SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad Nov 11: Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh has said that democracy is the most favoured system of governance and India is making rapid strides as one of the largest democratic countries.
Harivansh, who was delivering a talk on ‘Democracy’ at IIT Indian School of Mines (ISM) Dhanbad on Friday evening, said as per one of the most accepted definitions of democracy, the common people are at the centre of democracy and the Arthshastra of Kautilya also mentions the same in the first chapter itself as the people are of paramount interest to the head of the state.
The programme was organized by IIT ISM Department of Corporate Communication as part of its Viksit Bharat@2047 talk series.
In his 90 minutes programme at IIT ISM, the deputy chairman addressed 45 minutes to students, research scholars, faculty members, officers, and staff and attended 45 minutes question and answer session with students.
IIT ISM Director Prof J K Pattanayak was also present on the occasion.
Harivansh said, “The democratic values are being observed democratic spirit and democratic space in the ethos, lifestyle, thinking and behaviour of ours since the Vedic age of more than 5000 years ago”,
He also spoke at length about the ancient history of democracy in different parts of the country and said that the literature, coins, and other articles derived from the archaeological survey prove the existence of democracy in India during the Rigvedic period.
Prof JK Pattanayak delivered the welcome address while Prof Rajni Singh, Dean. Corporate Communications introduced the guest speaker to the gathering.
An IIT ISM official said the Viksit Bharat@2047 talk series has been conceptualized, visualized, and imagined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It began at the institute on October 6 with the lecture of Captain Yashika Hatwal Tyagi, a Kargil War Veteran who spoke on Rising Nari Shakti Women Empowerment in India besides gender equality and other related issues.
