Shri P. Sreeramakrishnan, Hon'ble Speaker, Kerala Legislative Assembly,

Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala,

Shri A.K. Balan, Hon’ble Minister for Culture, SC/ST and Backward Communities,

Shri Ramesh Chennithala, Hon’ble Opposition Leader, Kerala,

Shri V. Sasi, Hon’ble Deputy Speaker, Kerala Legislative Assembly,

Shri T.V. Rajesh, Member of Legislative Assembly,

Dr. Yasmin Ali Haque, Representative of UNICEF in India,

Shri Rahul V. Karad, Executive President, MIT WPU, Pune,

Sahodaree Sahodaranmare,

Ellaavarkkum Ente Namaskaaram.

       It gives me great joy and pride to inaugurate the Students’ Parliament held as part of the Festival on Democracy, at the Kerala Legislative Assembly complex.

Let me at the outset, compliment the Kerala Legislative Assembly and its Speaker Shri. P. Sreeramakrishnan for organizing this programme as a continuation of the Festival on Democracy initiated last year as part of the Diamond Jubilee of our Legislature. I understand that this year also, national level interactions are being conducted to discuss the components that contribute to a healthy democracy. It is truly befitting that the theme of 'Festival on Democracy'is: 'Democracy - Feel, Focus & Future'.

I must admit that I am greatly impressed by the response to the National Students' Parliament, Kerala – 2019. Its aim of nurturing in our youth a love for democratic values and the democratic way of life, is truly laudable.

As all of us know, India is the largest and the most vibrant democracy in the world. We have also been a model to the world in terms of the faith in the democratic process and the Ballot. There are many nations around us, with lesser population and less diversity compared to us. But, none of them has demonstrated and sustained the power of the democratic tradition with greater dedication and faith than us.

A democracy provides the right to choose your government, but most of us do not realize that the ‘Right to Vote’ is the mother of all rights under the Indian Constitution and that responsible citizens are the life-line of any democracy. It is also said that the highest office in our democracy is that of the ‘citizen of India’. The Student Parliament is a training for the youth of India to adorn the highest office in our democracy, that is the position of a responsible citizen.

At a time when the tendency to stay away from the democratic process is growing in society, it is important to remind future generations about the struggles that went behind the creation of a democratic system in India. There may be many who criticize politics and political activity and crave for a benevolent dictator. But what is needed is to correct the system and not to move away from it. Being cynical about political activity and thought is like running away. Instead, well informed youth should come forward to ensure a better democratic process.

As we discuss and evaluate the merits of a democratic system, it would be worthwhile to remember that the establishment of full Parliamentary Democracy in India was a momentous step in the history of a new nation which had just broken the chains of colonialism.  Many Statesmen had a key role in transforming the existing system into democratic institutions which matched the character of Indian society.  Though India was known as a land of Maharajas, the people who led the freedom struggle were convinced that Parliamentary Democracy was most suited and essential to keep India united as a nation. This was because they had realized through social interactions that only a democratic structure which respected the variety in cultural, political, and socio-economic trends could keep India united.

We also must remember that Parliamentary Democracy is not something which could be perfected overnight. Like any other system, it also evolves, grows and transforms. To facilitate such an evolution and transformation, we must educate the people politically. By politically, I do not mean to confine our message to party politics and ideology alone. If you look at the dictionary for the word Politics, you will find that it is the ‘art and science of government’. It is also the art or science of influencing policy.  It means, political activity extends to the education of the masses on the implications of various forces working within and outside the country.

As we are aware, no democracy in the world is truly perfect and therefore, every democracy corrects and improves upon itself. When we express our dissent and voice our concerns, we are addressing the failings of a democracy, so that we collectively strengthen it further.

The Student Parliament is being held at the Kerala Legislative Assembly, which has an admirable track record of having made path-breaking legislations for the welfare of the people. But, it does not believe itself to be perfect. I would request all students and other youth attending this Festival of Democracyto learn the history of legislation in Kerala and suggest ways of improving our performance.  We believe that the opinions of today’s youth could become the guidelines of tomorrow.

The Parliament and the Legislature are akin to a university, where each member has to be like a student.  To highlight issues that concern the people, Members have to prepare by reading documents and gathering information through constant interactions. While participating in the discussions, you should place yourselves as Legislators and evaluate whether your opinions and observations did justice to the role you were playing.

As a former Judge of the Supreme Court who gave a verdict on the constitutional validity of the MP Local Area Development Funds, I have observed with great satisfaction that many of our people's representatives are now taking a greater role in development activities.  I hope your interactions with people in politics and governance would dwell mainly on the developmental issues, how they are tackled and how you can suggest better ways of handling such matters. As future Legislators, it would also be useful to have a thorough understanding of the procedures, processes and above all, guidelines on the conduct of Legislators.

As youth, you should also be educated on how, we as a people, enjoy the constitutional promise of our Fundamental Rights  and the privilege of a  free Press, freedom to speak, to travel, form associations, criticize the Government if they go wrong, competitive elections, multi-party system, independent judiciary, and freedom from arbitrary arrest. You should learn how democracy has been rightly declared as one of the ‘basic features’ not amenable to amendment by various judicial pronouncements over a period of time.

To conclude, I hope that the focal points of discussion in the Student Parliament, like faith and affinity towards politics and parliamentary democracy, the need for ethics, the vision of sustainable development etc., will be of great use to our youth. I would suggest that we also discuss the trend of democratic dialogue being vitiated by post-truth and disinformation, through technology.  This is because democratic discussions of the future will certainly be affected by technology.

I hope the discussions on democracy, politics and the Constitution of India would provide insights into how a democratic system can be perfected through participation of the youth.  Let us together utilize this opportunity of conveying a message to the world on the power of the youth in the strengthening of democracy. 

I compliment the organizers for conducting this function in a befitting manner. 

Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal

Nanni

Jai Hind