In 2004 a report published in the USA pointed to the increasing inequalities in that country. Inequalities in income are reflected in the participation of people in democracy.

Consider the following facts about a country and decide if you would call it a democracy. Give reasons to support your decision. I. All the citizens of the country have the right to vote. Elections are held regularly.

Are the following statements in keeping with democracy as a value? Why? I. Father to daughter: I don’t want to hear your opinion about your marriage. In our family children marry where the parents tell them to.

Write a response to the following arguments against democracy: I. The army is the most disciplined and corruption-free organization in the country. Therefore the army should rule the country.

There are 40 villages in a district where the government has made no provision for drinking water. These villagers met and considered many methods of forcing the government to respond to their needs. Which of these is not a democratic method?

5. Which of these is not a valid reason for arguing that there is a lesser possibility of famine in a democratic country? I. Opposition parties can draw attention to hunger and starvation.

Each of these statements contains a democratic and an undemocratic element. Write out the two separately for each statement. I. A minister said that some laws have to be passed by the parliament in order to conform to the regulations decided by the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Which of these is not a good argument in favour of democracy? Why? I. People feel free and equal in a democracy.

Here is some information about the four countries. Based on this information, how would you classify each of these countries? Write 'democratic', 'undemocratic' or 'not sure' against each of these. I. Country P: The parliament cannot pass a law about the army without the consent of the Chief of the Army.

Here is some information about the four countries. Based on this information, how would you classify each of these countries? Write 'democratic', 'undemocratic' or 'not sure' against each of these .I. Country A: People who do not accept the country’s official religion do not have a right to vote.

Find out the total number of eligible voters in your assembly constituency and your parliamentary constituency. Find out how many people can fit into the largest stadium in your area.

In my village, the Gram Sabha never meets. Is that democratic?

This famous cartoon by R K Laxman comments on the celebrations of the fifty years of independence. How many images on the wall do you recognize? Do many common people feel the way the common man in this cartoon does?

Rajesh and Muzaffar read an article. It showed that no democracy has ever gone to war with another democracy. Wars take place only when one of the two governments is non-democratic.

This cartoon was published in Canada just before its parliamentary elections of 2004. Everyone, including the cartoonist, expected the Liberal party to win once again.

What would have happened if India was not a democracy? Could we have stayed together as a single nation?

This cartoon is from Brazil, a country that has a long experience of dictatorship. It is entitled "The Hidden Side of Dictatorship". Which hidden sides does this cartoon depict?

I want to be in Lyngdoh Madam’s class! That sounds like a democratic classroom. Doesn’t it?

Read these five examples of working or denial of democracy. Match each of these with the relevant features of democracy discussed above.

The Chinese government blocked the free flow of information on the internet by placing restrictions on popular websites like 'Google' and 'Yahoo'.

Why talk about Zimbabwe? I read similar reports from many parts of our own country. Why don’t we discuss that?

This cartoon is about the Iraqi election held after Saddam Hussein’s regime was overthrown. He is shown behind the bars. What is the cartoonist saying here? Compare the message of this cartoon with the first cartoon in this chapter.

All this is so remote for me. Is democracy all about rulers and governments? Can we talk about a democratic classroom? Or a democratic family?

This cartoon was drawn in the context of Latin America. Do you think it applies to the Pakistani situation as well? Think of other countries where this could apply? Does this happen sometimes in our country as well?

Syria is a small west Asian country. The ruling Ba’ath Party and some of its small allies are the only parties allowed in that country. Do you think this cartoon could apply to China or Mexico? What does the crown of leaves on democracy signify?

This cartoon was drawn when elections were held in Iraq with the presence of the US and other foreign powers. What do you think this cartoon is saying? Why is 'democracy' written the way it is?

Ribiang went back home and collected some more famous quotations on democracy. This time she did not mention the names of the people who said or wrote these. She wants you to read these and comment on how good or useful these thoughts are:

I have heard a different version. Democracy is off the people, far (from) the people and (where they) buy the people. Why don’t we accept that?

Let us take Lyngdoh Madam seriously and try to write down the exact definition of some of the simple words that we use all the time: pen, rain and love.