As we approach towards Independence Day, we witness a great enthusiasm across the country, arising the thoughts of freedom. It has been pure bliss to be born in India and makes us feel proud to be part of the largest democracy in the world. A country is so vibrant, so colourful and so distinguished that one can only wish for. 15th August 2019 will once again mark a day of independence from the British rule as we await to hear Prime Minister Narender Modi’s speech. The skies will be covered with beautiful kites leaving us with a spectacular view. There shall be sweets and mouth-watering dishes to treat ourselves to. And the news channels will submerge us into the patriotic songs and push to take a look back at history. You must prepare yourselves for Border, Uri, Gadar, Chak De India, etc on your television screens. The happiest shall be the office goers who get a day off in the middle of the week. The social media shall be flooded with ample selfies in the tri-colour with hashtags.
It has now been over 70 years that we’re free and independent to do whatever you want & whenever you want. Ask yourself, are we really independent? Are we really free to do whatever you want? The reality is that India is a free nation but we don’t have the freedom to decide what to eat, wear and love. The constitution of India provides every citizen with six fundamental rights, that are, Right to freedom, Right to education and culture, Right against exploitation, Right to equality, Right to freedom of religion, and Right to constitutional remedies. We’re yet to be freed from the existing social evils and the problems that have been persisting for a long time. We’ve witnessed various politicians and public figures protesting against the present Governmental policies that are giving birth to corruption. The list of social evils is way too long for us to mention here, yet they prevail around us.
Today, if we drive to almost anywhere and halt at the red light, children holding tri-colour flags would be coming rushing towards you in a hope to sell you one. Some kind head may roll down their window and offer to buy some. The festivals change, dates change, years pass on but even after all these years of Independence, those little kids are still under misery. We have failed to provide our people with basic amenities such as sanitation, medical and education. The casteism still persists, marriage in other caste is a big threat leading to honour killing across the nation. We belong to a country where marital rape is considered legal, women’s rights are least talked about and their safety is still a big question. Be it online or offline, we’re not free to express ourselves without being trolled. You hardly can get any job done without paying the bribe, be it a clerk or any Government officer. In many cases, a bribe is demanded openly. You must pay “donations” to get your kid an admission in school at various levels. When our lawmakers and saviours of law themselves have such criminal records, how can you expect to get freedom from all the crimes in India?
Speaking of women’s safety, another big problem is female foeticide. Even in the existing century, low minded people still consider a female child a burden and her mother are forced to undergo abortion post-sex determination. Whereas there are females like Smriti Irani and Hima Das who have accomplished what most of the males can only dream of. Certainly, the male to female ratio is alarming today as well. We must strive to make people aware of this heinous crime and must educate about the consequences that we may suffer in the long run. Females are yet to receive the gender-equal opportunities that they actually deserve.
The crime rate doesn’t actually seem to be in control. And it's not just about our women being raped, groped, acid attacks, sexual violence, forced prostitution, being teased and molested, it is the children and elderly people who are also a victim of such crimes. Over 400 million children in India are not free in their society. Unfortunately, currently not even in their schools where they go to define their future, to get educated they are becoming a victim of violence. In India responsibility of care and protection of children has been with families and communities, but today parents don’t feel safe to leave their kids with neighbour/relatives. The guiltless children before they could even comprehend the real sense of freedom, they have lost it. Are we really independent?
These days we come across the news of a woman being raped or molested by the cab drivers and even relatives, which has become a common phenomenon. Certainly, our society can never develop until and unless the women around us feel safe and confident. After all these years of independence, we are still stressed to get rid of communal violence. Though a big group of Indians endeavour for peace in the country, there are few groups, parties, organizations with religious benefits working in India to divide and rule the country. Political parties for their benefits have created communal hatred among communities. History has been transformed, and media which is controlled by political parties and corporates has impacted us in a unique way.
On this Independence Day, we have not only disrespected what we have but we keep on seeking the ways to exploit it. Till the day we work together to get rid of all these social evils, India shall never become independent in a true sense. The day we actually be alive to witness equality, and females are not considered to be a burden and are not exploited across any level, India shall become independent. We hope to see an India when the kids are actually in school, educating themselves instead of selling tri-colour flags at traffic lights, a day when no farmer commits suicide, a day when human are not trafficked anymore, a day when each Indian is employed, a day when each Indian can access the basic amenities, a day when women can decide what dress they want to put on, a day when poverty is eradicated from our nation, a day when you can exercise your rights, India shall become Independent then.
Through this article, we aim to spread love, peace and harmony among our people. We aim to work together to make India more independent, more blissful, more tolerant and more educated. On this eve of Independence Day, let’s strive together to keep our differences aside and revolt against the social evils to make India free and independent.
