Left and Right

Left and Right

The terms “Left” and “Right” in politics originated during the French Revolution. In the French National Assembly, those supporting monarchy, church authority and preservation of hierarchy sat on the right side of the presiding chair, while those advocating popular sovereignty, equality and radical reforms sat on the left. From that physical arrangement emerged two enduring political traditions.

Historically, almost every empire and monarchy survived through some combination of centralized authority, social hierarchy and control over dissent. Ancient kingdoms, feudal empires, the Sultanates, the Mughal Empire and later the British Raj maintained rule not merely by military power but also by creating ideological structures that justified inequality and obedience. Kings ruled through divine authority, Mughal emperors through imperial-centralized sovereignty, and the British through colonial bureaucracy and racial superiority. Every system cultivated a loyal administrative class while keeping the majority divided by caste, religion, ethnicity or economic dependence.

The social order in the Indian subcontinent also evolved through graded inequalities where terms like “Shudra” historically came to represent large sections placed lower in the hierarchy. Over centuries, social and religious barriers often prevented equality of opportunity and dignity. In modern political language too, new labels and insults emerge for dissenters or marginalized sections. The recent use of the word “cockroaches” in political and social discourse reflects the same dangerous tendency of dehumanising sections of people by reducing them to creatures rather than recognizing them as equal citizens. History repeatedly shows that whenever societies begin describing groups of human beings in degrading terms, democratic morality weakens and divisions deepen.

In contemporary India, critics argue that the model of governance at present has increasingly emphasized centralized messaging, disciplined political communication and strong leader-centric governance. Supporters consider this a source of political stability and national confidence, while critics see continuity with older traditions of concentrated authority where image management becomes more important than democratic dialogue. The modern media ecosystem, party discipline and centralized decision-making often ensure that only a controlled narrative reaches the public sphere.

At the same time, many ordinary citizens continue to express concerns over unemployment, inflation, rising educational costs and unequal access to opportunities. Economic growth without broad social justice can deepen frustration among the youth and working classes. When governments focus excessively on symbolism, publicity or identity politics, the immediate concerns of livelihood, wages, healthcare and education risk being overshadowed.

A democratic republic, however, cannot sustain itself merely through authority or electoral victories. The moral foundation of modern democracy rests upon the constitutional principles of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. These principles reject both hereditary privilege and political dehumanisation. The majority in a democracy certainly has the right to govern through elections, but democracy becomes meaningful only when the majority also protects dissent, safeguards minorities and ensures dignity for the weakest citizen.

True nationalism is not measured by unquestioning obedience to rulers but by the condition of the common people. A society becomes stronger when citizens can speak freely without fear, when criticism is treated as democratic participation rather than disloyalty, and when economic progress reaches workers, farmers, students and the unemployed. History shows that empires survive for some time through discipline and control, but enduring civilizations survive through justice and public trust.

Therefore, the real challenge before modern India is not whether it chooses Left or Right, but whether it preserves the constitutional balance between authority and liberty, development and equality, nationalism and humanity. A republic flourishes when power remains accountable to the people and when no citizen is reduced to a social label, political stereotype, “cockroach,” or inherited hierarchy.