Happy Independence Day
Tuesday, 13 August 2013
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At the
stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life
and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step
out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation,
long suppressed, finds utterance.
-- Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru
The journey from 15 August 1947
to 15 August 2013 has been a saga of memorable experiences, both bitter and
sweet. Envisioned as the engine of growth and the supreme power of Asia, India
has witnessed unprecedented economic growth and development since independence
from the British rule. From a nation gripped in the claws of malnutrition and
hunger, today we have not only become self-sufficient in food but have also
ensured food security for our citizens for a brighter and healthier future. From
a nation struggling with abject poverty and depravity, today we have made
several successful attempts to bridge the divide between the haves and the
have-nots. From a nation suffering from obnoxious caste-based discrimination
and oppression, today we have succeeded to a great extent in curbing these
practices and narrowing down the differences among people belonging to
different social and religious groups. We have played a pivotal role in
strengthening the social fabric of India and imbibe a spirit of patriotism
among the citizens. We have strengthened the roots of secularism and ensured
equal opportunities to all in virtually all spheres of life. From an
agriculture dependent stagnant economy stuck in the path of slow economic
growth, today we have leveraged India’s influence across the world and brought
it to the altar of high economic growth and development. We have become
stronger as an economy and have made sensational shifts into the industrial and
manufacturing sectors. This has resulted in not only the generation of
tremendous employment opportunities but has also made India a pioneer of
technology. Today, we possess arguably, the sharpest and the most dexterous
professionals who are scaling new heights each day irrespective of the
obstacles in their path. From a nation that possessed a weak defence structure
and fought with swords and daggers, today we have strong and highly competitive
defence forces equipped with the latest technology defence warfare equipment to
guard the nation from its enemies. We now possess one of the best armed forces
that have provided our nation with impenetrable armour.
However, there are several
disheartening facets that must not be belittled as they expose the chinks in
our nation’s armour. Politics, today have taken a ghastly turn. From cowardly
terrorist attacks to cold blooded fake encounters, from violence along communal
and ethnic lines to the incidents of crimes against citizens in general and
women in particular, Indian politicians have stooped to lower and lower levels
and spared no opportunity to politicise the issue to further their interests. Neither
the agony of the aggrieved individuals nor the loss of life and property has
deterred them from thinking beyond their electoral considerations. Consequently,
they have been unabashedly carrying out ‘loot and plunder’, showing scant
regard for the institutions of the Constitution of the sentiments of the people
of India. Corruption has reached such alarming proportions that a loss of a few
hundred crores to the exchequer every other day has now failed to provoke the
masses. Thanks to the shoddy investigation carried out in the aftermath of the
outbreak of scams and scandals, seldom is any strict action taken to seize the
booty and the perpetrators thus, easily escape the noose by circumventing the
law. In this society moving rapidly towards increasing ‘modernisation’, virtues
and values are drying out. Crimes against women – rape, molestation,
dowry-death, acid-attack, forcible flesh-trade have reached shocking figures
and the concerned authorities have only distanced themselves from their duties.
The need of the hour is to check
the ever increasing westernisation of the India society. It is high time we ‘redeem
our pledge’ and strengthen our laws. India is surrounded by several hostile
forces that intend to create unrest in the country and balkanise it. We need to
see through their nefarious designs and thwart their cowardly attempts to
derail the peace process. It is high time we take corrective measures to tackle
the menace of corruption and crack the whip on the ever increasing trend of
dynastic politics. It is necessary to revamp our policies to control the rate
of crime in our society and devise stringent and deterrent punishments for
those who tend to denigrate the sacrosanct institutions of our Constitution.
Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them?
--William Shakespeare
On the eve of Independence Day,
we must remind ourselves of the vision of our great freedom fighters and their
doctrines of universal brotherhood of mankind and service to the nation. Let us
push ourselves into ascending the growth ladder but not trample upon our
diverse cultural and moral values.
Wish you all a very HAPPY
INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!
JAI HIND
Categories:
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