Yesterday Indian Republic marked its 60th anniversary (an average Indian’s life time) of its independence. yet another Independence Day for the people of India to openly talk of secession.
About the secession of the Indian state from the citizens it is supposed to serve.
The secession of Indian politicians from the people they are supposed to represent.
The secession of the Indian rich from the fate of their fellow Indians.
The secession of India’s educated from the basic values of their own education (with values replaced by the price of their souls)
The secession of the idea of development from the real needs of the Indian people leaving only a trail of destruction and displacement.
As Independent India approaches the age of sixty- that magical sum of five cycles of 12 years each – it is time to tell the truth about our country.
The truth that six decades after the British departed India is still ruled like a colonial state that violates the rights of its ‘subjects’ with complete contempt whenever it wants.
The truth that so far successive Indian governments have primarily represented the business and landed elites and never the common citizens of this country.
The truth that indigenous communities, fisherfolk and Adivasis – the original people of India- have been victims of a systematic apartheid practiced by the Indian establishment.
The truth that the Dalits of this country still scavenge the waste of the upper castes who consume but are not ready to deal with the consequences of their consumption.
The truth that all Indian regimes since Independence have coveted the resources of the North East but treated its people as aliens in their own land.
The truth that Kashmir has become a property dispute between the establishments of India and Pakistan, neither of whom give a damn for the lives and rights of the Kashmiris themselves.
The truth that the spirit and essence of India’s democracy – that great political victory we won as part of the freedom struggle- has been reduced today to a bland consumerist choice between one brand of toothpaste and the other.
There was enough official celebrations on this year too, the media chattered about of India turning a Super Power and our politicians salivate at the idea of becoming a junior partner of US Imperialism. And yet behind this pomp, show and false grandeur lie the glaring contradictions of our country.
The contradiction of a poor, developing nation that wants to send a Man to the Moon when it can’t even send its children to decent schools.
The contradiction of a budding nuclear power that can make atom bombs but can’t generate enough electricity to light up its villages.
The contradiction of ‘patriots’ shedding crocodile tears for Mother India while girl children are killed even before they are born and women in this country are routinely murdered and raped.
The contradiction of a country that has the largest number of billionaires in the world outside the US while its impoverished farmers commit suicide and farm workers starve to death.
The contradiction of a government that allows Coca Cola, sitting in far away Atlanta, to poison the drinking water of this country while millions of its citizens are dying of thirst.
The contradiction of the Indian media which is growing in numbers but shrinking in stature, reduced to peddling trivia, titillation and shining trinkets sold by global corporations.
I believe the time has come for the people of India to openly talk of RESISTANCE.
RESISTANCE against the colonial Indian state to restore it as an instrument at the service of the people of India and make our public servants behave like servants of the public.
RESISTANCE against the attempt by the Indian government to sell off public resources to the highest bidders and privatize everything including the dreams of the Indian people.
RESISTANCE against the takeover of this country by progenies of the East India Company, the corporate ‘monarchs’ carving their princely kingdoms from the flesh and blood of the Indian nation.
RESISTANCE against the Brown Sahibs who rule us and are now busy negotiating the sale of our national sovereignty to foreign powers paving the way for a recolonisation of India.
A VICTORY for the people of India who refuse to be cheated, exploited and fooled in perpetuity by their rulers.
As usual Independence day is an occasion of Dreams & expectations too…. But I believe The Independence cannot be achieved without justice, human dignity, sovereignty, ecological sustenance and genuine democracy.
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Comments ( 4 )
nice! there should be more of us brining out these facts against a jingoistic media which only play fake.
kramer added these pithy words on
Aug 17 07 at
11:38 am
Well written indeed!!!All the so-called spirit of Independence usually lasts a day or so, after which people go back on their usual ways of corruption, negligence of minority rights etc…Independence day is nothing but an opportunity for politicians to make far fetched claims of development and give more Jhoota promises. But then again there’s something about celebrating independence day among children. There’s some truth in that…
Sunanda added these pithy words on
Aug 18 07 at
12:21 am
NO NATION IS PERFECT ,ITS NEED TO BE MADE PERFECT
DSR added these pithy words on
Sep 27 07 at
8:51 am
As an American, I appreciate your courage and honesty in bringing attention to these unpleasant facts and contradictions within your country. Like many westerners, I am fascinated by many aspects of your great land and people. It is a source of endless interest to so many people around the world–many of whom have never been there, of course. For some it is a place to look down on; for others, a place to idolize and mythologize. The truth, as usual, lies somewhere in the middle. I hope that you achieve the kind of independence you write about here. India has so much to offer the world, but of course it must offer its own people a better future–a better today!–first.
Stephen Smith added these pithy words on
Feb 17 08 at
12:20 am
