Yes indeed there are no alternatives to Democracy. But democracy does not run on its own. Let us not get carried away with our idealistic beliefs, and simply assume democracy is end of all the means. We need capable 'madari' (Badar nachaune manche) to actually control and manage the monkeys in our system. Monkey is not an apt metaphor for they have certainly made 'their' home(s). But the point is, agreed that democracy is although not prefect, the best form of government there is in the market. Even then, is it not too easy to say, it is WE the PEOPLE who have power, WE can do this and that? Now, let us open our eyes, scratch the surface, and check the groud reality. Shall we? EXHIBIT I. Most of the corrupt leader WILL NOT loose election simply because they run from their constituencies; that is hundreds of miles in some remote villages where the unfortunate people are struggling for a meal a day. Voting them out? Tell you what, it is as hard as kicking Gyane out. Exhibit II. The literacy rate is close to 0. Yes, ZERO. What does that say? What else? Of course it EXPLICITELY IMPLIES that there are no ways they can or to be more precise, there are no ways they would be able to exercise their judgment free of manipulation. And guess what happens then? Yep, you guessed it. Exactly. EXHIBIT III. In some cases parties gives two tickets to the most corrupt ones, i.e., Girija and all, making sure that they have BETTER chance of getting elected. What's more, there are NO democratic ways to determine who gets the ticket for election. JASKO SAKTI USKO BHAKTI. Exhibit IV. No matter how loud a noise we make, not all of us can go to the parliament house and ask question to the ministers, prime minister and other elected people's representatives. Guess who does that in the house? We all know it. They themselves. Kasle kaslai chor bhanne? Yeuta aula uthayo, char afuma. Yes we can voice our concerns and asks for and answers, from press and other limited means. Guess what happens then? They tend to close their NAKK, KAAN, and ANKHA. LAAJ pachi sakepachi Aru ke le chuncha? Have we not seen this scenario way too often? Who is to say this doesn't happen again? Kaag karaudai garcha, pina sukdai. Hey, we can do dhunga muda barsaune, julus jane, rellin bhachne , tyre jalaune; ah.. what a fun. :) And we wait for ANOTHER 5 YEARS to vote them out. And may I take the liberty to guess what happens then? Read from Exhibit I-IV, again and again and again. The bottom line is, no matter how many analogies we make, what the benefits democracy can bring and all those idealistic scenario, accept it or not, as long as these corrupt leeches are running the show, essentially making a mockery of democracy ( hellooooooooooooooooo are they no the on who ASKED to dissolve the parliament?) the democracy that we often talk about, will NOT come. The ABSOLUTE precondition for people to join the movement, (needless to mention without whom only few hundred 'bhatuwas' and party's RS. 50 karyekartas would shout slogan and do the drama of getting arrested not to mention getting "abbir" and "phoolmala" and a snap shot in the daily post), IS TO THROW AWAY the corrupt leader, bring democracy within the parties, and make certain leaders are held ACCOUNTABLE for their deeds and so on and so forth. Failing which, let us have fun in Sajha and other forums for our own fun and self righteous ego boosting in the name of mental stimulation and fight for democracy, when the population by and large do not, to be very frank, do not give a rat's ass. NOW, let's talk democracy. :). Of course it is the best form of government. As much as we would talk about people being the real power in democracy, it is the leaders that lead the population. And like it or not, they tend to be largely responsible to channelize the direction our largely illiterate and hungry unfortunate people and the nation would go. Now the real question is WHO will be that capable leader? Or better still DO WE HAVE a leader in our nation? No seriously, let us not entertain ourselves by pleasing each other that it is going to happen. Without the capable and able leadership and not discarding these old snakes, democracy will come IF AND WHEN the royal bad ass DADA gyane decides. Cry as much or whine if it pleases, the politicians are inept. They can not even change their party; let us not kid ourselves that they are going to change our nation. So much for democracy.