​​Dogmas and Dharma: Unveiling the Roots of Good Governance

'Good governance and good intentions should be the hallmark of every government.'

The date 25th December reminds us of jingles, lights, gifts and spending time with family. However, this date holds another significance for Indians. It was declared as Good Governance Day in 2014 to mark the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. 

The aim was to ensure fair treatment to citizens and increase public access to government policies and schemes. 

The concept of Good Governance has received immense attention in recent times. From World leaders and big international institutions to kids in a classroom, we find everyone talking about it. But it has also become a subject of scrutiny. What is Good Governance? What distinguishes it from Governance and Government?   

The Play of Words.

Governance and Government come from the old French words 'Gouvernance' and 'Governement'. Initially, their meanings were almost similar. However, by the mid-16th century, Government meant a system of governing something. Later, Government became a synonym for governing authority. Meanwhile, Governance had become a marginalised concept. With the introduction of economic reforms in 1980 and the rise of interdependence and globalisation, civil societies and international media began using a buzzword -Governance.

The World Bank study on 'Sub-Saharan Africa: from Crisis to Sustainable Growth' presented Governance as a ‘need for institutional reform and a better and more efficient public sector.’ However, Good Governance was only mentioned in the foreword by the former World Bank President Barber Conable as a “Public service that is efficient, a judicial system that is reliable and an administration that is accountable to its public."

The World Bank's 1998 annual report defined Good Governance as having four components: accountability, transparency, predictability, and participation. Later, The United Nations Economic & Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) identified eight parameters to define Good Governance: Participation, Rule of Law, Transparency, Responsiveness, Consensus Oriented, Equity and Inclusiveness, Effectiveness and Efficiency, and Accountability.

Thus, Good Governance means the optimum utilisation of resources by government institutions and processes to fulfill the needs of the society.

Indian Context

India, with its ancient civilisation, diverse culture, and rich heritage, has had an exceptional history, or as Mark Twain calls it—grandmother of legend and the great-grandmother of tradition. However, its contribution to Science has always been neglected or unappreciated.  Hence, it becomes important to study Indian scholars, their writings, and understand their revolutionary ideas.

Religious text

“Vedas are a treasure of the principles of good governance."

-Ashok Gehlot(former CM of Rajasthan)

Written in Sanskrit between 1500 and 500 BCE, the Vedas are the oldest scriptures of one of the oldest religions in the world—Hinduism. We find traces of the roots of Good Governance in the Rigveda, Yajurveda and Upanishads. The Rigveda mentions that the purpose of human life is the emancipation of the soul and the welfare of the world. A ruler in Shukla Yajurveda prays: "May my subjects, herds and people be satisfied. Let none be needy." The Brihadaranya Upanishad emphasises that it is the duty of a king to provide equality and prevent the weak from getting exploited.

The Epics

The tales of Ramayana have been an integral part of our childhood, but many do not focus on its lessons on Governance. Rama-Rajya(Rama's rule) has been portrayed as a period with no poverty, grief or pain. It promotes democracy, equality and justice for all. The Ayodhya Kanda from Ramayana put forth ideas of governance like defense, financial management( balanced budgeting), labour relations( distribution of wealth), environment, and creation of a Council of Ministers. Ram Rajya portrays an ideal society model, with a competent king, able ministers, and a focus on every aspect of the society. It strives for a perfect balance between nature and people and ensures distinctive growth. The principles outlined in the Ramayana can empower India's diverse population to achieve its aspirations of becoming an influential power.

Shantiparva( a part of the Mahabharata) is a collection of political philosophy of Bhishma, Vyasa and other sages. Bhishma mentions 36 virtues a king should practise and how Dharma( righteousness) and Prajahit(public welfare) are his utmost duties. The Parva(unit) lists the three organs of the government: executive, legislature and judiciary. A striking similarity between Ramayana and Mahabharata is its focus on bureaucracy. Ramayana emphasised on loyal, respectful, well-taught and strong-willed ministers who not only reduced the quantity of work to be done but also ensured quality. Mahabharata also lists a minister's qualities that are required to ensure smooth governance. Purohits (learned men) were advisors to the king and were fearless in putting forth their opinions. With this interdependent system in place, accountability, transparency, and efficiency were guaranteed.

Treatises

The Arthashastra is an interdisciplinary treatise on various aspects of administration, politics, economy, etc. Kautilya grouped the government under three categories: the ruler, the officials and the administration mechanism. It establishes a strict code of conduct for officials to follow and imposes a fine equal to double their pay if they fail to fulfill their duties. Arthashstra put forth the idea of decentralisation and listed 40 ways of embezzling government funds. Hence, setting up a robust judiciary and a legal framework became necessary. The taxation system provided certain exemptions. Economic growth was driven by ensuring that salaries did not exceed one-quarter of revenue collection and that substantial investment was made in public infrastructure and welfare. 

The king was to preserve Dharma (spiritual good), Artha (material well-being) and Kama (aesthetic pleasure). Prescribing pay to artists, standardising weights and measures, and fixing wages for employees(both white and blue-collared) indicates that Kautilya believed in the notion of a welfare state, and by standardising the quality of goods, he nurtured the idea of consumer protection.

Thirukkural by Thiruvalluvar is a collection of couplets on ethics and political and economic matters. Iraimachi—one of the chapters in Thirukkural—depicts the duties of a king and lays down the characteristics of a well-governed and socially responsible organization. Thirukkural focuses on four features: fairness, transparency, accountability and responsibility. One of the essential qualities of a king is fairness, whether in the distribution of wealth or punishment. Thiruvalluvar believed that a society can thrive only when people have easy access to the king. Easy access enables him to be aware of his people's concerns, make valid decisions to create mutual understanding with his subjects and keep a check on his officials. The book's underlying philosophy is that the king protects the world, and if he acts according to justice or dharma, then justice itself will safeguard him.

A striking feature of Thirukkural is that it gives utmost importance to the morals and ethics of an individual. Individuals make up any society, and their positive qualities help create a society based on mutual love and concern. Thus, a virtuous king with loyal and wise subjects as well as an ethical population, will flourish.

After the Economic reforms of 1991, India introduced several initiatives related to good governance, for example, the Right to Information Act. 

The Right to Information empowers the citizens to question the government and seek response within a stipulated time. The 73rd and 74th Amendment Acts ensured women's participation, decentralisation and representativeness. The Lokpal and Lokayukta Act investigates corruption charges against central government officials, members of parliament, and the Prime Minister. Not to forget, we also have the right to constitutional remedies to protect our fundamental rights.

However, along with our humongous and diverse population, we continue to face challenges like red-tapism, criminalisation of politics, corruption, poverty and partisan politics. To uphold our traditions and achieve the flourishing society our ancestors envisioned, we must remember that Good governance is a two-way concept. It requires efforts and efficiency from the government as well as awareness and intrigue from the public.

Thus, every individual should strive to be a conscientious citizen, and the government should incorporate the eight parameters that define Good Governance.