India’s Independence @80

 

India’s independence journey is 80 years old and in these eventful year’s country saw turns, trials, tribulations as well as glorious years. India has got its freedom yes political freedom on August 15,1947 from the British colonial yoke. But we, are yet to have educational, economic and cultural freedom as our education system is still based on Macaulayan cunning methods which has no correlation with Indian conditions and circumstances with the result we fail to produce honest, hardworking, patriotic and nation conscious citizenry despite 80 years of country’s freedom. 

India has failed to have man making and character making education. We, have made our citizens machines like and we are doing only mechanical works and are lacking to use our thinking and originality instead depend on machines and we are working mostly like machines.   We have excelled in many walks of life and have produced scientists, engineers, technocrats, doctors, judges, professors, scholars et.al, but we have miserably failed to cultivate good and noble citizens who are selfless in the discharge of their duties. All these years of freedom of the motherland we have emphasized on rights but ignored duties and responsibilities with the result there is lopsided development and growth in the society. Consequently, Indians demand fulfilment of rights but fail to perform their allotted duties and this is   paradoxical and silly. The, need of the hour is that there should be balance between rights and duties and we should not only seek and demand rights only but also perform our allotted duties without selfishness and cunningness. 

India has made much progress in science and technology and there is digital revolution in India and all government, revenue and other records are being digitised and most payments are done online. But alas despite these positive developments during the 79 years of our independence, there is increase in corruption, adulteration, malnutrition, extremism, radicalism, bigotry, conservatism, secessionism and dishonesty reigns supreme. Our educational system is not producing good citizens which is a basic and fundamental requirement for the successful working of a democracy and results are before our eyes. Our august parliament resembles gossip shop and there is no exaggeration to opine that the highest legislative body has become a fish market and the discipline and decorum are the things of yore and there is only disruption in our parliament instead of meaningful discussion and debate. India is today fourth largest economy of the world and this is no ordinary development but it shows solidness and greatness of our country and economy. It also shows that the fundamentals of our economy are strong and resilient. Not only this in 2028 India is going to be the third largest economy of the globe and it will be most extra-ordinary development. All this points to the fact that we have progressed well and attained new signposts of growth and development. Our real gross domestic product-GDP is currently growing at a rate of 6.5 percent and it makes India the fastest growing major economy.

The nominal GDP growth rate for the same period is 9.8%. But despite this shinning position of India, we are lacking behind in several areas. Corruption is eating into vitals of our country and economy like a termite and making us hallow and shallow. Corruption does not allow good governance, transparency and accountability. Corruption is one of the major problems of India which is becoming an obstacle in India’s march towards a developed country and so our government should take serious and concerted measures to curb corruption in the country. Politico-criminal nexus is another problem which our country is facing. A large number of our political leaders and parliamentarians has criminal back ground and yet against many criminal cases are registered and their presence into our political set up is a big danger to the country’s clean image. Dishonesty has creeped into our political, social and administrative system, with the result it is difficult to find honest legislators, bureaucrat’s and it is very disturbing that today even our judiciary is not insulated from corrupt practices. There is no fear among our administrators, officers, parliamentarians and the general public and the result is before us in the form of greasing the palms for getting even routine and day to day works done. The honest, man is an odd man out and an honest man and officer is hardly seen. 

The most shameful problem is the declining standards of our moral values. There, is all round decline in society’s moral fabric and it is a cause of great concern. There is cultural and moral perversion in our society of today which should attract the attention of the people towards this sad plight of the moral health of our society. Materialism and love for name and fame is all that is manifested in our administrative set up and in our whole social system and selfishness is raising its ugly head everywhere and makes our heads to hang in shame. Selflessness and honesty is the first casualty. Patriotism, nationalistic outlook and values are fast declining. We, are failing to have love for our nation and patriotism is at the lowest ebb and it is a cause of grave concern. Our education is only producing graduates, post graduates and even doctorates in large numbers and universities are adding to unemployment which is a big curse for the country. Unemployment problem is staring us in the face and our government as well as the corporate world is unable to absorb our growing number of educate youth in jobs. Our skilled youth are switching towards the private sector and it is a plus point of our nation. In developed countries like America, education is free and there are common schools where haves and have nots take education together. But in our country, there is no common school system as our ruling class is averse to this big requirement, with the result we encourage discrimination ourselves and are caught in the vicious cycle discrimination as the education which was supposed to lay the foundation for an equal and discrimination free society is giving birth is abject discrimination. 

Other thing is that in many countries including America and China there is free medical treatment for all its citizens and what a fine thing it is? But in India there is no such thing as free medical and health treatment which is a grave concern for its citizens and our freedom fighters who had sacrificed their precious lives for the freedom of the country. No doubt politically we are a free country but alas! in the true economic and educational as well as cultural sense we are still slaves. Under the grab and guise of modernisation we are making ourselves westernized and we are going away from our cultural roots and legacy and it is a shame for our citizens. We are distancing ourselves from our culture and in fact there is cultural perversion in our country and society. We should have indigenous system of education through which westernisation is not glorified instead Indian values and principles are given top attention. Our, educational institutions should cultivate honest, disciplined and patriotic citizens capable of working for the democracy of India. 

Even after 79 years after freedom India has not been able to provide pure drinking water and uninterrupted electricity supply and our government should pay attention to these two deficiencies and try to overcome these poor things. I am not painting a gloomy picture of my country but telling truth. On the 80th  independence day, we should not be gloomy or sad, but should resolve to work for the eradication of the socio-political and administrative vices and dedicate ourselves to our nation so that India becomes a Viksit nation by 2047 and for this noble cause let us dedicate ourselves  to nation building  so that the vision and goal of our prime minister Narendra Modi will be realised.