Dissent is the very life blood of democracy

TOPIC: “Dissent is the very life blood of democracy; without the former the latter loses its relevance and tends towards autocracy and dictatorship!”

Democracy is the rule of the people, for the people, by the people. Therefore, people have the right to oppose those in power, or to protest against government policies, they are dissatisfied with. Dissent, therefore, is the very life blood of democracy; without it democracy disintegrates. Although dissent is important it’s equally important to accept others’ opinions, points of views and suggestions. Dissent shouldn’t be suppressed as freedom of speech and its expression is a fundamental right, guaranteed to us by our Constitution.
Melissa Rosalyn Pinto (18)
St Andrew’s College, Bandra, Mumbai

Democracy is the greatest political invention of our times. Holding on to democracy is a much more delicate task than winning an election. In India, today, if we express our dissentor raise a question to the government in power, we would be tagged as an enemy of the State, which is not right. When we don’t encourage dissent and discussion, democracy withers.
Rashmo Mehta (14)
St Joseph’s Convent High School, Jethuli

No two citizens of a country are the same. This diversity is what leads to the differences in their opinions. Beyond the diversity of castes and creeds, diversity of thoughts is what makes a nation colourful. Only in democracy these variations can peacefully co-exist. Dictatorship and autocracy are more about imposing one’s ideas, and punishing those who refuse to go with the flow. The moment dissent loses its relevance; democracy loses its real significance.
Diya Vinod Surjuse (17)
Wardha

If democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people then people have the right to ask questions to the government, criticize those in power and protest against its policies and make them accountable to the people. Dissent is also an important right granted to us by our Constitution.
Saanvi Bhalla (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Dissent in democracy is nothing but disagreeing with those in office. Dictatorship is the opposite of democracy. In a dictatorship, a person possesses absolute powers. We live in a free country. If democracy is the government of the people, by the people, then people have the right to protest against its policies of the government in power and make it accountable.
Amrit Kaur (14)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Dissent is the life blood of democracy. We favour democracy because in this form, a citizen has a right to dissent without fear of victimization which doesn’t lead to inhuman. Without dissent, democracy tends towards autocracy and dictatorship which lead to punishments. In fact, the history of evolution of manhood is a history of dissent in a reasoned and informed manner.
Bhavyanshi (12)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

In a true democracy, people should have control over the government. They have the right to ask questions to the government. They can criticize the government. In this way they themselves protect democracy, becoming its watchdog. In the absence of people playing an active role, the government turns into a dictatorship.
Mahi Mehta (12)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Democracy is the best form of governance because it is the government of the people, by the people, for the people. This literally means that there is active participation of people in making laws and regulations. It’s the will of the people that is binding on the government whereas in an autocracy there is only one person who commands!
Bhavya (11)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Dissent is the life blood of democracy, and throughout history we have seen why it matters! Difference of opinion is inevitable, but what is important is that we know also how to respect other person’s viewpoints, especially when its objective and not mere speculation. When we don’t encourage dissent and discussion, democracy falls. Listening to what others have to say is an integral part of finding solutions that will make the nation a better place.
Prina Bhardwaj (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

The essence of democracy is participation of one and all, directly or indirectly, in running the affairs of a nation. If only one viewpoint is heard, promoted and propagated, then democracy fails and autocracy takes over.
Janisha Bhatia (12)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar