. You can gain a better understanding of this subject by answering the chapter end exercise's questions. NCERT Solutions for what is democracy why democracy class 9 questions and answers has therefore been made available on Champstreet.

Intext Questions:

Question 1: I have heard a different version. Democracy is off the people, far (from) the people and (where they) buy the people. Why don’t we accept that?

Answer:
In some cases, the democracy is off the people far (from) the people and (where they) buy the people. It means where the democracy does not belong to the people it is not for them but far away from them and where the democracy is not by the people but the candidates buy the votes with money. It means ideal democracy is still distant from reality.
But we should not see these examples and be hopeless. These problems can be rectified with passage of time with proper usage of electronic media.

Question 2: Let us take Lyngdoh Madam seriously and try to write down the exact definition of some of the simple words that we use all the time: pen, rain and love. For example, is there a way of defining a pen that distinguishes it clearly from a pencil, a brush, a chalk or crayon.

• What have you learnt from this attempt?
• What does it teach us about understanding the meaning of democracy?

Answer:
(i) From this conversation, I have learnt that by our simple thinking we can understand about any matter ourselves. We have to think about its meaning and evolve a definition. Each and every thing has some specific characteristics on the basis of how we can define that thing.
(ii) We need a definition only when we come across a difficulty in the use of a word. We need a clear definition of democracy because there are different kinds of governments which are known as Democracy. Abraham Lincoln said that Democracy is a rule of the people, for the people and by the people.
We must not accept the definition, just because everyone accepts it. We do not know if this is the best way of defining democracy, unless we think about it ourselves. After thinking about it we can say that democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people. This is a common basic feature of democracy.

Question 3: Ribiang went back home and collected some more famous quotations on democracy. This time she did not mention the names of the people who said or wrote these. She wants you to read these and comment on how good or useful these thoughts are:

• Democracy gives every man the right to be his own oppressor.
• Democracy consists of choosing your dictators after they’ve told you what you think it is you want to hear.
• Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary
• Democracy is a device that insures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.
• All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy.

Answer:
The first and second points are about those forms of government in which the people can elect their ruler without having options. It means they have to elect the candidates chose by the ruling party. In the third thought, it suggests that if man is following justice, then democracy is possible. But when the man follows injustice, then democracy is necessary there to give justice to others. In the fourth thought, it suggests that there must be a balance between the form of government and our need. The main purpose of democracy is what it gives to its citizens.
Democracy recognises our needs and enhances our dignity. In the last thought, there is a chance for modifying the features and characteristics of democracy as per our needs. There is no guarantee that mistakes cannot be made in democracy. The advantage is that there is a scope for correction through amendments. Either the rulers have to change their decisions or the rulers can be changed. In this way, the disadvantages of democracy can be corrected.

Question 4: This cartoon was drawn when elections were held in Iraq with the presence of US and other foreign powers. What do you think this cartoon is saying? Why is ‘democracy’ written the way it is?

Answer:

• The cartoon is saying that democracy is being established in Iraq with the help of the US military power.

Question 5: Syria is a small west Asian country. The ruling Ba’ath Party and some of its small allies are the only parties allowed in that country. Do you think this cartoon could apply to China or Mexico? What does the crown of leaves on democracy signify?

Answer:
(i) Yes, this cartoon could be applied to China, because there is one party rule in China. A candidate needs the approval of the Chinese communist party before contesting elections in China. So China is never a true democracy.
Mexico has a multiparty system. Nationally there are three large political parties, viz, Institutional. Revolutionary Party (IRP), National Action Party (NAP), and Party of the Democratic Revolution (PDR). But until 2000 every election was won by the IRP. The IRP was used many cheating methods to win elections. So the cartoon can be applied to Mexico until 2000 election. But in 2006, election the PRI fell to third place behind both the PAN and the PRD. Now Mexico has a coalition government.
(ii) Olive leaves represents peace. Crown of leaves means a circle of leaves that is worn on somebody's head as a sign of victory. This cartoon shows that democracy has won in some of the countries of the world in a peaceful way, but it is not accepted by all.

Question 6: This cartoon was drawn in the context of Latin America. Do you think it applies to the Pakistani situation as well? Think of other countries where this could apply? Does this happen sometimes in our country as well?

Answer:
(i) The cartoon suggests the scene of booth capturing, an election malpractice with the gun. This can be applicable to the Pakistan. In Pakistan, General Musharraf with the help of army officials controlled the elected representatives.
(ii) This could be applied in Iraq, China, etc.
(iii) Booth capturing by the political hooligans happens sometimes in our country also.

