Let's Create a Better India

Yet another day, yet another year to hold our heads high and salute the national flag to commemorate the independence of our nation. 66 years ago for the first time, when the tri-colours flew freely, high in the sky, I am sure there were thousands of them, who had taken up the responsibility to set the country free, which demanded them to sacrifice their sweat and blood. No wonder centuries of determination and single minded vision toppled the mighty English empire. Hats off to all those great men and women, who made us feel proud to say that we are Indians, by giving their todays’ for our bright tomorrows.

Our first P.M. addressing the nation on the maiden Independence, recalled the words of Mahatma Gandhi, saying, ‘ Our work will not be over, until we wipe away every tear from every eye.’ Poverty, building the nation and it’s citizens and make India stand before the world community, were some of the challenges then, which they handled ably. Having a glance at the history, through joys and struggles, through pain and sorrow, through ups and downs , India has moved on. We are 66 today.
There has never been a dearth for visionaries, leaders, thinkers in India. No doubt, our country is still one of the most resourceful nations with the strong youth power.Let’s be aware, though slow but steadily India is making it’s mark before the world community. We hold the promise in Science and technology, education, sports and above all in human resource. Looking within, the country has a more or less stable governments, unlike earlier. Tremendous amount of effort has been put in, in various sectors to improve the existing situation of the country.
If that is one side of rich India, on the other , poor mans ‘Bharath’, is still struggling and suffering. Can we forget the Assam, which is burning, where lakhs of people are in relief camps and unsure of their own future? Women in our country still struggle for security; let’s take the recent example of a young girl molested and thrown out of a train in Mandhya. If at the one hand, India is expanding it’s horizons, on the other, fundamentalist Bharath is becoming more and more narrow minded. Look at our own Mangalore, suffocating with the heat of insecurity and fundamentalist wave. On the one hand, plenty of promises and in reality very little is being done to uplift the least in the society. Possibly most of our developmental plans are not pro-poor. Mahatma Gandhi had a method for the reality check. He always asked, ‘When you draw your plan for development, just ask, whether it will improve the condition of the poor man whom you met on the way.’ So called modern Gandhi, ‘ Anna Hazare’ who held India’s promise once, turned out to be a fake prophet by making his political intentions clear. If we move a little further into our own state, to north Karnataka, like Raichur, Gulbarga people are still struggling under the oppression of caste, creed and culture. I am not sure, how many of the Dalits can hold their heads high and move in these regions.
Lot has been done and a lot more remains to be done. I remember the words of our former president, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s Independence day message “YOU say that our government is inefficient. YOU say that our laws are too old. YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage. YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke, the airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their destination. YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits. YOU say, say and say.”
“What do YOU do about it? “
We are a privileged lot, to enter into yet another year of Independence, by the sacrifices of the great forefathers of this nation. It’s now our turn to take up the responsibility and lead the nation. In the words of Nehru, “We rejoice in that freedom, even though clouds surround us, and many of our people are sorrow-stricken and difficult problems encompass us.” Let’s strive to create India, where everyone feels belonged to, secure and respected.
On this Independence let’s introspect our own contribution in the formation of our own local, village communities. Let’s move ahead with greater enthusiasm, to lit a candle amidst the dark corners of of country. If need be, Let’s lay down our today’s to the better tomorrows of our younger generation.
"Ask what we can do for India and do what has to be done to make India what America and other western countries are today." Let’s act to create a better nation where Bharath and India are one. Let’s keep the tri-colours flying high.