A young boy from a north-eastern province was beaten to death in Delhi recently. Young girls from that region of India have been facing harassment and violence on the streets of Delhi for long. Discrimination, ill-treatment and harassment are faced by domestic maids in middle class homes of Delhi regularly. Abusive language is used against rickshaw-pullers by those driving a motorcycle or car to push them off the road and make the way.

We have reached this level of insularity and isolation in everyday life? Reasonably educated folks in Delhi do not extend any courtesy to others who do not look, speak or dress like us. Why have we become more intolerant and exclusionary? Why is it that respect to and dignity of dissimilar others is not a part of our everyday life?

In response to these growing trends of violent intolerance in Indian society, many have suggested new legislations and tighter policing. Regular and effective policing and speedy and strong punishment to offenders would certainly help to curtail such acts. But, would legislation and policing curb such propensities? Would governmental actions alone address the causes of this malaise, or merely ‘ill-treat’ its symptoms?

It appears to me that our society is in disarray. Social relations are breaking down; collective norms for decent behavior have collapsed; social discipline of courtesies to others has evaporated. We speak loudly and harshly to each other, on the mobile, and on the streets and in buses. We physically push and touch others while we stand, walk or shop. In sum, we are generally disrespectful of others’ spaces, privacy and sense of comfort.

This breakdown of ‘governance in everyday life’ is not merely a violation of some laws or rules; it is degeneration of social compact between citizens. As a result, it can not be addressed by governmental actions alone. It requires social reformation. Governance of everyday life is everyone’s business; making it work for all requires actions by all. While most of these transactions happen in public spaces, many transgressions are occurring inside the homes too.

Much of the recent discourse on governance and citizenship has assumed that the state and governmental laws, agencies and actions are in the centre. Many civil society actors are focused on advocacy with the state alone. It is important to keep the state in focus; but governance of everyday life entails citizenship in society. Social pressures, social mobilization and social actions aimed at ‘civility in public sphere’ need urgent attention in Indian society today. It is not only Delhi where everyday life is falling apart.

Democratic governance of our country must include democratic governance of everyday life itself. Efforts to democratize society need to be re-energised. In so doing, citizens would have to speak to their relatives, neigbours, fellow workers and other locals. This is different from speaking to District Collector, Police Officer, MLA or a Minister.

Justice includes dignity; everyday life with dignity needs attention of all of us citizens!

Rajesh Tandon                    
February 16, 2014