Question 7: All this is so remote for me. Is democracy all about rulers and governments? Can we talk about a democratic classroom? Or a democratic family?

Answer:

• Democracy is not only about rulers and governments. Democracy is a principle that can be applied to any sphere of life. A democratic decision involves consultation with and consent of all those who are affected by that decision. Democracy can be applied to any institution other than government where decision of everyone in that institution is equally valued.
• We can have democratic classrooms where the students can ask questions without hesitation. The teachers have a democratic temperament, so that the interaction is not a one-way traffic but a healthy two-way interaction.
• Democracy can be seen in families also. We could have democratic families where the decisions are not taken by any one individual and imposed on rest of the family members. All the family members should sit down and arrive at a general concensus through peaceful discussions.

Question 8: This cartoon was titled ‘Building Democracy’ and was first published in a Latin American publication. What do moneybags signify here? Could this cartoon be applied to India?

Answer:
(i) At the time of election, the political parties in the fray spend a lot of money to win the election. Not only political parties, the government also spend a lot of money to conduct free and fair election. The cartoon suggests that we establish democracy with the help of money power.
(ii) Yes, this cartoon could be applied to India.

Question 9: This cartoon is about the Iraqi election held after Saddam Hussein’s regime was overthrown. He is shown behind the bars. What is the cartoonist saying here? Compare the message of this cartoon with the first cartoon in this chapter.

Answer:
(i) In this cartoon, cartoonist is telling us about the equality of the right to vote and equal value of vote given to each man. The quote said by the person jail shows that he is a dictator; he prefers the situation when he is the only man to decide any matter by his only vote.
(ii) The main difference between the first cartoon in this chapter and this cartoon is that the first one suggests that the US army personnel are elevating the process to form a democracy in Iraq. But in this cartoon the message is that the democracy is already established.

Question 10: Why talk about Zimbabwe? I read similar reports from many parts of our own country. Why don’t we discuss that?

Answer:
(i) The President of Zimbabwe is the head of the state of Zimbabwe. In 1987, Robert Mugabe becomes the president and he revises the Constitution to make himself Executive President. President Mugabe is popular but also uses unfair practices in elections. Opposition party workers are harassed, public protest and demonstration against the government are declared illegal, both print and electronic media are controlled by the government.
The government has pressurised judges to give verdict in favour of the government. The example of Zimbabwe shows that popular approval of the rulers is necessary in a democracy, but it is not sufficient. A democratic government cannot do whatever it likes, simply because it has won the election. This is the reason for which Zimbabwe is discussed here.
(ii) Our country is democratic and elections are by and large free and fair. However, sometimes we hear reports about use of unfair means, violence and money power in elections. These tactics (methods) are adopted by some candidates with criminal connections or criminal background. However, such cases are decreasing day by day.

Question 11: Chinese government blocked free flow of information on the internet by placing restrictions on popular websites like ‘Google’ and ‘Yahoo’. The image of tanks and an unarmed student reminds the reader of another major event in recent Chinese history. Find out about that event.

Answer:
The cartoon reminds us of the Massacre in liananmen square in 1989. In April 1989, triggered by the death of Hu Yaobang, a liberal reformer mass gathering and protests took place in and around Tiananmen Square in Beijing. It was largely a student run demonstration which called for economic reform, freedom of the press and political liberalization. The Chinese government suppressed the protest brutally and forcefully. It was criticized by the international arena.

Question 12:

Answer:

Question 13: I want to be in Lyngdoh Madam’s class! That sounds like a democratic classroom. Doesn’t it?

Answer:
Yes, Lyngdoh Madam's classroom sounds like a democratic classroom. Here everybody can speak his own mind. The students are giving their own arguments passionately. They can express their opinions freely in front of others. Here two way interaction is allowed unlike one way traffic.

Question 14: This cartoon is from Brazil, a country that has long experience of dictatorship. It is entitled “The Hidden Side of Dictatorship”. Which hidden sides does this cartoon depict? Is it necessary for every dictatorship to have a hidden side? If possible, find this out about the dictators including Pinochet in Chile, Jaruzelski in Poland, Sani Abacha in Nigeria and Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines.

