Aug 15, 2020: After 73 Years What’s India like Today?

Rekha critiques India on its Independence Day, with its hits and misses. An exclusive for Different Truths.

“Every citizen of India must remember that he is an Indian and he has every right in this country but with certain duties,” said our first home minister of India Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

It’s been 73 long years, since the British left, leaving, we Indians, to rebuild, reconstruct what I can wishfully call, the India of my dreams!

A country, which ideally by now, should have become a formidable force to reckon with! Freedom in its true sense and essence must be coupled with responsibility and accountability. So let us all ask these questions to ourselves. Also let us be honest in our responses.

· Are we truly responsible citizens of our country?

· Are we accountable to our country and its needs in its true sense? It is high time each one of us introspected.

However, as I think and look around, it is extremely saddening to see what has become of this great country today after a long 73 years of independence.

However, there are a few silver lines in the horizon. We are now an integral part of the globalised world and we have successfully undertaken many missions to our celestial neighbours. Even though gender disparity is quite pervasive, more girls are on their way to getting educated, empowered and are excelling in various fields of expertise. It is a new India that we are looking at and there is definitely a giant leap towards science and technology. Our country is well steering ahead to what is called Atmanirbhar Bharat.

From the crowning glory, Jammu and Kashmir to our God’s own country, Kerala and from the land of the Gujjars, Gujarat to our very own Land of the rising sun, Arunachal Pradesh, our country has been endowed with an amazingly vibrant and rich culture and heritage, which are varied and can become anybody’s envy but our exclusive pride. Yet, many among us do not feel patriotic about what is our own legacy. Instead, we love to ape the West! It is indeed very unfortunate.

And, there are people who try to investigate the nitty-gritty of issues and highlight them with exaggeration. Of course, there are many issues which need to be addressed. People need to be appreciative about the fact that they are free to make constructive criticism as they are living in a free democratic country where every citizen has been given the right to free expression. But, as conscientious and educated citizens, they also should come up with solutions and antidotes instead of just being censorious about the existing framework of the country.

I do agree that there are many serious problems that our country is facing. Corruption, pollution, crime, lack of basic sanitation, poverty, lack of meaningful education, unemployment, absolute lack of civic sense, atrocities against women and children and much more that is eating into the fabric of this famous nation.  

In the same tune, I also feel sanguine as our country holds the distinction of being the largest democracy of the world. It is for each one of us to work out a plan and execute it in a way that will chart the path to reconstruct and reshape this beautiful land – India. I do know it’s a highly arduous task ahead but we must lay the foundation so that our children can take on from where we left. And I am sure we all will see the light of a bright day at the end of the tunnel.

It’s a sure fact that currently, the idea of democracy hangs precariously on a thin thread! Our internal conflicts and greater issues have only aggravated the condition from bad to worse! Religious strife, the recent pandemic and the Indo-China conflict, to name a few, have all been hitting headlines and leaving us quite hopeless and frustrated.

There are so many issues that are creating a major setback to the very essence of progress and development, given the fact that India is rich in a variety of natural resources. We are today the world’s fifth-largest economy. My question is – isn’t this enough reason for us to increase our selling power? Why then do we need to become the third-largest in terms of purchasing power? Why are we still dependent on foreign brands and goods when there was a time when we consciously and willingly boycott foreign goods! Let us pause for a moment and ruminate! This is the time we need to follow the mantra of Go Vocal for Local! And a step forward, Make in India, Make for World!

In the words of Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, “You cannot change your future, but, you can change your habits, and surely your habits will change your future.”

The government and governance are not the only ones that can shoulder the responsibility of running a huge country like India. But it is also the supreme duty of every citizen to be a part to oil the cogs in the wheels of progress. This is not my job, it is theirs – cannot be our attitude!

We must be proud of the fact that we uphold a multiple of faiths but at the same time, we also need to widen our horizon of thought process and become more reformist in our approach. The doctrine of egalitarianism should become the purpose of our life and we must abhor any sort of inequality or injustice. We cannot allow politicisation of religion for the selfish interests of a few. We must make it very vociferous to the political leaders of our republic that they have only one single task ahead and that is – the welfare of the country and its people. Everything else is secondary! To achieve this we need to exercise our voting power more judiciously so that the right candidates are chosen into the legislature and bureaucracy.

Let us pledge to make our great country, a land of dreams that turned into reality. In Mark Twain’s words, “India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grandmother of traditions.” The world knows and acknowledges what we don’t!

As I finish writing this column today, I feel very proud that a landmark judgement has been passed by the highest seat of Justice, reiterating and rekindling the hope and aspirations of millions of people. After all, not everything is lost! Every reader, I am certain, will agree that we have to believe in the destiny of our nation. As far as I am concerned, I am an optimist even though there are moments when certain incidents cloud my views and thoughts, but, finally, I am able to sight the beautiful rainbow in the sky! And I know, everything is going to be set right!

Martin Luther King Jr. has rightly said, “To other countries, I may go as a tourist, but to India, I come as a pilgrim.”

Photo from the Internet