Free search engine submission Addurl.nu The Views Spectrum: 66th Independence Day
Showing posts with label 66th Independence Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 66th Independence Day. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Are We Independent? I Think ‘No.’ What Do You Think?


Another 15th August, another Independence Day. The nation is all decked up in the try color to celebrate the most remarkable day in the history of India. TV channels are too busy scheduling the top 10 patriotic films (like Border, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, Rang De Basanti etc), FM stations cannot think of anything else but playing “Bharat Humko Jaan Se Pyara Hai”, “Bande Mataram” (Rehman’s version), “Sandeshe Aatein Hain” etc throughout the day. You can see families sitting in front of the TV set, watching the spectacular march past by Indian army and paramilitary forces. But amidst all these festivities where is the Independence? Can you see it? Can you feel it? Can you touch it? Can you decipher it?

Independence means “Freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others.” On 15 August, 1945, India, as a country, acquired freedom from the control of British rulers. We all knew how the brave-hearts broke the shackle of dominance and snatched away the liberty from the firm clench of those Britons. So I’m not going to repeat that tale once again here. But the question is, after 66 years of independence, can I call myself independent? Can you call yourself so? Can I freely express my thoughts about anything and everything? Can you ask the government to show you how they utilize the taxes you pay or how you are being benefited from that? Can you stand up and spit out your anger against the social and political injustice? Above all, what about your collective individual independence?

pic source: Munna Kumar Photos(picasa)

When a country becomes independent that does not only mean that the country is free from any foreign oppression or injustice; that also signifies the fact that the common citizenry of that country is also free from any injustice, oppression, hardship etc.

India, the largest democratic sovereign country, ensures justice, liberty, equality and fraternity to her every citizen.

But –

  • Can those little boys and girls working as labors free themselves and ask for equality?
  • Can those millions of common people demand an answer from the government using their Right to Information?
  • Can you or I stop paying the taxes until the government gives us a detailed account of those each and every paisa we have paid from our own pockets?
  • Can an adult person of this country choose ‘No Vote’ during election? After all, if we are independent then we should have the power to choose no one as our candidate to the upper or lower house of the Parliament.
  • When a court violates the laws it has set for itself, a victim is left with a no other choice than to accept it as his or her own misfortune.
  • From presidential election to Rajya Sabha election, we are just puppets in the hands of the politicians or better say, our representatives. What a sarcasm it is!

And regarding India’s independence as a country - it still cannot decide its own nuclear deals, it cannot prohibit the intruders from crossing the LOC and it cannot make its own choice when it comes to purchasing arms & ammunitions from a foreign trader. And the list goes on…

Still we hoist the national flag; still the school children sing patriotic songs with folded hands; still all the TV reality shows bring their exclusive themed programs on air; and still we proudly call ourselves Independent. 

About the Author

Durba Sengupta is a Content Writer by profession. A student of Journalism and Mass Communication, she is a complete bookworm and a movie buff. Being an optimist, she dreams of a day when a few words like poverty and corruption will no longer be in use.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.

Virusasur Mardini-Mahalaya with a Difference

Mahalaya is round the corner and most of us are not feeling the vibe this time thanks to COVID-19! There is also an unusual wait of 35 days...