Revisiting South Asian Democracy Around the world, 'democracy' - an overrated and misused concept - is subject to contestation and revision. From the increasing nationalistic movements in Europe to Brexit to Donald Trump taking office as the 45th President of United States, the fundamental features of democracy in itself has become a hinderance to the forefathers. South Asia provides a unique case for democratization having internalized democracy, but now the region is at crossroads as much as the rest of world and seeks to reinvent and redefine it 'South Asian democracy'. The democratic institutions, brought into the region in mid 20th century with decolonization have been collapsing due to high levels of corruption, lack of transparency, accountability and low public morality. India and Bangladesh with their 'Parliamentary Democracies', Sri Lanka, Nepal and Maldives with the Democratic Republics, Pakistan with 'Islamic Republic' and even Bhutan with its 'Constitutional Monarchy' have all attempted various forms of democratic governance to meet the expectations of its citizens, but today, the region struggles to survive and uphold the same principles it was built on. Dr. B R Ambedkar, being a strong believer of democracy was also of the view that 'Democracy is not a form of government, but a form of social organization'. He was deeply convinced that political democracy, without socio-economic democracy would be of no use to the citizens. In his talk given on the Voice of America he argued that: "Democracy could not be equated with either republic or parliamentary form of government. The roots of democracy lay not in the form of government, parliamentary or otherwise. A democracy is a model of associated living. The roots of democracy are to be searched in social relationship, in terms of the associated life between the people who form the society." 70 years later, his words have proven more than right, not only for India, but for the whole region. The region, hosting more than 60% of the world's democratic population, puts into question the very notion of democracy, even though free and fair elections are carried at regular intervals. Indian political system, with its First Past the Post System, is under scrutiny due to its flawed dynamics. There is unfair representation at the Lok Sabha irrespective of the number of votes
received resulting in the lack of legitimacy of political parties. In Pakistan, the military has been playing an excessive role in country's democratic process overthrowing the government in numerous occasions. Nepal, a fairly new democracy is failing to establish a stable government with its differed political ideologies. Just last month, the Maldivian President disobeyed its Supreme Court orders to release political prisoners including the former President, declaring a state of emergency. This goes on to show that, a successful democracy goes beyond 'free and fair elections' and the South Asia has failed to uphold the principles of democracy. The irregularities of democracy in the region is further facilitated by the political violence, ethnic conflicts, insurgencies and terrorism which prevails. At the same