"Ram Chosen King Democratically, Mahabharata Had Canons Of Good Governance": G20 Booklets

The Union government has released two booklets as India gears up to host the G20 Summit.

These booklets provide a historical overview of the country and will be presented to the visiting dignitaries.

The titles of the booklets are 'Bharat, The Mother of Democracy' and 'Elections in India'.

Soft copies of these documents can be found on the official G20 website.

The booklets, totalling 40 pages, cover topics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Akbar, and India's democratic journey through general elections.

The main focus of both booklets is to highlight that the democratic spirit has been ingrained in the people of India for thousands of years.

The key highlights from the booklets have been enumerated below:

The first document, spanning 26 pages, presents India as the cradle of democracy.

It features a photograph of a dancing girl statue, a symbol of confidence, independence, and liberation. This 5,000-year-old bronze statue serves as a representation of India's democratic heritage.

Included in the booklet is also a hymn from the Rig Veda, the oldest of the four Vedas, which discusses the gathering of commoners and other representative bodies. This hymn highlights the early democratic principles that existed in ancient India.

Furthermore, the document refers to instances of democracy in the epic tales of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

In the Ramayana, Lord Ram was chosen as king by his father after receiving approval from a council of ministers and engaging in consultations. This demonstrates a democratic decision-making process.

Similarly, in the Mahabharata, the dying patriarch Bhishma imparts the canons of good governance to Yudhishthira.

According to the booklet, Bhishma emphasises that a king's duty is to ensure the prosperity and happiness of his subjects. This highlights the importance of the well-being of the people in the governance of a nation.

The booklet discusses the influence of Buddhism on the democratic ethos in India, as well as the teachings of Arthashastra and the active participation of the people during the reigns of various kings such as Ashoka, Chandragupta Maurya, Krishnadeva Raya and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

In modern times, following Independence, India adopted a modern, democratic Republic through its Constitution, while also incorporating elements from past democratic models.

The second booklet, consisting of 15 pages, provides a historical account of elections in India from 1951 to 2019.

It covers various aspects such as the number of candidates and the arrangements made by authorities, highlighting the progress made by India in the field of democracy.