Happy Independence Day. Welcome to self-governing India protected and liberated from all foreign invasions.
How our Pakistan and China borders are infiltrated is of course something that we have to overlook today. Incidents such as the 26/11 attack also need to be forgotten as a freak accident of nature.
Welcome to the socialist, non racially prejudiced India where children run away from schools where they are taunted for coming from a low caste, where matrimonial alliances are still decided on one’s ‘dharma’ (religion) and ‘jati’ (caste).
Welcome to the progressive India where corporate industries are sent back before they can begin, where political insurgency forces industries to shut down. Welcome to the safe India where students commit suicide every other day thanks to ragging, where a Hetal Parekh’s rapist takes almost a decade before he is punished.
Welcome to the open minded India where sexual minority people are repeatedly taunted and discriminated at their homes and workplace.
Today on Independence Day as we step out of our homes to watch the tri-colour unfolding and we sing the national anthem let us not forget that the only way we can actually associate the adjectives safe, non prejudiced, open minded to India is when we are self aware, fight corruption and make our voices heard.
Only then can we truly say, Yes! we are Independent. Let our feelings of nationalism not just drown itself in patriotic songs and movies today but help us introspect and move towards making India the world power it really is.
Rohit K Dasgupta
at ayon: i happen to have
at ayon:
i happen to have done more than just be an armchair revolutionary. I am a youth social activist and i have done more than just write letters to the editors. i have stood up for civil liberties and rights in india. I have visted the political insurgent areas of nandigram last year and walked for every fucking protest march which i have believed in. Trust me i do what i preach.
I have faced discrimination at more than one level but that hasnt really stopped me. Your talking of resolving the cracks or covering them. At the immigration borders i have been asked what i will be speaking in a conference i was going for abroad and if i was going to say good stuiff about india ( this was something on sexuality issues) and this is Independence? Go figure..
Cut down on ur cynicism dude..
90% of your article reeks of cynicism and you try to make amends by writing some global gyaan at the end ?
No country is great by itself..It is made great by it's people..people like you and me.
Sooner we shed our passive cynicism and get constructive,we will begin our progress.
You talk of un-guarded borders ? Did you ever think of enlisting in the armed forces ? How many times have you actually (physically)stood up and objected to racial/caste abuse in the country..
Bhai, "letters to the editor" sobaai likhte paare..Unfortunately they do not help.
Sorry for my harsh words,but 26/11 is a sad incident and I dnot advocate anyone using it to showcase India's muck.All the guys who died there, were brave men.We have no right to opine on the cracks of the system,unless we try to act to resolve them.
Ayon
Very true!!..Where is the
Very true!!..Where is the independence??
Well written!
Nice post!
Nice post!