Authoritarian v/s Autonomous
Let's say you're having lunch. There is no salt in the curry and it’s tasteless. You inform your cook regarding the same,if she just smiles at you and says “Oops! I am sorry, here it is and sprinkles a pinch of salt in the curry” then that is called Autonomous. As both salt, cook and decision making everything are in your vicinity. But in contrast, she shouts at you and says “ Eat, what is served, just remember I am your elder and you know back in 1980 when I used to cook, no one used to complain and one person who ate that food is now Minister of a state” that's authoritarian.
Is authoritarian good or autonomous good. Nah, I am not going to retrospect those two words. But there are examples like say Russia and China being an authoritarian government (De facto)progressing, while few democracies are still struggling. Now if you observe both the political systems what we can see is, it's all about “Will”. Even, if it is a dictatorship and dictator may have a rich palace or concubines or maybe a private jet. If he still feels that along with him, citizens also should live a happy life, then ‘by will’ he will take up constructive criticism and tends to develop the nation.
A few years ago, I have seen the newspaper headline where it was mentioned “Tihar inmates get 100% placement”, I was perplexed. I never knew that prisons do have placements. Ironically, it was the same year when I and 22 other students completed masters from a ‘prestigious’ college with no placement. Companies were ready to recruit people who have a criminal background and but not with GATE background?. Why didn’t they even visit us? I had no answers, Now I do have answers but I cant say. Because “once you gain knowledge silence should be your answer” a Whatsapp forward said.
Recently one more headline caught my eye. “With Rs 600 crore business, TS Prisons top in-country”. Rs.600 crore business, seriously? again I was shocked, in the time of pandemic where the whole economy is stalled. TS prisons are making revenue. Which means in prisons you have placements, entrepreneurship and the best thing in prisons is, there are no reservations. isn’t it an ideal place!! Even a policeman cant say to you like “If you don’t listen to me I will put you in jail, as DGP is my friend. Because you’re already there!!”.
Many colleges in India are Autonomous. But prisons are definitely Authoritarian. But how come they are super successful than some colleges? again its “will”. Its the will of policymakers or stakeholders who take the ownership and try to address the problems, solve them, try to give a better life to the people who believed and depend on you.
Even if a leader is uneducated and authoritarian, but still has goodwill to develop. He will develop from grassroots and he will be open to constructive criticism. He will analyze the point of inconvenience which people faced and then tend to improve the situation. Which eventually leads to holistic development. In contrast, let's say we have a democratically elected leader, who is educated, But still lack “will” to understand or analyze or at least listen to downtrodden people, his knowledge will be of no use.
So, in the end, it's all about “will” of the leader which makes a society grow than the political ideologies like Authoritarian or Autonomous or Democracy or Socialism whatever it may be.
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