Happy Independence Day 2014
Thursday, 14 August 2014
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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 2014
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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