Mr. K.M.Munshi, former Governor of Uttar Pradesh now basking at Bombay is busy musing. His attempt at thinking aloud resulted in a discourse he gave on “Indian Democracy in action” under the auspices of the progressive group.

Says this ex-Governor that there is an urgent need for “movements of the people by the people and for the people”

Lincoln-like, Mr. Munshi has given a lucid explanation of democracy—but is there not an almost sorrowful note lurking in this statement?

All this time Mr. Munshi along with other leaders of the Congress party, has been saying that the Congress is the custodian of democracy—it is the people’s movement —interested in and intimately connected with “Praja Rajya!!"

And now to say, that there is an urgent need for a movement of the people, is to deny the Congress this quality and ability.

Is Mr. Munshi offering an advice to the people, that the Congress has ceased to be a party of the masses since it has become a clique for the classes and that people’s movements should arise to safeguard their interests and rights? Or, is Mr. Munshi merely belching out certain thoughts and ideas, unconnected with practical propositions?

He regrets, “that major decisions taken by the Congress Working Committee or the A.I.C.C. were not freely discussed at lower levels and such discussions were not encouraged as they should be”. This is strange! Not that the country does not know this—but, for Munshiji to regret over a situation, which has been in vogue long before his gubernatorial phase of life, is simply amazing.

Has he at any time attempted to eradicate this evil? We do not know.

There seems to be some kind of dig aimed at somebody—there is more nicety than clarity in his expression

If the discussion in the Congress or in the A.I.C.C. is not up to the mark, and if people at the lower level do not discuss freely, and are not encouraged in that line, who is to be blamed? If this is done out of sheer ignorance it is regrettable, and if it is wantonly done, it is dangerous. How is Mr. Munshi going to save the democratic climate? That, perhaps, depends upon another fact—how long is he to be kept off the saddle !

Curious indeed is the mental make-up, in most of the tallest poppies in this garden of Lost Hopes!! Curious indeed!

(Editorial - 21-07-1957)