Is It Possible to Bring Reforms by Legislation Alone? We are well aware of the growing importance of Group Discussion (GD) as a tool of candidate’s assessment. Every grand opportunity wraps within itself the personality test. A group of six persons have shown their academic qualifications. They have qualified the written test of an important examination. They are to take part in a GD for their final selection. As we know life today has become fast paced. Everyone is trying to be the best and as a result, competition has increased manifold. Today, we are all in a race where none of us can afford to lose. Our ambition should be to march on to our goal without wasting time on extraneous things which only distract our attention from our goal.
Group Discussion needs power of expression, adequate knowledge on the subject and coordination and leadership. Here, we present to our readers the GD with expert comments. In fact GD tests the personality of a candidate. The word personality encompasses many traits that leave impression in the business. Now we come to the point. As six candidates are eagerly waiting for the process to take its course, the examiner arrives in the hall and silence prevails. All the participants are seated around a round table to make them look face to face. The examiner allows them a time of 20 minutes to complete the discussion. He announces the topic of the discussion: “Is it Possible to Bring Reforms by Legislation Alone?” Candidates are given their numbers for convenience and No. I starts the discussion.
Is It Possible to Bring Reforms by Legislation Alone? – Group Discussion
No. 1: Hello friends, first of all I would like to thank you all for the faith you have expressed in me and for the opportunity to say a few words on the topic- Is it Possible to Bring Reforms by Legislation Alone? History bears witness that in the moments of trial and turmoil whenever civilisations undergo upheaval because of the anomalies it is not better laws but only better people who rise as saviours and redeem the society. Transformation is imperative when the existing system is corrupted and loses the power for progress, leading whole society into the self mockery and decline. And during such times, the masses look for someone to rise above who has vision and extricate them from the impending anarchy or liberate them from the vitiated system.
Perhaps, the most illuminating present age example is of Nobel Peace Prize winner Mikhail Gorbachev. The communist system followed in the erstwhile Soviet Union had far better laws in terms of bridging inequality and creating an egalitarian society. But the laws had become merely a litany in the hands of top political brass, so much as to degenerate the whole political order. It was Gorbachev who in the face of truth voiced the need for a total transformation. It is primarily his contribution that has diffused tension between east and west and Soviets have breathed the air of freedom. The main force behind any transformation remain the people who pioneer any movement whether through art, culture, religion, intellectual consensus, social or political reforms, for the improvement of the society; and it can be achieved only through a mass movement. The aims and ideals of such movements can be later translated into law.
No. 2: Hello friends, it is encouraging to share a few words with the learned group of persons. My predecessor has convin- cingly put his opinion before us. I fully support his views. It is a well-known fact that an institution is the lengthened shadow of one man and this man waits for no law to be transcripted and no one can stop him from achieving his cherished goal.
In India, we had social reformers and their movements to a great extent transformed the Indian Society. Raja Ram Mohun Roy fought for abolition of Sati system, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar strived for upliftment of women through widow remarriage and education of women. Baba Saheb Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi worked for the upliftment of the people who were considered untouchable. In ancient times similar attempts were made by Gautam Buddha and Lord Mahavir for the upliftment of the downtrodden by creation of new religious systems.
Laws are merely standards of social conduct (whether rights or duties) which adapt in accordance with the changing times. These can be instruments for change, but cannot act fully act as catalyst to change per se. The human endeavour to find and realise, to achieve, to improve and above all to be dynamic in his search, yields him move exhilarating results better than the existing ones; and the relation with social change is no different, this is what I believe in. I would like to thank you all for kind cooperation. (Is It Possible to Bring Reforms by Legislation Alone?)
No. 3: Dear friends, I take the opportunity to express my views. We all know, laws have been made right from times ancient to usher in disciplined, peaceful coexistence with a sense of responsibility and ethics. But are they really effective? Do better and stricter laws actually bring about a change in society or do we require better people people who are inspired and motivated to uplift society? Looking back into history, we find people like Raja Ram Mohun Roy and Vidyasagar who made earnest endeavours to do away with obnoxious practices of their times. These were noble and committed people who made an example of their own lives, showing the masses the way to progress. Our modern Indian society with its system of western education equally accessible to men and women, which is absolved of such practices like Sati and child marriage, owes a great deal to these great reformers. Had not these men expressed their negation of such evil practices of the time and taken great pains to have them removed, people would never have shaken themselves out of their apathy. Indians would also have remained ignorant of the giant strides made by Europeans in the fields of science, technology, industry and public administration, had not the doors of European education been opened for them by the significant efforts of pioneers. (Is It Possible to Bring Reforms by Legislation Alone?)
