By Abhishek Pandey
India celebrated its 62nd Independence Day with pride. Is it really a matter of pride? Of course, yes. Many freedom fighters lost their lives to set India free. Their efforts bring fruits in the form of a free and sovereign country for the future generation. It was a great achievement after a long period of colonial era. India has travelled a long distance in last six decades in all the spheres. But, the domain of freedom has extended its reach or not, it is doubtful.
One question always trouble my conscience that who were the people got freedom on 15 August, 1947. Had all the Indians got freedom on that fortunate day? Practically, the answer of this important question is no. All Indians are not free. This was the freedom in true means for few sections of the people. It seems it was the freedom of politicians, Police administration, government officers and the elite class. For others, Master got changed but situation have not changed expectedly.
Politicians are free to play a ‘constructive’ role in corruption and get away easily by their influence. They have all the right to interrupt parliamentary proceedings through their uncivilised ways. They have the right to have disproportionate asset. They are also free to make their won statues at public place on government expenditure. They can make castist, sexist, communal statement to play the vote bank politics. They enjoy their freedom of speech at the cost of other’s freedom.
Police is free to do fake encounters, harass poor people and be inefficient in need. Police officials can also make defamatory remarks and can declare a person criminal without investigation as it happened in Aarushi-Hemraj murder case. Criminal loot and murder in bright day light and move away freely. They are also free to contest elections and enjoy political power until final verdict comes. In the same manner, Government officials are free to settle the matter under the table as it is their fundamental right. They can delay your work if you don’t grease their palms. They enjoy their freedom without any timely and proper supervision.
In contrast, Aam aadmi is still waiting for the true freedom in a 62 years old free country. Aam aadmi keep waiting on the cross roads or in the queue of religious institutions like temples, mosque and Dargah unless the so called elites pass on. Is this is definition of the equality in a largest democratic nation? Every second Indian is affected with the ‘Do you know me’ syndrome. Tenders, jobs and other favours are considered on the validity of this rhetoric. Discrimination of several forms among the different sections, communities, caste, religious groups are evident even after six decades of independence.
Women and girls can not go to bars freely because ‘moral police’ like Sri Ram Sene feel it is against Indian culture and ethos. Girl students and women teachers can not clad themselves in the attire of their choice because college administrations desire to curb their freedom. Couples can not stroll together in the parks or street because our police feel, it offends decency.
Friendship Day and Valentine’s Day are celebrated secretly as if it is illegal to have a good time on special occasion. But, most of the youngsters avoid having fun in public place because Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) don’t like their freedom. The celebrations on such occasions need their approval.
People from North-India can not go to Mumbai for livelihood because it affects the interest of locals. Hindi speaking people are killed in north-eastern states for earning their bread in other state with in their own country. North eastern and Jammu and Kashmir people face alienation in other metropolitan cities. They don’t get accommodation easily.
People with in their own country are outsiders and not free to move freely. Is this is the definition of freedom, which we got six decades ago? I think these people don’t know about the fundamental rights which include freedom of movement in any part of India. It is always believed that India is a country with unity in diversity. But, this believe seems to be shattered in thousand pieces when we hear about above mentioned incidents.
Few people, regional leaders and political parties have forgotten the true meaning of freedom thought of by our freedom fighters. How can a nation celebrate its independence when the freedom has not reached to aam aadmi. Many jingoists would defy these arguments but the situation draw the stark picture of reality. It is important for our government and all the Indian to re-conceive the idea of true India. Otherwise we, Indians, will keep waiting for the true freedom. We have to become mature at 62 to enjoy and celebrate the Independence Day.
Jawaharlal Nehru said on the First Independence day in his speech Tryst with destiny, “At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.
Freedom and power bring responsibility. The responsibility rests upon this Assembly, a sovereign body representing the sovereign people of India. Before the birth of freedom we have endured all the pains of labour and our hearts are heavy with the memory of this sorrow. Some of those pains continue even now. Nevertheless, the past is over and it is the future that beckons to us now. His words are still relevant even after six decades because we are still yawning.
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