In India, whenever there is a problem -- whether a hospital building collapses because it was constructed shoddily or damaged by age, a school boy electrocuted by the negligence of the Electricity Board or School authorities, a court ruling comes after years, or corruption is revealed at the top levels of government -- the instant response is usually the same: "The system is broken."

It's now a familiar complaint, murmured around living rooms, bellowed in demonstrations, discussed on late-night TV, and posted on social media. But what do we actually mean by "the system"? Is it then some abstract, distant faceless thing that operates separately from us? Or is it a living, breathing edifice constructed, maintained, and occasionally undermined by all of us?

In a democracy such as India, the mechanism is not foreign to us. It is not imposed upon us by a dictator or king. It is constructed by its citizens, operated by its institutions, and influenced by the values and choices of each of us. When we blame the system, are we not, unwittingly so, blaming ourselves as well?

From elected representatives and public officials to artists, media professionals, students, and even the elderly -- each one of us contributes to the upkeep or deterioration of the system.

Let us analyze the ten building blocks that constitute the Indian democratic system and subject their role, duty, failures, and reformability to a critical appraisal.

The Public: The Pulse of the System

The biggest asset of any democratic institution is its people. In theory, the people choose leaders, follow the law, pay taxes, and make democracy work. But in reality, a vast majority of Indian citizens are disengaged from more meaningful civic participation. Voting every five years is sufficient. Very few citizens know how urban bodies function or how to keep local governments accountable.

Corrupting a government officer to expedite a file, neglecting civic responsibilities such as waste segregation, and standing by silently when injustice is perpetrated are commonplace activities that weaken the system internally. Conversely, there is also extraordinary courage exhibited by the public during a crisis -- volunteering during floods, joining citizen vigilante committees, or protesting peacefully for social movements. If the public opts for indifference over action, the system collapses automatically.

A working democracy demands an engaged citizenry -- not merely at the polls, but on a day-by-day basis. Public awareness, responsibility, and participation are not choices in a democratic environment; they are its foundation.

Politics: The Face of the System

Politics is quite likely the most conspicuous aspect of the system and usually the first to be blamed when things go badly. Politics in India is strongly merged with identity -- caste, religion, language, and region all become determining factors. Election promises tend more towards appeasement and populism than vision........

© Mathrubhumi English