So, although we should be proud of what Zulfikar Ali Bhutto once called the “noise and chaos” of our democracy, we need to acknowledge that we have little to be smug about. We need to accept that the quality of the people we elect to public office has deteriorated so much in recent times that Parliament has become the most powerful club in India instead of being a place where laws are made.

This will only change when we accept that those who stand for public office must have certain minimum qualifications and certain minimum disqualifications. Can we begin by insisting on basic high school education for those who contest elections and instant disqualification for those who have criminal records. It may not seem like much, but it could be the beginning of higher standards in public life.