JotCast | Special Lecture by Kannan Gopinathan on Democracy - Individuals and Institutions | 9/2/2020

Special Lecture by Kannan Gopinathan on Democracy - Individuals and Institutions

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K.S. Swati

11:33

Hello and welcome to the special lecture on Democracy- Individuals and Institutions by Kannan Gopinathan, ex IAS Officer and an Activist.

Kannan Gopinathan @naukarshah joins the students at @ACJIndia to talk about Democracy.
I'm eagerly waiting to interact with him!
#ACJLive

11:37

On being asked about his resignation and if it’d achieve anything, Kannan replies, "When institutions fail, individuals have to stand up."

11:38

11:40

Kannan is from Kerala and he did his engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology.

11:42

He recalls an incident, where he was trying to admit some Bihar migrant children to school, but he saw they kept dropping out. Since these kids were from slums, they were made to clean or do other menial jobs in the schools. That's why they kept leaving.

11:45

He then started to teach children along with his wife. They tried creating a bond but then realised that the kids kept migrating to other places. So, his wife realised that they had to change their method to make real change.

11:46

The scenario is more complicated than what we thought. On August 23, he submitted his resignation after a brief tenure but resignation hasn't been accepted.

@naukarshah submitted his resignation on August 23, 2019 and it still hasn't been accepted by the Government of India.
#ACJLive

11:48

Kannan delves deep into the matter, "After my resignation, since I was very vocal about the operations the government in Jammu & Kashmir. I was told that my interactions with the media have affected India's foreign relations."

11:49

He thought that he had entered the system with tremendous belief.

11:50

To quote his exact words, Kannan said, "Governments always had power maximizing tendencies that is, everything should be in their control."

11:52

"The first thing Governments try to do is maximizing their power. The checks and balances feel like hindrances to the Government. Then, they try nullifying the other institutions.", adds Kannan.

@naukarshah Indeed true, We need knowledge in order to become citizens in the fullest sense and speak truth to power.
#ACJLive

11:53

His initial thought was that institutions could operate independent of individuals but that's not the case.

Kannan is correct when he says, "Strong individuals have to make strong institutions."

11:55

Do strong individuals make strong institutions?

Yes (87.5% | 21 votes)

No (12.5% | 3 votes)

Total Votes: 24

11:56

He recalled the events that occurred on August 5th.

"Every single vocal leader and vocal youth were arrested. There were efforts to prevent something."- He says.

Kannan Gopinathan speaks about the Article 370 with students of #ACJLive

11:57

Looking at this from a critical perspective, he adds, "Governments decided people should not be able to say anything against their decision. When the government took a decision, they also decided that as a citizen, they can't say something against their decision."

11:58

He reiterates the August 5th incident. He was told that Article 370 had to be removed and it was a decision of the government.

12:00

After some thoughtful consideration, he realized, it was a decision of the bureaucrats as to how it should be done.

12:03

Adding to this view, Kannan felt that as the district magistrate, he had every legal right to send someone to jail without trial. He felt he was simply listening to political orders to implement his legal power.

Kannan claims, "Bureaucracy is very limited and that it's just a tool, it's not independent."

12:04

Kannan Gopinathan @naukarshah delivers a lecture on “Democracy: Institutions and Individuals” at @ACJIndia. #ACJLive

12:05

Throwing detailed insight, he says that the PCI Chairman gave an affidavit to the Supreme Court. They are okay with the government is asking them to restrict coverage of Kashmir.

Should bureaucracy be independent?

Yes (57.9% | 11 votes)

No (21.1% | 4 votes)

Maybe (21.1% | 4 votes)

Total Votes: 19

12:06

Kannan interestingly points out, "You would expect the government to give proper reasoning behind arrests. But then, the government would ask the court for 15 days to submit their reasoning. In 15 days, the family of the arrested people would be coerced to withdraw their petitions from the courts."

12:07

It makes me proud to know such intellectual minds are guiding our nation. @naukarshah #ACJLive

12:08

Talking from his experience, he had to resign to say certain things. His personal experiences included two Muslims under the PASA Act. High level meetings were organised because he wasn't readily arresting these people. He didn't want to ruin their families. When he pointed out the names of Muslim, within half an hour he got the file of a Hindu arrest. The government just wanted him to arrest somebody.

12:09

Adding to this point,"90% of our country isn't citizens. We consider ourselves to be subjects of a benevolent government."

'It's not about Hindu or Muslim, it's about the State and it's power,' - says @naukarshah
The condition of this country is getting clearer by the minute.
#ACJLive

12:10

He cites a recent example, "In 2020, we made our citizens walk thousands of kilometres. Then, they were beaten up at every border."

12:11

"Every individual in this country is being asked what they have done for the government instead of what the government has done for them.", claims Kannan.

He remarks, "Citizens are being made to perennially feel obligated. Citizens feel like they are not doing enough for the government, and as if they aren't worthy enough to ask questions."

12:12

Kannan Gopinathan gives us a lecture titled 'Democracy: Institutions and Individuals' at @ACJIndia #ACJLive

The question that he posed is on point. He asks, "When you feel something terribly wrong is happening in your own country... if I don't speak up in my own country, where do I speak up?"

12:13

@naukarshah Former IAS Officer Kannan Gopinathan resigned from service in 2019, over 'lack of freedom of expression’. #ACJLive

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