Democracy and Smoke

Democracy as a Web Series

India has always had some of the most entertaining elections to watch. The debates, discussions, and rage-bait moments in Parliament are nothing short of a web series. To an outsider, this may seem informal or even chaotic for a central government. But to those living in the country, this is simply how things have always been.

I usually avoid writing about politics or leaders because there are always two sides to every story, and my opinions rarely feel consequential. However, with recent trends in our country, politics has begun to resemble a comic play that is slowly spiralling out of control. Ironically, the loudest voices are often those who point out every mistake without contributing anything toward solving the problem. These, somehow, are our “heroes”.

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The Elephant in the Room: Redefining AQI

Let’s address the elephant in the room: the redefinition of AQI. First and foremost—why?

International standards exist so that people can compare countries objectively and understand how good or bad their own situation really is. Redefining AQI risks misleading future generations into believing that pollution in India isn’t as severe as it actually is. Yes, someone who digs deep enough may eventually discover that India follows different standards, but realistically, very few people will spend that much time doing so.

At this point, it feels like pollution can only be reduced by either spraying water on “thermometers” or redefining numbers to suit convenience. Meanwhile, pollution levels have been rising dramatically for years, and many seem to have conveniently forgotten to address it. The capital of the country? It might as well be called a pollution city—especially when it accounts for nearly 15% of deaths in the region.

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Public Apathy?

That said, the public isn’t blameless either.

If the government were to enforce strict limits on automobile usage, wouldn’t protests erupt immediately? Wouldn’t people simply vote out those in charge in the next election? This exposes an inherent flaw within the democratic system. We protest, flood Instagram reels and YouTube shorts with outrage, but how many of us actually change our behaviour?

Issues like Delhi’s pollution could be significantly reduced if people shifted to public transport or even bicycles. Yes, it’s difficult. Yes, it’s inconvenient. But it’s for our own country. No one can reasonably expect the government to simply “suck” all the smoke out of the atmosphere. Responsibility must be shared.

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Accountability in a Democracy

In a democracy, people are supposed to be at the centre of everything. The pollution crisis in Delhi is a disaster waiting to unfold—it is life-threatening, and tragically, it has persisted for several years.

If a government struggles to protect citizens in its own capital, how can it be trusted to safeguard the rest of the nation? At the same time, if people themselves resist change and refuse to improve their lifestyles, how can the government alone be held accountable?

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The People Behind the System

At the end of the day, democracy is merely a system, and the government is merely a tool. Its effectiveness depends entirely on how people choose to use it. When citizens act responsibly, progress follows. When they don’t, no government can compensate for that failure.

I may not be in a position to write authoritatively on such a serious issue, but isn’t it obvious? The smoke in our democracy can be reduced—if we choose to do something about it.