T HE media -- as well as the people of India -- did not miss the rare bonhomie among leaders of various political parties -- their ideological and political differences notwithstanding -- at the residence of Lok Sabha Speaker Mr. Om Birla who invited all of them for high tea. The atmosphere was light and laughter filled the room and the general conversation did not veer to political mud-slinging. Leaders shared jokes and anecdotes -- offering a picture of togetherness (which is the crux of democracy) -- as if no differences prevailed in the country’s political community. It was, beyond doubt, a rare moment in India’s democracy -- rather unheard of at least in recent years. Such an atmosphere did prevail in politics about 2-3 decades ago.

 

Leaders of most political parties had a healthy social connect with one another and visited one another’s homes on festive occasions or at moments of personal trouble or grief. Of course, even now, many leaders enjoy such a connect with their counterparts from other parties. However, the overall atmosphere has become rather bitter and ideological and political differences tend to enter personal lives of leaders from different parties of late. This should not have happened, generally speaking. Yet, the political discourse of the country has become rather cantankerous over time -- which the common people do not miss. It is against this background that the rare bonhomie among leaders of different parties at the Speaker’s high-tea event got noticed by the media and the people. And the popular reaction was that of happiness. For, the common people appreciated their leaders’ get-together on a happy note beyond politics. They felt happy that the bitterness that appears to underline the political discourse these days was not there at the high-tea. May many such occasions happen, the people must have prayed and wished.

 

One of the strengths of any democratic discourse is the general consensus that people agree to disagree. In other words, there may be points on which there may be obvious disagreements among people from differing ideologies.Yet, since that point is put behind, the atmosphere changes and an overall accommodation of one-another’s point of view is the standard norm. Most unfortunately, India’s domestic politics got sullied to such as extent as to divide the collective leaderships of all parties only on political lines with little mutual and respectful communication among various leaders.This does not make anybody happy, but the political community of India is dogged unfortunately by such an atmosphere. This is fully undesirable, to say the least.

 

The participatory institutions of democratic functioning -- such as Parliament, for example -- operate on the simple principle of agreeing to disagree and yet remain in good books of one another. India’s parliamentary institutions have seen great examples of such fine difference between the political and personal domains -- where the leaders’ treatment of one another is guided by one simple principle of accommodation and acceptance despite disagreement, despite differences of opinion, despite plurality of interests. This one isolated example may not set a trend. Yet, it carries a promise for India’s democratic future. For, such a bonhomie would only enhance the quality of India’s public conversation as time passes. That’s what India wants.