Most major countries in the world today function in a democratic system. A system which transfers the power to the people of the country. Democracy was perfectly explained by Abraham Lincoln “the government of the people, by the people, for the people”. The question however remains does democracy in the modern world does democracy fulfill it’s meaning and purpose.

Elections are probably entirely what democracy is based upon it’s the literal foundation of a democracy. Seven states in my country are currently gearing up for election day namely Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Punjab, Manipur, Goa, Gujrat and Himachal Pradesh. Being from Punjab, the agricultural centre of India and a state proud of its place in history and its culture, I have more or less experienced the canvassing and propaganda of political leaders first-hand.

Experiencing this ‘process’ if one may call it that, has shown me a lot. It has shown me how politicians have made democracy into a business of sorts. How they have used the weakness of the uneducated and poor as their strength rather than a concern just to ‘buy’ themselves votes. They have used different mediums to buy the vote of the uneducated, ranging from false propaganda, to food stalls locally knows as ‘langars’ and a whole lot of petty tricks. All of these canvassing schemes have left cities in a mess. I talk from first hand experience as I have seen the streets and roads of my city been loaded with garbage from processions, food stalls and local speeches. The political candidates very readily promote their propaganda but never care to clear the mess they have left in the aftermath.

In recent past the state of Punjab has been adversely affected by the use of drugs and other intoxicating substances, to an extent that it has been dubbed as ‘India’s Mexico’ (which in itself is a very foolish comparison). Multiple times it has been found that these drugs have been brought into the state by the people in power. They even shamelessly use these drugs as a method of getting the votes of the people who have been affected and destroyed by these drugs. In a very clever and concealed process these ‘political leaders’ find ways in which these drugs reach the addicts, who generally come from the poor sector of the state, and to these poor men these drugs are more than life, so in exchange of the drugs these men give their vote to the political leaders. Assuring a fool proof plan to get votes.

In all the dark that has surrounded these elections there has been a glimmer of hope, which has come from the youth and young of the country. Having witnessed it first-hand I have seen graffiti encouraging the people to vote, moreover encouraging the educated youth to vote, flyers distributed to provide more information about election dates and centres, articles in the media bringing out the truth and informing the people about all that surrounds the elections. All this is what should be done too because it is the responsibility of the people to be informed about a democracy because it is in there hand that the real power of a democracy lies. Accompanied with all that the people in power should realise their responsibility and know that good leaders work for the progress and well being of the people but not for themselves.