To present India as an ancient land with a modern vision, the Centre released a set of two booklets on Tuesday: “Bharat, The Mother of Democracy” and “Elections in India.” These booklets trace India’s history from 6,000 BCE and will be handed over to the dignitaries visiting the national capital for the G20 summit.
According to one of the booklets included in the documents at the G20 summit, the Modi Government is highlighting how Bharat has been the mother of democracy since historic times.
The “Bharat, the Mother of Democracy” booklet, which contains 26 pages, describes that Bharat is the official name of the country, as mentioned in the Constitution and discussions from 1946-48. It features the bronze statue known as “the dancing girl,” believed to be from the Indus Valley civilisation, which existed around 5,000 years ago. The statue is described as a symbol of confidence, with the girl appearing “self-assured and looking at the world eye-to-eye, independent, and liberated.”
The booklet further discusses the oldest scriptures, the four Vedas, and delves into the civilisational value system incorporating political, societal, and educational principles. It also describes democratic elements found in epics.
The booklet explains that in Bharat, which is India, seeking the consent of the people in governance has been a part of life since the earliest recorded history. According to Indian ethos, democracy comprises values such as harmony, freedom of choice, freedom to hold multiple ideas, acceptability, equality, governance for the welfare of the people, and inclusivity in society.
The booklet cites democratic elements even in the times of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, emphasising that governance for the welfare of the people has been a central feature of thought in India since time immemorial. In the the Ramayana, it mentions that Lord Ram was chosen as king after his father sought approval from his council of ministers.
Similarly, in the Mahabharata, the patriarch Bhishma, on his deathbed, imparted lessons on good governance to Yudhishthira.
The booklet also explores the principles of Buddhism that influenced India’s democratic ethos through the rule of several kings, including Ashoka, Chandragupta Maurya, and Chhatrapati Shivaji. It also mentions Krishna teaching the Bhagwad Gita to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.
The booklet provides references to historical events and rulers who practiced democratic values. It explains that Akbar was “the understanding monarch,” Chhatrapati Shivaji left a “legacy of loktantra,” and Emperor Ashoka held elections for ministers every five years.
Furthermore, it discusses how Shivaji promoted governance with representatives who were aware of their duties, ensuring equal rights for the people. Shivaji’s “legacy of loktantra” was continued by his successors, and the booklet describes how he appointed eight ministers who represented governance through decentralisation. It states that even the king could not overrule their counsel.
The booklet also highlights Emperor Akbar as the understanding monarch who introduced the doctrine of “Sulh-I-Kul” (universal peace) as a tool against religious discrimination.
The exhibition on the democratic traditions of India will showcase its history from the “Vedic period to the modern era.” The textual content, along with audio, will be presented in “16 global languages,” including English, French, Mandarin, Italian, Korean, and Japanese.
The history of India’s democratic ethos will be summarised and retold through 26 interactive screens arranged in multiple kiosks.
“Upon their arrival in the exhibition area, heads of state, delegates, and other guests will be greeted by an AI-generated ‘avatar’ that will provide them with a concise overview of the exhibition,” the source said.
A replica sculpture of the Harappan girl, placed on a rotating elevated podium, will stand in the centre of the hall in the exhibition area. The actual height of the object is 10.5 cm, but the replica was created to be 5 feet in height and 120 kg in weight in bronze.