No. 4: Hello friends, my predecessors expressed their views in their own ways. A nation is ultimately the result of its people. There is a Constitution and certain rules framed by experts of the subject to rule the citizens in a country. There is also law to punish the corrupt people. Despite the presence of stringent rules and laws corruption remains widespread in our society. Recently, a Television network unearthed how our framers of laws are. Members of Parliament take bribes to raise questions in the Parliament. There is a law that will hold them accountable.
Due to complex nature of society and also its anomalous characters, a high degree of disorder prevails; so to control these, the humans have to find indigenous means and they found it in power. Whereas its basic characteristics are brutal, it was harnessed in a complex way by means of ideas, to give it an acceptable and orderly form.
I firmly believe that people and only people need to change their outlook, their way of thinking and the society is bound to change. There can be laws against discrimination on grounds of sex, but if people have themselves are not convinced that men and women have equal rights, are being made of the same flesh and blood, can society ever change? Laws against prostitution and immoral traffic, against eve-teasers and rapists are made only to be flouted. People never stop pondering to their basic instincts. The dowry system can never be abolished when people themselves regard it as an integral part of marriage. Children continue to toil day and night everywhere in the world, sometimes in hazardous occupations even as laws against child labour are being continuously enforced.
True, laws play a very important role without which criminal and other offenders would get away with their deeds without any fear or punishment. However, it is also true that “laws are like cobwebs, catching small flies while allowing wasps and hornets to break through”. Some of the biggest offenders are never concerned what course law will take. Also some laws are not properly framed and those which are beneficial for society can be dodged. In other words, laws make no difference to a society in which people do not care to improve themselves. Laws can be effective instruments for transformation of society if and only if the spirit of the people unifies with these laws. (Is It Possible to Bring Reforms by Legislation Alone?)
No. 5: Dear friends, you have almost said all that was important. However, I would still like to add something. I fully support your views. A leader, pioneer reformers are but different facets of the same personality and they cherish only one dream upliftment of the masses. And in pursuing their goal they rise above law. What we need now is a sea change in the very perception of people. The basic principles of humanity, rationality and at the same time a quest for excellence have to be instilled in people. People should evolve for themselves, their own thinking and code of conduct which need be unbiased, practical and progressive. Nothing should be approached with a closed mind. A rational view of religion, a desire to excel in one’s own field and a caring attitude for environment-both living and non-living can work wonders in a society. Such a society will be flexible and receptive for any sort of change for its betterment giving no room for fanaticism and dogmatism. As a conclusion it can be said that all the ills in a society are caused only by people’s indifference, helplessness or pain selfishness, greed and rigidity. No one feels responsibility for the society because every man lives in himself. The process of transformation can only begin if all the people strive for peace, prosperity and progress of the entire human race. (Is It Possible to Bring Reforms by Legislation Alone?)
No. 6: Hello friends, I have really enjoyed my wait with such a good discussion. None has left any scope for me. But there is always some gap to fill. Fifty-eight years after having won her political independence, India now needs to be refashioned into a social democracy. The present-day picture is not satisfactory. Traditional discrimination against women has not come to an end despite statutory provisions to that effect. There is little awareness among women themselves about the laws enacted to protect their interests. The rotten traditions that isolate them from the mainstream still remain unmoved as rocks. The laws of equality enshrined in the Constitution have failed to serve the objectives for which these were enacted. Clearly, laws alone can do nothing.
Group Discussion Result (Is It Possible to Bring Reforms by Legislation Alone?)
The participants in the GD expressed their views eloquently. The subject seemed interesting to them. No. 1 possessed leadership qualities. He came forward to initiate the GD, as the time was running out. He put his words argumentatively. His confidence was an added feature of his speech. Other participants also looked confident of comprehending the topic. There seems a close race among them. However, only one is to be selected as the best. A more analytical approach allows No. 4 to be selected best. His way of expressing his views was centre of attraction. No. 6 could not say more as he was waiting for his opportunity. He should have come forward earlier. It went against him.