Grassroots Democracy – Part 1: Governance

Human beings have been living in communities for a long time. When a large number of people live together, there can be disagreements and disorder, and rules become necessary to maintain order and harmony. Home, school, exams, traffic, and the workplace all have rules. What would happen if no one followed them? Society would not be able to function.

The process of taking decisions, organising society's life with rules, and ensuring that they are followed, is called governance. The group or system that makes the rules and ensures they are followed is a government. Some of the more important rules are called laws. Rules aren't fixed forever — they can be discussed and revised.

"rājānam dharmagoptāram dharmo rakṣhati rakṣhitaḥ" — "The ruler protects dharma and dharma protects those who protect it." (The Mahābhārata)

"There is no peace without justice; no justice without equality; no equality without development; no democracy without respect to the identity and dignity of cultures and peoples." — Rigoberta Menchú Tum

Digital technology has made things easier — but also created cybercrime, a new class of criminals stealing money digitally. Fighting it shows how the three organs of government work together:

• Legislature — makes new laws (or 'legislates'); sometimes updates/removes existing ones. Done by an assembly of representatives.
• Executive — implements ('executes') the laws. Includes the head of state (president/PM/CM), ministers, and law-enforcement agencies (e.g. the cyber police).
• Judiciary — the system of courts deciding whether the law was broken, and what punishment follows. Also examines whether executive decisions or laws themselves are fair.

Cybercriminals who are arrested and convicted are usually fined as well as jailed.

The three organs must be kept separate, although they interact and work together — the 'separation of powers' (Fig. 10.3). This provides checks and balances: each organ can check what another is doing and restore balance if one acts beyond its role.

India's government functions at three levels or tiers — local, State, and national (Central) (Fig. 10.4). Comparison: if a bulb won't light, you first check the bulb/switch/fuse; if that fails, call an electrician; if the problem is beyond your home, you go to the Electricity Board — three levels of dealing with a problem.

Flood example: a small local flood is handled locally; a flood across several towns brings in the State Government; a massive flood affecting vast areas brings in the Central Government (relief supplies, the army, etc.).

Note: Education appears in both columns — a shared responsibility of Centre and States.

Born in a humble family in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, in 1931, Dr. Kalam was a renowned scientist, nicknamed the 'Missile Man of India' for his role in India's space, missile and nuclear programmes. He served as the 11th President of India, 2002–2007. Despite his high status, he stayed deeply connected to people — especially youth — through his passion for education and innovation. He showed that even a nominal role can have an enormous real impact.

"Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work."

"If you fail, never give up because F.A.I.L. means 'First Attempt In Learning'. End is not the end, in fact E.N.D. means 'Effort Never Dies'. If you get 'no' as an answer, remember N.O. means 'Next Opportunity'."

"Dream is not that which you see while sleeping; it is something that does not let you sleep."

"If four things are followed — having a great aim, acquiring knowledge, hard work, and perseverance — then anything can be achieved."

'Democracy' comes from Greek dēmos ('people') and kratos ('rule'/'power') — literally, 'rule of the people'. But all people can't literally rule at once — just as a whole class can't visit the principal, so a class elects a monitor/representative. The same principle applies at State level (MLAs) and national level (MPs): people vote for representatives who discuss laws and problems in assemblies.

India is a representative democracy — and the world's largest, with about 970 million voters in 2024. In principle, all Indian citizens 18 and above can vote.

Direct democracy example: a class votes by show of hands between two picnic spots — every student's opinion is taken directly.

Grassroots democracy refers to a system enabling ordinary citizens' participation — the base of the government pyramid (Fig. 10.4) — so citizens have a say in decisions that affect them.

A word cloud with "governance," "democracy," "assembly" and "law" most prominent; smaller words include Legislature, Executive, Judiciary, Lok Sabha, parliament, representative.

Referenced from p.150's LET'S EXPLORE ("Describe the two pictures... what differences do you see?"). Not photographed in this session.

Referenced from a later LET'S EXPLORE ("Can you identify the categories of public service... in the ten pictures in Fig. 10.2?"). Not photographed in this session.

A circular diagram labelled "GOVERNANCE" at the centre, divided into three coloured segments — Legislature (red), Judiciary (orange), Executive (teal) — with double-headed arrows between each pair, showing interaction and mutual checks.

A three-tier pyramid: Central Government (national level, red, top) / State Government (State level, blue, middle) / Local Government (town or village level, green, base).

The full comparison table reproduced under Core Concept 4 above.

A photograph of Dr. Kalam, alongside five colourful quote cards with his inspiring sayings.

An illustration of people gathered around a table with papers and books, suggestive of representatives or officials at an assembly.

1. (p.150) Describe the two pictures in Fig. 10.1 on page 151 — what differences do you see? How does this connect with our discussion on rules? What are some rules in your school, and who made them?
2. (p.153) Identify the categories of public service in the ten pictures in Fig. 10.2 on page 152. What role does government play in each? Other examples from daily life?
3. (p.154) Explain how the three government organs are at work in the cybercriminals example. How do they intervene?
4. (p.155) As a class activity, imagine the disorder if all three organs were under the control of the same group of people. Any real-life example you've heard of?
5. (p.156) Observe Fig. 10.5. Highlight the functions/responsibilities that affect your life most. Ask two or three adults about their interaction with government — at what levels, and why?