THE post-colonial state as it emerged at the advent of independence was cast in the mould of a liberal democracy A democratic political system was meant to bring about a Just society. That this expectation began to be belled, in the early years of independence even In India, is well brought out in Pandit Nehru's reply to Andre Malraux. In an interview In the last year of his life, In answering Malrauxs question: (1) "What has been your greatest difficulty si nee Independence?', his answer was: "Creating a Just stale by Just means perhaps creating a secular state in a religious country Thirty years later, these words have a strangely contemporary ring and could apply to most of our societies.

The pledges of Independence remain unfulfilled for the overwhelming majority of our peoples The 1993 UNDP Human Deveiqpment Report in its ranking of 173 members of the United Nations, according to Its Human Development Index, ranks the members of SAARC as follows: Shri Lanka (No. 86) Maldives (No. 112) Pakistan (No 132). India (No. 134) Bangladesh (No. 147) Nepal (No. 152) and Bhutan (No. 159).

This is why as we take stock and look ahead towards new century It Is Important to restate the basic goal of establishing a Just society in which people would live in freedom and with dignity enjoying their basic human rights: civil and political. economic, social and cultural. This Is formally recognised in constitutional documents. It is explicitly subscribed to by those who may be described as the enlightened elite and implicitly by the overwhelming majority of our people. The challenging question that we have to confront Is what are the Impediments which stand in the way of the realisation of this goal?

The first Impediment is the role of the predatory elite in our societies. This powerful coalition has demonstrated remarkable ability to impede the consolidation of a consensus behind a shared strategy of political. social and economic development which would carry our society forward towards this

goal. The predatory elite has re sources and skills which enable It to manipulate and Indeed dominate the political system to their advantage and thus to frustrate the aspirations of ma Jorl ties.

The second Is the character of the post-colonial state which, instead of evolving as an effl elent instrument for realising the goals and priorities of the majority, has developed into a centralised, bureaucratically controlled, inefficient and cor rupt machinery which Is chronically unresponsive to the people's priorities and needs

If. therefore, we are to begin to devise a strategy which would carry forward our societies towards our shared goals we must attach importance to building and sustaining a truly democratic political system Here it is important to under line that a democratic political system must not be taken to be

one which simply displays the formal trappings of democracy We have all shared the anguish of being witnesses to the destruction of democracy by au thoritarian Intervention and also to democracies being undermined from within — by becoming hostages to black money and arms — by Imposition of emergencies under cover of which human rights have been brutally uppressed and by the rousing of communal and ethnic sentiments driving communities to outbursts of frenzied violence

The new order In South Asia must ensure that violence both by the state and by non-state actors is uncompromisingly subordinated to the rule of law. Respect for law and observance of rules has undergone a per ceptlve erosion in the post independence period In most of our societies. This combined with the role of the predatory elites has seqn emergence of mafia-type mercenaries maintained by them and used without any scruples to protect their special interests. These pathological developments have escalated the levels of violence in our societies which threatens

democracy and presents the most formidable Impediment to the emergence of a Just and stable society.

Effective strategies to reduce and ultimately eliminate violence. assume critical importance Equally the use of force by the state against its citizens and in inter state relations must be scrupulously es chewed. The starting point would be a recognition of nonviolence as a governing principle for relations between citizens and nations. In order to implement this principle, the normative framework both at the International plane and that which Is embodied in our constitutions must be made opera tional Impartial and effective law enforcement and the elimination of double standards must be ensured when police functions are performed at the

International or national level. In particular national police and internal security forces must be de-brutalised: they must function as the protectors and not as the violators of the human rights of citizens.

The new political order that has to be built Is one in which the people are truly empowered. This empowerment requires nurturing and strengthening of civil society, which in turn must Involve harnessing the energies of people, through their active participation Iq both governmental and non-governmental bodies. The state must be radically re-structured so that it is not an Instrument in the hands of self-serving and corrupt politicians and bureaucracies.

Decentralisation and strengthening of local government Institutions must be an integral part of the strategy. Conscious citizens must exercise vigilance, articulate their priorities, monitor the activities of those who exercise governmental powers, and ensure that the checks and balances written into constitution function as more than paper safeguards. Human rights activism and popular mobilisation in support

of the values of tolerance and respect for rights of others, and lor the core values of democracy alone can give depth to democ racy.

