India is Glorious. What a Glory!
14 August 2008Independence Day this year has greater significance. Independent India is celebrating its sixtieth birthday.
Underneath this glory is covered invisibly the dirt’s in the forms of ill-health, illiteracy, starvation deaths, ill-clad, homeless and job less millions. The most expensive Executive, Judiciary and Legislature are more a burden on this hapless lot of Indian citizens. They have little to be proud of and very little to celebrate of any independence. This must not be forgotten while celebrating the Sixtieth Independence Day.
The country, which won independence through a non-violent revolution, is bleeding profusely out of violence and threats of violence continue to boomerang all around the country. Common people’s aspirations and voices are suppressed to that extant to cause depression. The net outcome is the violence that we see all around the country.
As a 1947-born man, this insignificant Indian citizen could not be a personal witness to Indian Independence Movement and had no opportunity to meet the founding fathers including the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. All the same there was access to published works of that era and events and the works of Mahatma Gandhi had a greater influence.
What is there to celebrate Independence Day, when the country is bleeding in violence and threats of violence of all kinds from all over the country and from neighborhood? Hard won freedom is overshadowed by fear of militancy. In the very land where sages after sages right down to Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave walked across the country bare-chest accompanied by unarmed volunteers, even the so called elected representatives of Indian people cannot move around without bullet proof cars accompanied by armed commandos. What a metamorphosis change in these six decades after achieving independence! From independence to dependence and from freedom to fear we are drifting fast.
It is to be noted that on 15th August 1947, the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi was not present in Delhi to join celebrations of Indian independence. He was away in Calcutta engrossed in prayers, fast and spinning. His advice to West Bengal Ministers on that day is worth to be noted by all those in governance of the country now:
“From today you have to wear the crown of thorns. Strive ceaselessly to cultivate truth and non-violence. Be humble. Be forbearing. The British rule no doubt put you on your mettle. But now you will be tested through and through. Beware of power; power corrupts. Do not let yourselves be entrapped by its pomp and pageantry. Remember that you are in office to serve the poor in India’s villages. May God help you.”
In independent India, if the Ministers both at the Center and various States listened to these invaluable advises the country’s present predicament could have been avoided. Mahatma Gandhi’s words are more relevant today than ever before. Will any one care?
On 15th August, 1947 at Calcutta, while talking to members of the Communist Party of India and to students, with regard to celebrations of Indian independence, Gandhiji said:
“I can’t afford to take part in this rejoicing, which is a sorry affair.
……I am not lifted off my feet by these demonstrations of joy.”
Gandhiji told the members of the Community Party of India that political workers, whether Communist or Socialist, must forget all differences and help to consolidate the freedom which had been attained. Should we allow it to break into pieces? The tragedy was that the strength with which the country had fought against the British was failing them when it came to the establishment of Hindu Muslim Unity.
it will continue …………………….
- Literature Circles
- Learning To Read Listening Center
- Studying Violence and Friendship Through Novels
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