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one such dictator, who plunged the world into
Second World War. The Inter-war period (1919-

1939) saw the rise of dictatorship
Dictatorship is an antithesis of democracy. It gives in Italy and Germany.
no right to people, tolerates neither apposition
nor criticism. It envisages one party rule, controlled by one leader with local authority.
The individual, his freedom, his very thinking are controlled by the state. The motto of the

dictator is ‘Everything within the state and nothing outside or beyond the state.’
Democracy : It is a form of Government in which the people of a country choose their own
Government through elections. Every person has a

right to vote the candidate of his own choice. These
elected candidates form a Government. Hence, in a
democracy, Government is formed by the common
people so it works for their welfare.

It is the most popular form of Government in the
world. People enjoy many rights in a democracy.
They have the freedom to express themselves.
If people are not satisfied by the working government,

they change it at the time of next election. That’s why Abraham Lincoln defined democratic
government as ‘the Government of the people, by
the people and for the people.’ The word democracy has been derived
Today, most of the countries are democratic. from a Greek word ‘Demo Kratia’. ‘Demo’

India is also a democratic country. means people and ‘Kratia’ means rule. It
means rule of people.
universal aDult franchise

If we go by the definition of democracy, government of the people, by the people and
for the people, people are supposed to take part and cast vote in the election of their
representatives, who make laws for the country. In fact, a government cannot call itself
democratic unless it allows all adults in the country the right to vote.

The constitution of India provides that the election to the Lok Sabha and Legislative
Assembly of States shall be on the basis of Universal Adult Franchise, which means “Every
person who is a citizen of India and who is not less than 18 years of age and is not otherwise
disqualified has the right to vote.”

history of universal aDult franchise

Before 1947, only a small number of people were allowed to vote in India. They were

wealthy and educated persons and constituted a small minority, but used to decide the fate
of the majority. Gandhiji was sad and shocked to see this unfair practice and demanded
the voting right for all adults.

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