Choose or lose

In an article titled “Is there a case for compulsory voting?” M.S.N. Menon writes: “Once in five years, a citizen is expected to vote for a new government at the Centre. And he is given a day off to do so. If even after this, he has no sense of obligation to vote, then he should be compelled to vote. The alternative is to deny him citizenship. Why is the Indian, more so the middle class, so indifferent to voting? There is a hoary tradition for this. The Hindus lived under Dharma even before a state was founded by them. They were more concerned with society. And when the state was founded, its main aim was to protect the people, not to run a welfare state. Be that as it may, it was not for want of a lamp to guide them that the Hindus middle class has gone the way it has. The Hindu beliefs did give a firm foundation to live an ethical life. The Vedanta calls for the “welfare of all beings”. Hinduism is not against the accumulation of wealth but only as much as is required. Hinduism did not look down upon sensual pleasures. But it was opposed to hedonism. The Puranas were really responsible for shaping the culture and values of the Hindus. The Puranas advocated “friendliness towards all that lives” as the highest ideal. And Ashoka believed that his greatest happiness lay in serving the humanity. Thus, the ideals were already there”.

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