International Day of
Parliamentarism – June 30
Today, June 30, marks the annual celebration of the International Day of Parliamentarism, commemorating the founding of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in 1889. The day recognizes the role of
parliaments in strengthening democracies. June 30 is observed as the International Day of Parliamentarism every year to commemorate the date on which the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) was founded. . This special day, established by a United Nations General Assembly Resolution in 2018, serves as an opportunity to reflect on the progress made by parliaments worldwide in achieving predetermined goals.
Parliaments play a crucial role as cornerstones of
functioning democracies, requiring strength, transparency, fairness, justice,
representation, and adaptability at all times. Against the backdrop of growing scepticism
towards parliamentary procedures and democratic systems globally, the
observance of the International Day of Parliamentarism carries significant
importance.
This year, the world celebrates the 134th Anniversary of the Inter-Parliamentary Union on the International Day of Parliamentarism 2023. The United Nations has designated the theme for this year as 'Parliaments for the Planet.' The theme underlines that climate action starts at home, urging parliaments and parliamentarians to:
1. Promote the
reduction of carbon footprints.
2. Adopt greener
policies.
3. Embrace a
sustainable future
India’s parliament its parliamentarians, as the largest democracy of the world and also as an important member of the IPU, have special responsibility to celebrate and commemorate the lofty ideals of the International Day of Parliamentarianism as stipulated by the international community under the aegis of the UN. India has always upheld the flag of ‘international cooperation’ in achieving the ‘sustainable goals’ agenda of the UN as an integral aspect of its ‘Soft Diplomacy’. My recent blog on the International Day of Yoga may be of interest: http://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2023/06/international-day-of-yoga-soft.html
In a democratic polity, parliaments and assemblies are the
very edifice of the system of governance. As such and rightly so, father of the
Indian constitution, was fully alive to the needs of ‘head and heart’ of the
parliamentarians to succeed and sustain democracy for the benefit and welfare
of the masses and said, “The educational qualifications can hardly be the sole
qualification for membership of parliament.
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mean; character, moral courage, ability to be independent of any kind of temptations, truthful to ones ideals. I am very keen to see that no member enters this august assembly who does not possess ‘Sheel’ in an adequate degree.” Many, including Mahatma Gandhi, objected to the decision to adopt a parliamentary system for India. It was Dr B.R. Ambedkar who initially pushed for a parliamentary democracy for an Independent India. Parliaments, the world over, are called the “Temples of Democracy’ for constructive dialogue and debate and also threadbare investigation and decision by the elected representatives of the people. For this, obviously, a definite sense and spirit of ‘Parliamentarism’ is needed particularly a country like India as Dr. Ambedkar later cautioned in 1953 and said, “Democracy will not work (in India), for the simple reason we have got a social structure which is totally incompatible with parliamentary democracy.” We need to keep these historical realities in mind while running our parliamentary form of government.
Today, June 30, in an article appeared in the Hindustan Times,
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Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla has rightly said, “People look up to parliamentarians to fulfill their expectations and aspirations. Through them they see the genesis of their progressive transformation encompassing the entire country.”
With this, I greet my fellow countrymen and the international
community at large on the International Day of Parliamentarism.
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