Saturday, September 20, 2008

Kaleidoscopic Image of Independent India

India has seen Centuries of life, and a lot of turbulent times, and hey day too. However, the Sub-Continent has withstood all this and exist even today, is not a miracle, but, it is a proof of its inherent internal strength, may be spiritual.
The last fifty years have been a gift to India from its freedom fighters who gave their all, and presented to us a free Nation to breathe in and grow. This gift package of the last fifty years, is what we are here to discuss at the moment. Even these fifty years have also depicted India’s strength through all the rough times, and here we stand even to day. I feel quite convinced that, if it was some other country in India’s place, with so much chaos and lethargy rampant everywhere it might have stood annihilated but India, stands as firm as ever, in the face of all.
From 1947 to 1997, we have seen an absolute change in India’s image in every sphere of its existence. The development rate has been tremendous, scientific and technological know how and usage has increased by leaps and bounds. We have entered the Global market in business. There has been a terrific increase in schools, colleges, and technical Institutes to spread education at all levels. Increase in roads, railways, airways, has been astounding, communications system has witnessed a Himalayan rise. With all this to our credit, why does India still stand as a Third World Power in the community of Nations? For this peculiar situation, we must analyse the actual break up of all the growth chart, and the causes of the lacune.
Regarding the break up of all the growth, the handicap is not far to seek, for, all the growth items are being utilized by a slim minority of India’s population, and with the growth, there has also been a major headway in corruption, selfishness, and lack of our character, personal or national. All these malaise know no bounds in our independent India, so the crumbling image, inspite of a lot of change for the better. For example, in an area, where the growth could have been and should have bee 70% , on the ground, it has been only 20%, the rest of resources being symphoned off by those at the helm of affairs. This is a fact that is not a secret any more, even from the most backward and uneducated of our populace. The proof of all this is not far to seek, when we hear of a scan a day, on the average.
With this situation, there has emerged a yawning gap between the rich and the poor, and the Haves and Have Nots, which continues to grow at an alarming pace, even as I write this for you. With this huge gap, all the development stands, absolutely nullified. In this scenario, the image that India to day presents is one of extreme opposites. On the one head, we see prosperity moving at break neck speed on the roads of all Metros, crowds of people eating in restaurants and hotels, and enjoying discos every night. On the other hand, we see beggars of all hues on the same prosperous looking roads, children and elders eating from dust bins, and enjoying sleeping nights, on pavements and in drain pipes. Seeing this extremely diverse image of our free India it is felt that we have not achieved much. A country which has such poverty on the one hand, has no right to celebrate independence. What are we celebrating? Our inefficiency, our selfishness or, our failure to provide the minimum eminities to all our people. It is time for us to consider, whether the freedom fighters had this image in their minds, when they fought for freedom? Is this what they dreamt of, when they entered the warpath, to give all they had, to India? Our first priority at least NOW, should be to forget ourselves and provide the minimum of food, clothing and shelter to all, for at least this is their right also.
Instead of studying any other subject in foreign lands, now, we must send our emissaries to foreign lands of East or West to study how they manage to maintain a minimum gap in the Haves and those who have less, for I think in no other country the gap would be as much as it is in India. We should have our heads hanging in shame when we see young children begging instead of going to school and the old sitting on the streets when they should be huddled up cosily in a warm corner of their little house.
At this point I would like to remind all friends that, “life takes a new interest when we invest in lives of others.” Only if we would share our well being with others, I am sure we would be no less but, they would be much more.

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