________________
The Jains through Time
216
The importance of politics has increased as difficult to find out how these products are it has extended its sway into every field of made, or what they contain and to what life. In ancient times the government extent they might affect your feelings or exercised jurisdiction only over law and your religious observances. order. Other fields like education, health, literature, culture, art, science, architecture Although it is said that we have a and social welfare were independent of democracy, in reality there is a large gap government control. They were carried out between the people and those who govern under the guidance of religious leaders. them. Every aspect of people's lives, their Nowadays, however, politics has invaded all aspirations, character development, these fields. The government decides education, food and individual tastes, even everything from what we eat and how we their religion and culture, has been taken are educated, to our conditions of work and over by the government. The people are what we wear. In other words, every facet of puppets and the State the puppeteer. our personal lives has come under the scope Motivated by their own selfish interest, and direction of the government, rather those in power, whether in the different than remaining in people's own hands. states or at the centre, appropriate every Power is centralised. Concepts like the facet of national life into private fiefdoms. raising of people's consciousness, moral and The ballot boxes decide the character of the ethical conduct, character development, country. This is a mockery of democracy. It honour and purity have lost their meaning. is a clear transgression of the people's
fundamental rights and a heartless People nowadays talk of globalisation, but repression of their wishes. what does that mean? You are forced to buy, whether you like it or not, the products of Every citizen of India wants a good those multinational companies that have government implementing worthwhile struck deals with the politicians. It is programmes for the development of the
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
