DEBATE: We understand the importance of our independence

Against

      Come every 15^th of August we almost ritualistically gather for  flag   hosting, listen to the patriotic songs after a gap of 7 months and to hear again after 5 months. Our definition of independence starts and ends at 15^th August. If independence is what we do on 15^th August and worse if it is a holiday for many or an opportunity to grab independence  day sales offers  then surely we don’t  understand what it means  to be independent. Rampant corruption, fanaticism, collapsed  public healthcare, unruly mobs, directionless  youth, those who have direction  are driven by money but are not inspired by  ethics, lethargic  and insensitive bureaucracy, questionable character of many political leaders, sacrifice of human values for material gains, use of icons of freedom struggle  for serving political  ends, exploitative  political culture, social discrimination, terrorism if this what we have done with  independence then are we any different from  the British? We certainly have failed to understand its importance.

       All the talk of freedom, independence is an urban phenomenon. Ask a tribal from the remote area of Gadchiroli or Bastar district about it, it will lead to many questions than answers. He is still there where he was 64 years ago. For him only the colour of administration has changed and not the sensitivity. Worse he often finds himself in the crossfire of protectors and saviors. Irrespective of the tag of development the atrocities on the voiceless people, discriminated on the basis of cast, creed and religion, in different states, are common. Those who wield power know how to flex muscle others either succumb or aspire to wield it but only a few exceptional gain moral authority.

      The focus of our freedom struggle was common man but he has failed to relocate himself from the front page cartoon to headlines. He is as he was, simple, carrying the burden of past, uncertain future and  insecure  present, running from pillar  to post  to get  his due. He is expected to live on the false promises, unrealistic images  on television, has to survive the rigors of  hard life  and ultimately  meet  unnoticed  demise. If he belongs to an unfortunate lot like small peasantries, he may have to embrace gallows on his own. The packages enter only after body bag count becomes an issue, the worth of a farmer is the compensation for suicide. Was his status any different under British rule, no, but at least we had an alien ruler to blame for. The so called progresses in the field of science, education, economy, social and political empowerment, never seemed to have reached the common man.

       The youth, the future of India has become an instrument of whipping sentiments, unleashing violent demonstrations, damaging public property under the disguise of unruly faceless mob and eventually serving the political masters hell bent on dividing society. The other class simply turns around and walks the mall’s way in to a cafeteria or pub, the life cut from the harsh realities. Socially immature, politically indifferent but with a self claim on moral high ground, they prefer to build and protect the different image. Unaware of the human cost of freedom struggle, the youth allow the sacrifices of freedom fighters to slip into oblivion. Is this what our freedom fighters fought for?

       It is the rule of nature that those who don’t understand the value of the most invaluable thing don’t deserve to hold it. The way we have ruled ourselves for more than 60 years in social, political, economic and above all moral sphere of life, no wonder, we put to question our understanding of the importance of independence. If at all we want to harbor any dream of becoming a superpower it is high time we understand and value the most precious gift we can ever get from previous generation.  

       

For

       There are certain things that are always beyond the scope of debate   and one of such topics is our independence. It is as absurd as to question the existence. That we are born in this country itself gives us divine, human and constitutional right to live in independent India and die with dignity as an Indian, free from the clutches of alien rule. This is how we perceive the notion of being an independent nation. With our nationality comes the right to self rule. Questioning our understanding of priceless freedom is ridiculous as we have paid the human cost to achieve it. We are a nation whose freedom is won by the sacrifices of our freedom fighters. Asking whether we know its importance or not means we are putting to scrutiny the very objective of our freedom struggle, it is as if they fought for those who don’t deserve.

      Many countries became independent after us but we are amongst the selected few that succeeded in nurturing and consolidating seeds of democracy. We are a proud nation with largest democracy in the world. No system  is perfect , so is our democracy but that against all odds we   not only survived as a united democratic nation  but succeeded in carving a place in the world  as a mature democracy, is a wonder for many self proclaimed  visionaries. Against the backdrop of failed democracies in the world our example stands tall for no nation in this world has as many diversities and challenges as we have. Time and again the Indian voter has shown wisdom in electing representatives   so much so that those who took him for granted had to bite the dust. Our right to independence is as much emotional as it is proven by survival and consolidation of our democratic system.

     We were a nation with a struggling economy in 1947, today we have an eye on claiming world position as emerging economic power. We have the best human resources, our younger generation is doing excellent in education which has prompted the leaders of USA to acknowledge as well as warn their people of our rise on horizon. The entire world sees us as a nation with growing market and nation with indigenous technological might. We are a nuclear power, have a strong military with highly professional and dedicated men, have finest educational institutions like IITs and IIMs, have a political system with all the necessary checks and balances to prevent free run to any party,a strong  judiciary, alert media and above all we have achieved this  without compromising and encroaching on rights of an individual. With this achievement is it not preposterous to question whether we understand our independence. We know we could never have achieved this without being a free nation.

      We are a progressing nation and an evolving democracy. We have achieved what only few believed we would but yet we have lot to achieve, we have imperfections as every country has, we have  our share  of  aberrations from the  principles and directives of our constitution  but we also have a political system that  is accountable to people. Our achievements as a nation are exemplary, our progress  is enviable, our goals defined, we are aware of our imperfections and are never short of  efforts to remove them, our professional and  military might is respected, we are  rising, India is shinning, we deserve our independence  not only because of  our divine, human and constitutional right but we have a proven record of it for under its aegis we have directed our potential for the benefit of mankind. Pointing deficiencies and questioning whether we have understood the true meaning of independence is like missing the entire beauty of a picture for focus on couple of dots.