Jawaharlal Nehru, delivering his Tryst with Destiny speech. "Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.
The history we have got does not come cheap rather very costly to us. More than eleven million people moved from one to another part, 75000 women were raped, mass looting attempt for ethnic cleansing took place. And all these data can't be justified.
On August 15, 1948, exactly 70 years ago today, Nehru said from Red Fort: “... freedom is not a mere matter of political decision or new constitutions, not even a matter of what is more important, that is, economic policy. It is of the mind and heart and if the mind narrows itself and is befogged and the heart is full of bitterness and hatred, then freedom is absent.”
He was probably true, he might have foreseen the future of India 70 years ago. But not all true. However it is undeniable to say that freedom is only wordily now. For a day only atleast people come out home to earmark the day of freedom from British rule, who had suck all India's wealth leaving behind large chuck of poverty, homeless people who are still fighting to get a roof and a meal. Displaced people, infiltrated people, stateless has also become a major hurdle for India's development.
However if we look from the window of two nation theory which was not liked by father of nation, Mahatma Gandhi, for which he did not participate in New Delhi then. India has achieved better position in world capered to the teared part of India that is Pakistan.
The transformation in the physical, digital and banking front is nothing less than a revolution. From food grain productions growing to 264.77 million tons in 2014-15 from 50.8 million tons in 1950-51 having a five fold increase. It was only made possible with rapid advances in agricultural technology.
The green revolution and white revolutions are well know and recently a solar powered 'saffron' is being envisaged for energy security. Advances in healthcare and education levels, life expectancy at birth from 36 to 66 years all was made possible due to availability of medicines and access to improved healthcare facilities. Similarly eradication of small pox and polio.
Literacy rate also quadrupled from 18.3 to 73 in 2011 compared to 1951. But still there are many front where we need to focus be it poor people or beggars or induction of industrial growth to compete china and raise employment. India is still a hub of mindful cheap labour which could be utilised to shape India in leading service providers.
The history we have got does not come cheap rather very costly to us. More than eleven million people moved from one to another part, 75000 women were raped, mass looting attempt for ethnic cleansing took place. And all these data can't be justified.
On August 15, 1948, exactly 70 years ago today, Nehru said from Red Fort: “... freedom is not a mere matter of political decision or new constitutions, not even a matter of what is more important, that is, economic policy. It is of the mind and heart and if the mind narrows itself and is befogged and the heart is full of bitterness and hatred, then freedom is absent.”
He was probably true, he might have foreseen the future of India 70 years ago. But not all true. However it is undeniable to say that freedom is only wordily now. For a day only atleast people come out home to earmark the day of freedom from British rule, who had suck all India's wealth leaving behind large chuck of poverty, homeless people who are still fighting to get a roof and a meal. Displaced people, infiltrated people, stateless has also become a major hurdle for India's development.
However if we look from the window of two nation theory which was not liked by father of nation, Mahatma Gandhi, for which he did not participate in New Delhi then. India has achieved better position in world capered to the teared part of India that is Pakistan.
The transformation in the physical, digital and banking front is nothing less than a revolution. From food grain productions growing to 264.77 million tons in 2014-15 from 50.8 million tons in 1950-51 having a five fold increase. It was only made possible with rapid advances in agricultural technology.
The green revolution and white revolutions are well know and recently a solar powered 'saffron' is being envisaged for energy security. Advances in healthcare and education levels, life expectancy at birth from 36 to 66 years all was made possible due to availability of medicines and access to improved healthcare facilities. Similarly eradication of small pox and polio.
Literacy rate also quadrupled from 18.3 to 73 in 2011 compared to 1951. But still there are many front where we need to focus be it poor people or beggars or induction of industrial growth to compete china and raise employment. India is still a hub of mindful cheap labour which could be utilised to shape India in leading service providers.
On August 15, 1965 Lal Bahadur Shastri said the country was bigger than its leaders in these selfabnegating words: “... whether we remain or not, let this country remain strong.” In his characteristically blunt way Morarji Desai said on August 15, 1977: “You can catch me by the ear when I make a mistake. But do not catch me alone, catch all the colleagues of mine if mistakes are committed. That is the kind of people’s power we want to build.”
Mistakes are to be expected in leadership as they are in regular folk — large ones such as the one Emperor Ashoka lamented in his selfmortification over the Kalinga war or small ones. Owning them is the first step towards correcting them and preventing their recurrence. Will we hear of omissions, commissions, errors of judgment this August 15?
But to all this Gandian Independence has not yet achieved and which seems to be a mere dream. When there will be no marginalized person be left, women will be equally empowered as men are today, no caste, religion base biases. But lets hope to make a positive effort to improve ourselves and as many a person can do in his capacity. I wish you all a very Happy Independence Day! Jai Hind! Live each day as its independence day, not just once in a year.
But to all this Gandian Independence has not yet achieved and which seems to be a mere dream. When there will be no marginalized person be left, women will be equally empowered as men are today, no caste, religion base biases. But lets hope to make a positive effort to improve ourselves and as many a person can do in his capacity. I wish you all a very Happy Independence Day! Jai Hind! Live each day as its independence day, not just once in a year.
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