Public opinion simply is the collective opinion of the people
fearlessly expressed and it has a decisive and abiding value. It is now-a-days
defined as the verdict of the people out of Court. Democracy is (out of)
ultimately run by public opinion. No rule or order can go on for a long time
without ignoring or suppressing true public opinion. Like popular sovereignty
public opinion is sure to re-assert itself in the long run.
There are certain organs and agencies that govern public
opinion. Foremost of these is the press. Freedom of speech or expression is to
be assured as the fundamental right in a democracy. Newspapers and periodicals
constitute what is known as the forth estate. Newspaper by supplying true
reports and honest and unbiassed comments on them instruct public opinion. In
public speeches and meetings and debates burning political issues are also
trashed. This is finally reflected in the general election of the country.
Other public media like Radio, Television, Cinema and theaters etc. help in
this respect in forming and moulding public opinion. That political party is
successful in rallying public opinion in its favor finally that wins the
election convincingly; Demagogues (moborators) and rabble-rousers may cheat or
mislead the public but for a short time.
A statesman ignores public opinion only at his peril. History
has shown how ineffective it has been to hoodwink public opinion. Julius Caeser
and Nero in ancient days or Hitlar and Idi Amin (Kampala) could not defy public
opinion for, long. However high or mighty the dictator or autocrat might he, he
shall have to finally submit to the collective and crystallized expression of
public opinion. The French Revolution of 1789 was nothing but the explosive
expression of public opinion.
India has been maintaining a fine tradition of the respect
for people's opinion. Even apical King Ram Chandra had to desert his beloved
censor immaculate and sinless Sita Devi, in deference to the wishes of the
subjects. Even the Muslim rulers of the Middle Ages held Am Durbars as open
assemblies to serve prevailing public opinion. The British rulers of India
tried hard to suppress the legitimitate opinion of the people. Sir Surendranath
Banerjee once said—what prevails in India of today is neither public nor
opinion. He along with the other illustrious Anti-Partition leaders of Bengal
unsettle the 'settled fact' of Lord Curzon and Bengal was united in 1911 with
the memorable words of King George V—"I do not understand why the
sentiments of an enlightened people like the Bengalees would not be respected."
Rabindranath lifted his saintly voice in indignant protest against the gogged
silence of the administrators when he renounced his Knighthood for
Jalianwalabag atrocities in Punjab in April, 1919.
During our struggle for independence great Congress leaders
like Nehru and Netaji addressed thousands of public meetings across the country
to enlighten the public about the real state and enlist there support for the
struggle. Finally it was the triumph of the public opinion that wrested
independence for the unarmed nation from the unwilling hands of the mighty
British imperialists in August, 1947.
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