60 years of independence. Yayy ! We have been a "free" nation for the past 60 years. We have made major advances in all fields - science, technology, sports, art, agriculture, rural healthcare and sanitation, infrastructure, clean drinking water, free and compulsory education ...the list goes on .. or so the government and the news channels claim.
Is this really so? Are we really a "free" nation?
At the risk of sounding boorish, i beg to differ.
Even after 60 years, we are not a free country. We still follow the much-criticized 'divide-and-rule' policies of the British raj - under the guise of 'reservation' and 'equal distribution of rights'. What about the caste politics that our leaders unashamedly practice? Aren't we slaves of a corrupt mindset?
Does 'upliftment of the downtrodden' mean 'trodding upon the rights of the "uplifted" '? Isn't that policy again a consequence of the greed for power? Aren't we now slaves to power, which, in turn guarentees money and fame in the 7th most corrupt country in the world ?
Are our girls and women really 'free' ? We hear of female foeticides, kidnapping and gang-rape of little girls, trafficking of women and flesh trade, dowry deaths, abusive households, eve-teasing , kidnap and murder of working women. The solution offered is this - stay away, stay safe. Is a country that can't guarentee safety to 48 % of its citizens really free ?
Are our children free ? Sucked into the system right from the tender age of 3; they bear the burden of expectations, try to excel in a system that does not recognise ingenuity, basically live the lives of 10 people who want to make the child what they could never be.
Aren't we now slaves of the system?
To quote former President Dr.Abdul Kalam, who, in his farewell speech said :
My dear citizens, let us resolve to continue to work for realizing the missions of developed India 2020 with the following distinctive profile.
1. A Nation where the rural and urban divide has reduced to a thin line.
2. A Nation where there is an equitable distribution and adequate access to energy and quality water.
3. A Nation where agriculture, industry and service sector work together in symphony.
4. A Nation where education with value system is not denied to any meritorious candidates because of societal or economic discrimination.
5. A Nation which is the best destination for the most talented scholars, scientists, and investors.
6. A Nation where the best of health care is available to all.
7. A Nation where the governance is responsive, transparent and corruption free.
8. A Nation where poverty has been totally eradicated, illiteracy removed and crimes against women and children are absent and none in the society feels alienated.
9. A Nation that is prosperous, healthy, secure, peaceful and happy and continues with a sustainable growth path.
10. A Nation that is one of the best places to live in and is proud of its leadership.
His vision can only be achieved if we become a free nation. A nation that is free from its own vices. A nation where the people do not make money by starving poor people. A nation that is proud of itself, its heritage, its culture.A nation where merit is rewarded and mediocrity punished. A nation that is proud of its every citizen. A nation where every citizen is proud of it.
JAI HIND. I firmly and truly believe: MERA BHARATH MAHAN. Happy Independence Day.
4 comments:
Ya true has the 60 years of independence done justice for the developement of our nation...liked your writing style...
Cheers
Leo
expensive thoughts in ur pensive. great job. cheers, aravind.
Hi
Hopped into your blog from one of my friends friends link...
Could not resist hitting a comment..as you have written something on India and Independence!
This is one topic i always love to debate on. As you said, we have problems all around, Bad things go on everywhere, and and India is still "developing"
But take from me, thats not the real issue!! we can point out index finger to corrupt politics. We cannot correct them political leaders, so let us let time kill them in 20-30 years. but after that, its the youth of these days who have to take over. and where are our youth? and what are they doing??
Grabbing every opportunity they can get to go out of india and settle down there!! Imagine, in 2000, whe n i was about to graduate, it was very difficult to get a job!! Imagine Azim premji decided to work outside. Imagine narayana murty and co worked in US!! India would have gone back years, and serious issues of unemployment would hit us.
Its not the corruption or the social issues that causes the real panic. its just the lack of patriotism. No one loves India well. At least the youth. All you guys working outside, come back to india, work for the nation and the country would be a far different place to live!!
anyway, nice writing, keep the blog running!!
Thanks for taking time to visit my page, and thanx a lot for the comment!!
"there are indian families living abroad that are a lot more "indian" than us, the families that live here. "
If they are more indian, why do they have to go out???
I am not asking each and every indian to come back!!
I had a chance to interact with some ISRO people recently, and they are very much worried about the brain drain!! still, with whatever salary they get, and even with the financial and political constraints, ISRO had made a giant footstep in space research!! Imagine we had half the brain drain!! our economy would be better and people would stay back!! We will have another reason to be proud of!!
The system we have is the left over.. the left over of a population, whose cream have decided to quit India!!
And you cant expect the system of a leftover to be atleast 50% perfect!!
Loving a country is not about waving flags at a cricket match or talking about the country. Its about working hard for the country!! at least picking up litter in front of u at a shopping mall and putting it in the basket shows love for ur country.
I had a chance to visit japan, and once a garbage can had fallen down, with all the litter on the street, a pocket street. The person with me, japanese, a top executive of an organisation, in his full suite, started cleaning up the mess. I was embarrassed, and i joined him. I would never pick up even a paper litter in India!! Do i love my country??
That is the reason why countries get rich. No country were born rich. It is the people ther who made it rich. check the american history. First, it was the slave trade.. *no i aint justifying them* then, people from all over went ther, worked hard like anything. Thats the reason why turn out rich. The reason why we are poor is that we refuse to work hard, when in our country.
We dont think in the broad concept of getting our country rich!! What Infosys and Wipro have done to our country is not just giving Jobs.. they have imprinted the Indian logo in the world IT fabric, and made Indian youth , atleast, feel good about India!!
Yes, there are a lot of youth I Know who doesnt want to go out, and I envy for their patriotism. A lot of IIM graduates, some of my friends, have decided never to work for the white man. I am not being racist, the white man is very much a distant friend of mine, but no thanks, i dont want to work for a friend!! I would work for my family rather than a distant friend!!
I dont believe i am a great patriot, for i am not! But i dont think i love any other country than mine, whose name is India!
No fights intended.. hee hee.
just a viewpoint !
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