64th INDEPENDENCE DAY OF INDIA - BRIEF ASSESSMENT

India celebrated her 64th Independence Day on 15th August 2011 . India is my motherland and I am happy that she is free from any imperial and colonial rule . We can remain free only when our country is free . Freedom means freedom in totality subject to certain constitutional bindings . Fundamental rights means our existence in the country with a sense of dignity and uprightness but at the same time involves a feeling of certain fundamental duties enshrined in our constitution by 42nd amendment in 1976 . Irony is that we often talk of fundamental rights with our feasts clenched or chests emboldened but hardly talk of fundamental duties with the same fervour . I opine bravado means both in claiming rights and performing duties . A balance is now need of the day .

Where we lack . This is a question most of us would like to ask . What we have achieved during 64 years of our independence . We should not forget we remained under colonial rule for approximately two hundred years and the resources of country was drained out by the British ruthlessly . Thus when the British finally left the country we were left with a shattered economy as there were no industrial productions and the cottage industries was in a mess . While Britain flourished on account of its Industrial revolution hundred years ahead the Industrial revolution in India thriving on her resources input  we felt cheated and bewildered . Nonetheless we started on a good note investing in the field of agriculture right from the First Five Year Plan and industry afterwards . 

Political freedom is one aspect of coin . What we need is proper socio-economic development combined with political freedom. Unfortunately we have taken a very long time to work effectively for socio - economic progress . we have passesd delayed legislations which give teeth to socio-economic progress . I would not blame any party or individual for that . What I visualise and conceive is that we have lacked a slew of visionary and dedicated leaders except a few one who could have fast steered the country in all these spheres.

The time is yet not gone . Certain legislations so far are pointers that we are serious for the development of the country . Reservation of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in government services , Right to Information Act against corruption, Right to Education Act 2009 for free and compulsory education for children ( all on national level ) , Right to service in states of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh , 50% reservation of women in local bodies in some of the states , as well as recent developments on Food Security Bill and a strong LOKPAL likely to be initiated in Parliament against corruption are indicators that we have understood the reality how a nation/polity can progress .

The most important issue before the country in present days is the issue of corruption of which many of us are not serious.  Corruption eats into the very vitals of the country . Former Prime minister of India late sh. Rajiv Gandhi once stated and agreed that only  fifteen percent of benefit of government schemes trickles down to beneficiaries most of whom are poor and leaving in hardships. Rest 85% dried up midway. Situation has rather aggravated today. Certainly the money of tax givers should not become subjected to the corrupt practices of those who are powerful and manipulators. Anybody thinking that he would simply walk over after embezzling the money of the government must be booked under appropriate laws and fund so embezzled must be brought back to the government exchequer . If the loot/plunder of money in billions is checked every year the country will have resources enough to feed and educate each and every individual below poverty line and the country will become militarily powerful so that none may think of grabbing its land and continue terrorist activities here .The red menace or the problem of naxalism will also be wiped out from the land as no youth will remain unemployed to carry the arms supplied by the red forces . This is all happening due to abject poverty and for the reason money is being drained out from the normal system and is lying hidden from the tax net . However, the efforts are going on - on the part of the government as well as citizens . Remedies for different malaises will reflect in due course of time . Rome was not built in a day and we should be optimistic India will evolve gradually to become a strong force to reckon with.

- Sudhanshu kumar