Guwahati: Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla inaugurated the 8th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), India Region Conference, at Assam legislative assembly in the city on Monday, which has been participated by speakers and deputy-speakers along with chairpersons and deputy-chairpersons from across the State legislatures and councils of CPA and members of CPA executive committee, Parliamentarians, Assam legislators, etc.
Hosted by the CPA Assam State branch and Assam legislative assembly, opening ceremony of the conference was graced by CPA executive committee chairman Ian Liddell Grainger, Rajya Sabha deputy-chairman Harivansh, Assam legislative assembly speaker Biswajit Daimary, leader of the opposition at the State assembly Debabrata Saikia with others.
Speaking at the inaugural program, State chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma commented that India has a long and cherished democratic tradition. The principle of democracy has originated from the Vedas and after the Vedic period the description of small republics is found in which people participated together in the decision-making process related to the administration.
Sarma stated that to make democracy a guiding force in the polity, ancient Indians coined the terms Sabha and Samity, which represented two democratic institutions of the bygone era. Both these institutions found mention in Rig Veda and Atharva Veda. In these institutions, decisions were made after the discussions with the king, ministers and scholars.
“This shows how politics at that time revolved around the democratic principles. People used to settle decisions together at the Sabha and Samity with good intent. To arrive at a decision, people of different ideologies were divided into various groups and decisions were taken after mutual consultation,” said Sarma.
He further said that in ancient history of India, description of small republics is found where people participated together in the decision-making process related to the administration. In the Atreya Brahmins, Ashtadhyayi of Panini, inscriptions of Mahabharata, Ashoka pillars, historical writings of contemporary historians, Buddhist & Jain texts and in Manusmriti, various historical evidences are found to that effect.
“In Mahabharata, we find mention of a gathering of common people which they called Jan Sadan in the Shanti Parv. This Sadan was also known as Parliament, which documented the discussion between Bhishma and Yuddhisthira on various aspects of governance including the benefits of Janpada, which were small kingdoms and which were nothing but a republican form of government,” observed Sarma.
Sarma also added that the democratic tradition was evident in Assam in the days of Ahom rule. Though the king (called as Swargadeo) was the head of the State, all decisions were taken by him only in consultations with the ministers, which initially consisted of Buragohain, Borgohain and Borpatragohain. The democratic spirit flourished in the social and religious landscape of Assam with the emergence of Srimanta Sankardeva, who through Ek Saran Naam Dharma sowed the seeds of an equal society.
He finally viewed that in-depth deliberations at the CPA on wide range of issues will help to prepare a roadmap for furthering the democratic tradition. By working together and learning from each other, we all can constantly improve our democratic practices and systems, Sarma asserted adding, “We all need to work towards that goal only to meet the aspirations of our citizens and celebrate the democratic spirit of our great country.”
India has a long and cherished democratic tradition: CM Sarma
