66 years of Independence

Into the 67th year of Independence. But what exactly is being independent. What is Patriotism? Frankly, I never understand this. My closest encounter with Patriotism is when I am watching cricket match where I want India to win or watching movies like Lagaan, Border or Rang de Basanti. There is an adrenaline rush or a tear in the eye.

Whenever 15^th August or 26^th January is round the corner, I am pretty disturbed. Not because that I don’t love my country. It’s something else, I don’t know why, but it happens.

India is geographically and culturally a very beautiful place, not an iota of doubt.

Look at the variety it offers- beautiful climate, well defined seasonality, you want snow you have it, you want hill station- you have it, you want sea-shore- you have it, you want desert- you have it. A country with rich heritage, music, culture, arts and literature. Then I think about the life of the people in our country and here I am talking about the common man. The Aam Aadmi!!!

Recently, when I had gone for trek, I was passing through a small adivasi village when a small kid walked up to me and said’ “dada, khau de na” (brother, give me some food) I was speechless. My legs couldn’t move. I gave her a packet of chips and she looked at me and said in English “Thank you”. I was impressed and asked her did she go to school. She mentioned that there was a small temple (I had seen it on my way- a small temple with no electricity so naturally no light, no fan) that was their school. I was really disturbed.

On the same day while I was returning back home, (I guess that day had too much in store to offer) I saw a blind man asking for directions. Many people passed by, but no one really bothered to look at him. Few told him to go straight (wow, now how he is going to understand it). I held his hand and took him where he wanted to go. On the way, he talked about the noise that he was hearing, he said that’s a toad, it comes in monsoon. He made his living by selling lottery tickets. He asked whether I was interested in buying one. I said I don’t believe in luck and didn’t buy and even he didn’t insist. After dropping him I really felt bad that I didn’t buy anything from him. It would have been a help for him.

Now, hang on, I am not trying to boast or make a saint out of me. I am a human being with many vices. If not me somebody else would have done it. But my point is why we can’t make this country a beautiful place to live in. Why can’t we be better human beings and celebrate independence. People are deprived of basic amenities. Even after 66 years of independence, we have places with no electricity, no schools, no medical facilities. People are struggling to make a living. People are dying due to lack of food and water.

And no it is not poverty- we have ample resources and cash flowing in the country. It is not population – it is the density of population. It is uneven distribution of people in the country and that happens due to lack of development or the scale of development. Infrastructure is the backbone on which the economy of the nation stands. Look at our roads. Every year the same story. It is not about corruption but the level or scale of corruption. Corruption is a global phenomenon. Here, the project is sanctioned, funds allocated, but there is no project and no funds left.

We need a serious revamping of our governance and an overhauling of the system. We need to have people from top institutes from the country like IIT’s and IIM’s to be a part of the planning commission and in government jobs. We need the discipline of private sector in government sector.  

Why can’t we have free medical facilities for all? You are not well, you need to be hospitalised, go to your nearest hospital, and get your treatment done and walk back home without shelling out a dime. (Free of cost...wow). Aren’t we paying taxes to the government?

And, I am not touching upon other topics like rapes & crime happening in the country or about the inflation or political instability. I am talking about basic needs – Food, Clothing and Shelter. I am talking about Fundamental rights -Right to Education & Right to Life and Liberty.

Freedom is a gift to us and perhaps we would never value it. What we can do is ask ourselves what we are doing for this generation and the generations to come. What are we contributing, what’s our value add.

When I am writing this, I could hear Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru in the backdrop saying

“Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment, we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.

This feels valid even today...

Happy Independence