India, Aug. 14 -- The 50th anniversary of India's Independence is definitely an occasion to celebrate. But it is also an occasion for introspection, for taking stock of our system of governance and deliberating on what can be done to ensure both stability and accountability.

This means seeking a comprehensive answer to the question: Should we continue with the present framework of governance or should we make a radical departure and introduce changes in the system so that the lessons of the last 50 years are not wasted?

In view of the experiences of the past five decades, a section of the intelligentsia today strongly feels that parliamentary democracy has "failed" and that India should adopt an entirely new system, for example the Pres...