Multidimensional Application of Anekantavada

SR No.: 014009
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain, Shreeprakash Pandey, Bhagchandra Jain Bhaskar
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1999
Total Pages: 552
Language: English, Hindi
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 9 MB

Page 86

Multi-dimentional Reflections on Anekantavāda
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democratic. We have not taught citizens the technique of democracy i.e. Anekāntavāda. Democracy means co-existence of rival parties, having totally different outlooks, philosophies and missions. Co-existence means unity among varieties, teamwork among the conflicting value systems, harmony of different voices, teamwork between different classes, a parliament of different nations.
India believes in co-existence and advocates Pañcaśīla i.e. impartial and neutral stand. India does not want to support any one super power. But India wants to support only those issues of any super power, which are democratic and valid. This is the philosophy of Anekāntavāda also. But in spite of good philosophy of impartial stand for the truth, India is not successful in democracy because India has not changed the outlook and mental attitude of citizens. Anekāntavāda is a technique to change the outlook and attitudes to be democratic.
The democratic technique stands on the fact that all parties have a right to their missions and purposes and democracy does not stand for one party Government. Each party has to learn that as it has a right to own its own manifesto, similarly every party has a right to own its own manifesto. And therefore, every party has to respect the right of other parties.
Civil war, rebellion, street demonstrations, communal riots, noise and quarrels in Parliament are signs and symbols that India is not still a matured democratic country because all these are evidences of antidemocratic outlook. It is also anti- Anekāntavāda. If India wants to establish democracy firmly, India has to teach all parties to resolve their conflicts in a parliamentary way. This process of resolution is the process of Anekāntavāda. Anekāntavāda teaches to respect not only our party's manifesto but to respect manifestos of other parties..
To respect manifesto of other parties means to understand the outlooks, missions and purposes of other parties, so as to understand the propaganda of other parties. Without understanding the missions and purposes of other parties, their manifestos cannot be interpreted or understood. In case of misunderstanding the conflict will flare up. Anekāntavāda and democratic outlook stand on the policy that the rights of all rival parties need to be respected.