Answer:
(i) The hidden side depicted by the cartoon is the brutal side to the dictator. Dictator like Hitler ordered mass killings, to eliminate 'undesirable' persons. Like Hitler many dictators killed the innocent people who were against their regime.
(ii) No, it is not necessary for every dictatorship to have a hidden side. Because, if the dictator really wants to work for the betterment of people, he does not need to have a hidden side.
(iii)
(a) The revolt by the army took place in Chile on 11th September 1973 under General Augusto Pinochet in which President Salvador Allende was killed. Pinochet became the president the country and ruled it for the next 17 years.
(b) Wojciech Witold Jaruzelski was the last communist leader Poland who was the head of the state from 1985 to 1990. He resigned from the power after the Polish Round table Agreement in 1989 that led to democratic elections in Poland.
(c) General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military dictator and politician. He was the defacto president of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998. His regime was tied to human rights violations and allegations of corruption. He hanged the famous social activist Ken Saro-Wiwa. He did not allow democratic process like elections in Nigaria. He was listed as the world's fourth most corrupt leader in recent history.
(d) Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos was the president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He implemented wide-ranging) programs of infrastructure development and economic reform. However, his administration was marred by massive authoritarian, political repression and human rights violations. In the 2004, Global Transparency Report, Marcos appeared in the list of the world's corrupt leader. He was said to have amassed between $ 5 billion to $ 10 billion in his 21 years as President of Philippines.

Question 15: What would have happened if India was not a democracy? Could we have stayed together as a single nation?

Answer:
No, we would have not stayed together as a single nation if India was not a democracy. India has multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-linguistic population. If there was no democracy then all the people could not have followed their religion and customs with freedom and there would have been conflicts between different religious and linguistic groups where the minorities would have lived in fear and insecurity. But democracy provides the peaceful solutions to every problem. It provides the best method of dealing with differences and conflicts.

Question 16: This cartoon was published in Canada just before its parliamentary elections of 2004. Everyone, including the cartoonist, expected the Liberal party to win once again. When the results came, the Liberal Party lost the elections. Is this cartoon an argument against democracy or for democracy?

Answer:
This cartoon is an argument for democracy. Because in democracy, the voters decide in favour of or against the ruling party. Although the cartoonist expected the Liberal Party to win, he criticized the Liberal Party which he could do only in a democracy form of government.

Question 17: Rajesh and Muzaffar read an article. It showed that no democracy has ever gone to war with another democracy. Wars take place only when one of the two governments is non-democratic. The article said that this was a great merit of democracy. After reading the essay, Rajesh and Muzaffar had different reactions. Rajesh said that this was not a good argument for democracy. It was just a matter of chance. It is possible that in future democracies may have wars. Muzaffar said that it could not be a matter of chance. Democracies take decisions in such a way that it reduces the chances of war. Which of the two positions do you agree with and why?

Answer:
I, some how agree with Muzaffar's argument. In democracy, the decision is taken after discussion and keeping in view the welfare of the people. So, the chances of war are minimized in democracy, but we cannot say that it is not possible. Some wars were fought between two democracies like India and Pakistan, e.g., 'Kargil War' when both countries were democratic countries.

Question 18: This famous cartoon by R K Laxman comments on the celebrations of the fifty years of independence. How many images on the wall do you recognize? Do many common people feel the way the common man in this cartoon does?

Answer:
(i) The images on the wall are the images of former Prime Ministers of India. They were Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Gulzari Lal Nandu, Morarji Desai, Choudhary Charan Singh, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, VP Singh, Chandra Shekhar, Narasimhan Rao, Devegowda and A B Vajpayee .
(ii) Yes, the common people feel the way the common man in this cartoon does. After 50 glorious years of Independence, the condition of the common man has changed very little. The claims and promises of the politicians became meaningless to the common man, so he fell asleep by hearing these again. It is a true picture of present situation of common man in a democracy like India.

Question 19: In my village the Gram Sabha never meets. Is that democratic?

Answer:
The Gram Sabha should meet regularly to carry out its functions for the welfare of the people but if the Gram Sabha does not meet that would not be democratic, it would be undemocratic.

Question 20: Find out the total number of eligible voters in your assembly constituency and your parliamentary constituency. Find out how many people can fit into the largest stadium in your area. Is it possible for all the voters in your parliamentary or assembly constituency to sit together and have a meaningful discussion?

Answer:
i) No of voters in my assembly constituency named Allagadda in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh state are 2,20,612
My Parliamentary constituency is Nandyala in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. No of voters here is 15,76,945.
ii) Largest stadium nearby me is osmanis college ground in kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh state. It's strength is around 20,000 members.
(iii) No, it is not possible. It is impossible for all the voters in my Parliamentary or Assembly Constituency to sit together and have a meaningful discussion. The large number of voters cannot sit together for taking a decision.