Essence Of Republic

Among many political theories, democracy and republicanism are the most suitable ones to the people of free will in the modern world. Though democracy and republicanism are two different terms, some people use them interchangeably. 

We must not forget the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly that took place on May 28, 2008. It decided to abolish the 240-year-old reign of the Shah dynasty. 

It was not a whimsical decision. Instead, it was an outcome of the seven-decade-long struggles and sacrifices of hundreds of martyrs. Prior to the establishment of the republican state, we had multiparty democratic system installed replacing the autocratic Panchayat system in 1990 through the people’s movements. 

Some political parties were feeling comfortable with the multiparty democratic system along with kingship. They were not ready to change even comma and full-stop of the 1990 constitution. But, the courageous Nepali people stood against regressive thoughts and stance and continued their struggle to be sovereign citizens. They waged wars, especially on two fronts - overthrowing kinship and ending various forms of feudalism.  

So, the terms democracy and republicanism are not interchangeable. The founding father of American constitution, James Madison Jr. sees limited scope in democracy because it can be operated in the presence of kingship, so it implies the top-down approach. In a democratic system, laws are made by the majority which can also impose rights on people to override the existing rights. On the other side, the republican system empowers individual citizens, and laws are made at the local levels because it is a bottom-up structure. So, the laws are devised at the local level. Being a bottom-up model, people play active and participatory role in governance at various levels. 

As for example, our constitution provides a list of powers to the local level governments and concurrent powers of the federal, provincial and local governments. Neither the centre nor the province can infringe upon the jurisdiction of local levels, but they can only suggest for better outcomes. So, we are sovereign citizens. The local level elections, which were held recently, have added new energy to the grassroots democracy.  

Sovereignty is an inalienable rights of people. So our status must be protected at any cost as the Romans had protected their republic in 44 BCE.  Legendary Roman general Gaius Julius Caesar was patriotic, brave and popular among Romans. He defeated Pompey. He won Munda, and some parts of the present-day France. His only one guilt was to make a strong central government in Rome. 

Though his contributions were unmatchable to Rome, the sovereign Romans did not like his ambition. They wanted the republic above all. So, he was stabbed 23 times and assassinated by his own friend Marcus Junius Brutus on March 15, 44 BCE. 

 If the Romans, in the primitive state of civilisation, sacrificed their bravest son for republic, why should we not? So, Jose Martin’s affection to the republic is worth mentioning here. ‘Like bone to the human body, and the axle to the wheel, and the song to a bird, and air to the wing, thus is liberty the essence of life. Whatever is done without it is imperfect’.