India Post Independence Day: How Far Have We Come?

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

Have you ever wondered how far we have come after out Independence in 1947?

What progress have we made during the last 72 years?

Since 1947, India has been celebrating Independence Day to rejoice in her freedom from imperialism. Its essence is also to recall how much suffering people had undergone during the British rule.

While some have a high opinion of India’s growth story since its independence, some others think the country’s performance in the six decades has been unnoticeable. And, the country is taking its own sweet time to catch up with the developed world. All efforts are frustrated by easy strategies and implementation of policies.

If we look at India, increasing caste-ism, communalism, corruption, terrorism, etc., are not just the by-products of the orthodox social system, we are equally responsible.

A major development in the nation’s services sector has been the teleservices and information technology. A trend that started some two decades back is now well in its prime. Several multinational firms continue to source their teleservices and IT services to India.

Indian politics is characterized by an absence of ideology. Only lip service is paid to ideology. Parties are dominated by personalities. Leaders don’t leave and join parties on ideological grounds.

Modern democracy is imported from Western nations. It worked there and is still very effective. It is the best form of government. But, while adopting it, all political parties and institutions could have widened their role to address not only political and economic phenomena during the years since Independence

Pulling itself out from widespread illiteracy, India has managed to bring its education system at equals with the global standard. The number of schools witnessed a dramatic increase during the post-independence era. The Parliament made elementary education a fundamental right for children in the age group of 6-14 years.

A majority of our farmers still use primitive technology like wooden cultivator, bulls, and buffaloes. Most of the houses in rural areas are still made of mud and thatch. Animal dung and wood are the fuel of cooking. Rural schools can hardly be called as schools. Most of the children have not seen a computer, the Internet, etc. There are no toilets in the rural areas. The majority of people in rural India still do not have power, drinking water, roads, telephones, etc.  Under these circumstances, how can India become a superpower? Over 60% of its population is still struggling for basic needs and amenities. We are in the habit of comparing ourselves with growing nations at different intervals, but keep revising it and comparing ourselves with other backward nations who begin to progress.

Let the 72^nd year of our Independence be dedicated to introspection and realization. Let us focus on the goals that need thorough success to fit in today’s vision of Independence.