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The article “Creating voter awareness’ (Business Line, January 12) has rightly remarked that “Genuine democracy calls for the involvement of citizens, not just in casting the ballots once in a while but in acting as watchdogs in the period between elections”.

But to be vigilant of what is happening around them, they (citizens) must have minimum educational qualifications.

As John Stuart Mill aptly put it “Universal education must precede universal enfranchisement”. Illiteracy will only stifle the progress of a democratic nation, and prevent it from achieving its full potential.

Citizens in a democracy are expected to do everything, be it casting votes or doing regular duties, extraordinarily well, as liberty is meant to bring the best out of individuals.

S. Ramakrishnasayee e-mail

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