Democracy without discipline is a body without soul. If there is no discipline in the country, democracy will degenerate into a Mobocracy i.e. a Government by the unruly crowd. In fact, in Greek language ‘Demos’ which means crowd. The cracy is a from the Greek word ‘Kratia’ or ‘Cratos’ which means power. Perhaps, lack of discipline in democracy will justify Plato’s criticism that democracy is the divine right of the ignorant people to rule ignorantly.
It is true that democracy is based on the free will of the people who are supreme and sovereign. But this does not mean that democracy grants absolute liberty to the people to do anything . Under this mistaken belief, some people misuse their rights and liberties . Not only that some people also think wrongly that in a democracy that they have only the rights but no duties . These people do not know that the rights and duties go hand in hand tighter.
No doubt, under a democratic form of government, the people enjoy the freedom to elect their representatives in accordance with their wishes at the time of election. Even after the election , they can always make their views on various issues known to government through press, radio, T.V. But they must air their grievances through constitutional and non-violent means. If the people take the law into their own hands and become violent, they will neither deserve democracy nor can they make a success of it.
Everything is fair in love and war but it is not so in a democracy . Democracy calls for a high degree of discipline , respect for the views of others and unflinching faith in equality, fair play and justice. According to Mahatma Gandhi, democracy does not simply the grant of right and their enjoyment. If the people want to enjoy their rights they must be prepared to perform their duties as well.
We find that in the world only those countries whose people are disciplined have made progress and achieved greatness. Although the economy of Japan and Germany were completely shattered during the Second World War, they were able to rebuild their countries due to the dedicated work of their disciplined citizens. They have achieved great success in science, technology and industry. But for the sense of discipline in their people, they would not have been able to achieve such success. Both Japan and Germany are democratic countries. They have, by their example, shown to the world that if democracy and discipline go hand in hand, countries can make great progress.
On the other hand, if a country lack discipline , it is bound to be doomed and eventually replaced by a dictatorship. The people will then lose their freedom of thought and action. They will have to carry out the orders of the dictator . They will have no say whatsoever in the administration of the country.
Only in those democratic countries which are inhabited by disciplined people, the citizens can enjoy the fruits of democracy. For example, in Switzerland, people are so disciplined and hardworking that they have become prosperous by dint of their disciplined and industrious temperament.
In Nepal, we have experimented various kinds of government. Democratic as of now – elected head, Monarchy republic during Late King Birendra Shah, monarchy during ancient, medieval and post former King Gyanendra Shah. Since democratic movement of 2006, we have rightly adopted an elected democratic form of government. Though in time span, it has yielded nothing and brought nothing, but still future of democracy is bright in our country. It is now up to us, the people of Nepal, to imbibe the spirit of discipline and make democracy a grand success. For this, we should make a beginning by teaching discipline to our children in the home itself and laying stress on it in the school and colleges of the country, because the children of today are the future citizens of our country. If they taught discipline today, then tomorrow then can be disciplined citizens and make our country strong, united and powerful.
Now a days we are hearing about over many indiscipline and lawlessness act in part of country by certain vested interest who are guided and inspired by certain inimical foreign powers. These misguided and undisciplined people do not know what a great harm they are causing to the stability of our country by their secessionist acts. They should remember that stability of Nepal is the stability of their own life.
Therefore, it is foremost duty of all citizens of Nepal to be disciplined, to protect the democratic set up our country .Only with discipline and democracy we can uphold our heads high in times to come.
