In the last 25 years of my life, I have seen so many changes in the way Independence Day is 'celebrated', or should I say 'treated' in India. Flag hoisting, PM's speech, loudspeakers playing patriotic songs - all these things have been the same. What has changed though, is the way we conceive our independence.
For many people, this day is just another paid holiday, the one which gives a good oppurtunity to go for a picnic, a good chance to lay down and relax the whole day. I doubt if people in our country are even considering this to be an important day. It seems that we have taken our Independence for granted!
I was just thinking about this situation and I feel it's high time we do something about it. I don't expect us to indulge in our past, remember our national heroes and pay gratitude to them - which ideally we should do as well. But, even if we show our concern about future and do something in the present for it, it would be good enough for our nation to remain undivided and independent.
Most of the successful nations in the world today are those where primarily two to three language speaking people reside. From a nations point of view this becomes very useful to address the entire population on a whole and thus have a unison among fellow citizens, which eventually leads to progress. India, on the contrary, has 31 states and some union territories as well. The number of major languages spoken across the country is over 29. This language barrier has lead to so much divide post independence. States often do not cooperate with each other because they don't feel a part of the same country. Inter-religion marriages are still not accepted happily, some of these have also led to 'honour killings' in recent times. A native from an 'x' state is not allowed to work and earn money in a 'y' state, and often beaten badly by the local political hooligans. Brain drain is still apparent here, as most of us plan to settle down abroad for the sake of a better life. Internal differences are already affecting our nation. Naxalism has become a serious threat to our people. Terrorism is rising and making our national security an issue. Poverty still lies here as people starve to death, farmers commit suicides.
Just think about our freedom fighters, their passion has led us to the India we live in today. Beyond their passion, shouldn't we also appreciate the way they brought all the people of our country together to fight the britishers? Even now, the entire nation comes together when something catastrophic happens. The point is, why do we wait for such big things to make us come together? Why do we always be reactive?
After 63 years of independence, we still are one nation. But this should not be taken for granted. We know the problems we are already facing - Poverty, Caste differences, Naxalism, Terrorism, Corruption; anyone of these can truly lead to a disrupted India. We have to make India independent again, independent from these issues. We are still a developing nation, and we would always be considered one if we do not do something about it.
I don't know what should we do. My point here is to just make you aware that we ought to do something, for sure! The sooner, the better...
