We have been Independent since 1947 i.e today we celebrate our 68th Independent Birthday, but what is the meaning of term independence we have today as compared to what we have on the midnight of 14-15th August, 1947. Let us explore.
The night we got Independence, our ancestors have witness something called "freedom" from the almighty British Rule then. They must have thought that after this day, we would be "free", "happy", "liberated", "independent", but they never thought the very own trivial rules they are forming as a social obligation will be a nightmare to the modern society in the making. No doubt we are free from the European rulers, but are we free from the rulers in our own society?
The Ideal society, the Utopia , which a common man then dreamt of doesn't even existed then. What happened at the time of India-Pakistan partition still gives many of us nightmares. Communal riots existed then also, and today also. It is so shameful that one rotten brain can influence so many healthy minds to rot into the hell they have created themselves. At that time there was the instance of partition, estimated 1000000 casualties on both sides. Today, since 2010, we have almost 6 major massacres including Chhatisgarh, West Bengal, Assam & Muzzafarnagar and many provocative speeches all across the country. The difference is today some part of some community is under the rule of one man/influencer. Are we free?
Today's individual is powerful, both men and women, we have got equal rights, in every field. So in that regards, men and women should feel equal in the society? IS it So? Look around and tell. Have you ever went with your girlfriend on a walk and suddenly you past across a secluded area, or a bunch of guys smoking and talking loudly, or a little shady are of the town? Did you heart pumped a little faster? Is there a concern in your mind? If there are some amount of doubt about the safety of your female friend or about safety of yourself if you are a girl, then give a thought about the freedom you have right now. Are you still free?
Have you ever went to a govt. office for some work and you can see no one is there to help you? Even the clerks are ignoring you? you wander here and there for half an hour, but all you did is to hear ruthlessness from the clerk sitting in front of you. The inquiry counter is empty. But you can see some non official personnel have all the access. The can go inside the counter, can have tea with the clerks, can crack jokes with them, but they are not govt. employees there. Then who they are?
They are your ticket to get your work done for 20 times the amount you are supposed to pay. They are your costliest agents. As the matter of fact, every level of govt. employees have their own profit sharing with them. that could be the reason you are being Ignored. You are still bound to have your work done , and still bound to hire one of those non govt. agents for your service. Are you still bound to feel Independent?
We do have all these problems still at the core of our system, Rapes, Corruption, Riots, LGBT Issues, but my question is, Is there still hope?
I hope the answer would be "Yes", because its faith which can drive us to a better society. better community, better governance, better people. But fear will lead us to the sad part of everything. So do not fear to have faith, We can turn one stone at a time, collect one drop at a time, all we need is trust in ourselves. Its up to us to look, and decide to be responsible of our actions, and how we can together work to make our India a better place to live for us and our coming generations. It is really up to us, How do we declare our Independence.
-Shivam
