Indias freedom a shattered dream
Dr Jyotsna BhattacharjeeIndia became free of British domination due to the
selfless endeavour of thousands of our countrymen. Who can forget the
contributions of our great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru, Sardar
Patel, Lokmanya Tilak, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, to name only a few? It was
due to their sacrifices and untiring efforts that India became free from the
shackles of slavery. But our Imperial masters left the Indians to dislike our
glorious traditions. The situation now is that we are neither Indian nor
non-Indian and we have no ground to stand upon firmly.
Those forgotten great leaders paid a heavy price for freedomthey suffered
untold miserymany of them died. And we are enjoying the fruits of their
sufferings, without being the least grateful to these noble leaders. Actually
Independence does not mean anything to us, it has become a kind of routine
affair for some VVIP to hoist the national flag in presence of a handful of
dignitaries, under a security cover. Common people seem to be entirely
indifferent to the significance of Independence Day celebrations. For them it
is just a paid holidayto watch television, or to go for a picnic or to go to
the zoo with the children. They are disillusioned and are fed up with these
hollow festivities and are no long interested in listening to the rehearsed
speeches delivered by our leaders.
The old people often can be heard grumbling that the situation was far better
during the British rule. I still remember the euphoria of the people across
the country on that first day of independence. People came out of their homes
at midnight, when India won independence. Processions were taken out, sweets
were distributed and there was signing and dancing by the old and the young.
Even strangers were hugged excitedly by the frenzied crowd. Expectations were
high-and so were the dreams of the people.
Within sixty years after independence those dreams have been shattered to
smithereens. Naturally those of us, who witnessed that first day of
independence, feel cheated and are disillusioned. Hence they have started
grumbling that things were much better in the pre-independence era, when there
was no violence, no corruption, and no hypocrisy. People could move around
freely, even at night, without fear. There was no apprehension of bomb blasts
in cinema halls, market places or buses. There was no fear of hijacking of
planes, of abduction or unnecessary killing of innocent people. Perhaps their
grievances are due to the frustration of the people at large, who were hoping
for a Ramrajya after attaining freedom, as the Mahatma had envisaged.
India was divided on the basis of religion and the country witnessed
widespread communal violence and hatred as never before. Friends turned into
foes and there was bloodbath with thousands of people getting killed. The
harmony amongst different sections of the pre-independent India was lost
forever. The Father of the Nation was heart broken at the turn of events. He
preached and practised non-violence he wanted unity among various sections
and peace for the country. But he saw hatred all around and himself fell down
to the assassins bullets. That was perhaps the beginning and now India has
been torn asunder by violence and hatred. Mahatmas non-violent India has
turned into a hot bed of violence, intrigues and hatred.
It is true that India has developed an astounding fashion after independence.
None can deny the tremendous progress the country has made in all sphares.
During the British period we had only a small number of educated schemes,
people have become aware of the value and importance of educationand more and
more children have started going to school. The country has a large number of
educated people, excelling in diverse spheres. But we are also exporting many
who are giving wonderful service in foreign lands. We have lost thousands of
talented people, who could have done a lot for the country. They are reluctant
to come back and believe that they would not get all the facilities here which
they are enjoying in their adopted country. They are of course right in their
views.
India does not lack resources. The country has vast areas of fertile land,
wonderful industries and sufficient raw materials. With all these resources in
hand we have ample opportunity to grow into a prosperous nation. The country
has produced enough foodwe have sufficient natural wealth, enough
technological, scientific and defence knowledgeperhaps more than our
expectations. India is one the most important developing countries of the
world, posing a challenge even to the super powers. But all this progress has
not been able to give us happiness. Most of the people are poor and are
suffering a lot. Babies are being sold due to poverty and there is no ray of
hope for these unfortunate people.
Our experts have not been able to discover means to combat natural calamities.
For instance, our State is prey to devastating floods each year. This year too
is no exception. Thousands of people become homeless, some die, animals are
washed away, communication with other States gets disrupted. And we remain
helpless spectators when nature strikes lethal blows.
That is not the only problem. The country is reeking with corruption. Money
seems to speak louder than words. You cannot expect the smallest service,
which is your due in these sacrosanct departments unless you are prepared to
grease their oily palms with your hardearned money. You may not be able to
get an honest employee, even if you scour the entire length and breadth of any
of these offices.
Terrorism has spread like an infectious disease throughout the country and
Assam possibly is the worst sufferer. Life has become a dime a dozen. It has
become so uncertain that you are not sure if you would be back home in the
evening from your office. A group of young men at the gate gives us shivers.
One is afraid to go down a dark alley, in case somebody lurking behind the
bushes takes pot shot at him. We cannot go to a cinema or to the market with a
mind free from qualms. Bus journey is also not safe for usnor is train or air
journey. We do not know how to protect ourselves from violence. Shooting,
stabbing, abduction, extortion, rape etc have become the order of the day.
Minor girls are raped by men old enough to be their grand father. Even a three
year old little infant girl may fall victim to the lust of some lascivious
male. That is the situation in a nutshell.
Some people, specially those from the pre-independence era say that liberty
has become a liability for us. What has it brought? Merely moral decadence,
price rise and violence. But that is not the fault of liberty. The blame
actually lies with us. We have not realised that to preserve liberty, we have
to make some united efforts. Freedom without responsibility is disastrous. It
is like giving a loaded gun to an ignorant child. We are pround to assert that
ours is a large democracy, yet we are not responsible enough to preserve it.
Our democracy has turned into mobocracy and it is money that rules the
election process.
There does not seem to be any perceptible laws and order in our country.
People are suffering a lot and the criminals are waltzing around with any
number of anti-social activities. The talk about a corruptionfree society has
become a damp squib. Lack of responsibility has made us a bunch of corrupt,
unscrupulous people, who have no idea about how to protect and preserve our
hard-earned freedom. Infiltration from across the border has posed a
tremendous hurdle in our path of progress. Some are trading freedom for
personal and political gain. In place of the strong leaders of the past we
have a new bunch of clay-footed leaders, who have no other objective except to
cling to their position by any means available.
People have to be made aware of their responsibility. The children are our
hope and the destiny of the country depends on them. Childhood is the most
vital period in human life. What is learnt in childhood develops character.
Therefore, instead of giving them career-based education, they should be
trained in such a way that they can be worthy citizens of the country in
future. The parents and the teachers should note that children learn from what
they see and what they hear. Every child has potential divinity in him and
divinity should be made actual.
India was famous for spiritualism, Renunciation was the ideal of ancient India
and it is also the need of modern India. Helping others around us will bring
us peace and happiness. It will also promote community well-being. Hatred and
ill-will can be conquered only by selfless activity. Life is so very short
what is the point in nurturing hatred? It brings nothing but misery. We must
remember that one day we are going to die and power, wealth or money will mean
nothing to us on our day of departure. Hence we have to forget petty things.
Even a few good people can do a lot for the welfare of the multitude. India
had a glorious past; but unfortunately the glory was lost in the mire of
selfishness, corruption and cruelty. Materialism and modernism have ruined our
future generation. Hence spiritual discipline has become a necessity. The young
people have to be trained in selflessness, spirit of service and truthfulness,
so that they can lead the country in the
right path in future.
(The writer is former Head of Philosophy, Cotton College)
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