ABSTRACT
The reckless manipulation of parliamentary institutions of democracy by the self-centered politicians "have drained them of their content and turned their empty shells into an object of symbolic veneration". Indian democracy's most prized political gain has been its periodic elections and the existence of basic civil liberties. When India became Independent in 1947, the political leadership chose a political model that would establish a set of political institutions to usher in an era of democracy based on the notions of individual liberty, equality, and socioeconomic justice. The story of the Indian polity since independence has been one of remarkable stability. Except for a brief aberration of the Emergency between 1975-1977, the forty-five years of independence has seen a remarkable performance of democratic elections, reasonably well working political institutions, and a basic political stability. As a matter of fact India's social structures and cultural milieu are singularly hostile to the growth of democracy.