Equally important would be strategies for accelerated Im piementation of human rights, pplltlcal and civil rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights Judicial activism would enable to the higher Judiciary to play a more active role, a creative role. In the area of promoting realisation of social, economic and cultural rights.

There is need for new Instl tutions and Initiatives Institutions such as human rights commissions. If they are truly independent and do not derogate from the role of the Judiciary, the institution of the Ombudsman, and a pro active role by civic and professional organisations as well as non

governmental entities, could significantly contribute towards the Implementation of human rights.

Politics must lx- re-generated so that it is once again the means for mobilising people, making them awpre of their rights and social responsibilities. thus becoming a vehicle through which people's power can realise the people's goals. Politics has degenerated Irt our sub-continent. There is little doubt that the politics of those who led us In our early years of Independence has undergone a process of degeneration Today what we see is a kind of cartelisation of politics. In alliance with the predatory elite.

The re-structuring of the state and re-generation of politics must proceed together. Politicians and bureaucrats must accept the discipline of transparency and accountability. It Is the weakening and in some cases the absence of these elements that has led to new d^>ths of corruption being attained and in the cynical and sustained violation of the rights of ordinary people. The abuse of power for self-seeking ends lies at the root of the crisis of the

post colonial state A recent report on Empowerment of Women in South Asia urges that:

The process of empower ment should also generate new notions of power itself, and the purpose for which It Is wielded Present-day notions of power — evolved tn a hierarchical, male dominated society — are based on divisive, destructive and op-presitve values which encourage aggression, competition, and corruption, regardless of whether It is men or women wielding power The need Is for a new understanding of power itself — not one of control and exploitation for personal gain, but the power of sharing, giving, creating, and developing the po tentlal of every human being."

The new politics which Is needed to sustain political, economic and social development must alm to replace violence by a scrupulous adherence to the

rule of law, and confrontation by consensus. As urged in the recent report of the Club of Rome: .

"In face of the gravity of the decisions thAt will have to be taken in the near future, artificially stimulated party rivalries, generated by attempts to win popular votes at the next election and often not even based on real Ideological differences, could lead to disaster. There is an overwhelming need to estab lish the maximum of common agreement between political parlies claiming to be custodians of the national good, if we are to weather the rnany'storms ahead."

A similar conclusion Is arrived at by a report reviewing the Brundlland Report on the need for the politics of consensus. thus:

"The pain' of sustainable development — for farmers and city-dwellers, for rich nations and poor — could be eased by political leaders with vision, leaders who see beyond elections tomorrow or the day after to the legacy they would leave for their children by helping us face up to hard choices. A few of these Individuals are now being

heard and no doubt this year a few more will chime In. But a few is nof enough What is missing is the political consensus that these issues demand the world's undivided attention if we are to leave our children an earth that will support them

The principles on which a truly participatory democratic system and a new politics could tie built may be derived from a Declaration on People's Participation and Sustainable Development which was adopted some years ago In Manila

These principles underlined the need for active participation by people if democracy is to deliver Active interaction is needed among fieoples of each of our societies so that we can devise new strategies InsUtu uons and initiatives so that the post colonial state can be restructured and that a new politics of the people, by the people and for the people — in its truest sense can be gener ated as a vehicle for people s power. There Is much to learn from exchanging our experience in this region and by building a coalition pf peoples across boundaries since ultimately It is only by our people becoming empowered and regaining control over their destinies that our shared goals can be realised The launching of a newspaper which Is simultaneously circulated In each of the countries of South Asia should be seriously considered.

Can we not resolve to establish a SAARC People's Forum which would-assemble immediately before each SAARC summit? Such a Forum composed of representatives of all forms of peoples organisations — political. civic and professional and other non governmental organisations — would promote constructive dialogues, exchange of experience and contribute towards building consensus within the region on the new order In South Asia based upon a recognition of the peoples' priorities and the challenges of the 21 st century which we need to face together.

The author Is the President of Gono Forum, This Is an extract from his address to the Third South Aslan Regional Dialogue held In Lahore. Pakistan.