HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY INDIA,26th January 2010
The constitution of India came into force on 26th January 1950. Ever since, the day is celebrated on a grand scale, as the Republic Day of India, and is marked as a National Holiday.
To commemorate this occasion, the Prime minister delivers a speech and hoists the flag, which is then followed b
y a grand parade at India Gate, New Delhi.
y a grand parade at India Gate, New Delhi.It was on this day, 60 years back that our constitution came into force, and also that India completely freed herself from the shackles of the British Raj.
Though, I'm beginning to contemplate this freedom that we have attained, for simple reasons such as:
- Even today, a girl isn't free to walk down the street post dawn by her self.(Risk Involved: Eve teasing, molestation, rape)
- Even today, you and I aren't safe when we step out of the house. (Risk Involved: Bomb blasts, Terror Attacks)
- Even today, you and I aren't free to express our views on issues and politicians.(Risk Involved:Can be threatened, beaten up or even murdered by goons of the politicians)
- The fact is, that even today you and I aren't free of the prejudice of caste, colour, creed, religion or gender.
So what freedom have we really achieved?
- Freedom to kill someone and get away with it?
- Freedom to litter, and urinate on the corners of the streets?
- Freedom to create disharmony and disunity among people?
- Freedom to sit at home on the election day?
- Freedom to enjoy and relax on our National Holidays?
Or the Freedom to call ourselves Patriots on the three National Holidays?
The reality is that we are all accustomed to the way things work in our country, and have gladly accepted to follow the same route without questioning the system. We all love to boast about our trips to the U.S. and U.K. but how many of us try to make India a better place to live in? It is very easy to criticize even I do. But it is rather difficult to take that one step which will help us contribute in the overall growth of our country.
I know this sounds repetitive, and even I have heard people say similar things a million times before, but sometimes it is necessary for us to repeat. It is necessary for us to repeat in order to be heard.
Well the contribution needs to be made.By me, by you and by all of us individually and collectively.
The simplest way to get started is by paying our taxes, being a little less corrupt( Face it or not, we are all corrupt in our own different way) , making our vote count, avoid discrimination, try and dedicate some time to the less privileged ones share your knowledge and experience.
Because each one of us can and will make the little change our country needs. Even if I sound Hopelessly optimistic, the fact is that I am, and trust me if you are too, then this is the driving force, which will give you the kick to do something.
On this republic day, let us make a promise to ourselves, that we will make the little change required in order to bring about a change. So, Lets start today!
Jai Hind!
3 comments:
Hey ekta i liked your blog a lot..very nice layout and presentation...you seemed to have read up a lot too...keep it up..
Love what you'v written here!Keep it up!
It reflects the history student using her knowledge writing the blog :)
I liked the thought. But to be very honest now I wish to think again about the reformers who used to think that the independence secondary and social reforms are primary. Whoever thinking independance would automatically bring the changes in peoples mind seems making mistake. I don't wish to be negative but I guess both independance and social reform were important at the same time.
As a socilogy student I strongly feel that we fail on the front of cultivating matured, educated mind in the last six decades of independance. Our educational system is a big failure because highly educated people use their scientific knowledge in proving how ancient caste system was scientific and how it was necessary for the proper social structure.
Government, constitution and the law can only provide the infrastructure that is necessary for sensible society but it can not change the conservative mind. The only way is to educate it gradualy and unfortunately our education system had done NOTHING in this aspect.
We failed to understand the die hard nature of human mind and its complexities. There was a thought in the pre independance era that its british who divides and rule the country. Once they leave, Hindus and Muslims will unite togather. This doesn't seem to happen even after sixty years. Socialists used to think that once adults get the rights to vote, they will throw away age old burdon of conservative "Zamindars" but on the contrary, they elected the people who exploited them since generations because in the deep of their mind they treat them like a god, masiha and their owners. Our Education failed here.
We brought industry from the west but we couldn't elevate or educate peoples mind to match the requirement of matured society like in the western countries.
I feel I wrote too much as a comment but this subject is real complex. I love to read this blog and your thoughts about the social issues :)
Post a Comment