Hope Amidst Chaos
“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.”
These were the words of our former Prime Minister Jawarharlal Nehru on the eve of India’s Independence, towards midnight on 14 August 1947.
This year would mark the 73rd anniversary of our independence, but have we truly achieved the Freedom for which our forefathers fought? Has the time come again to awaken our nation’s soul?
Since its independence, India has developed itself in many aspects like healthcare, education, infrastructure, etc. But still, there are some areas in which we are backward.
We pride ourselves on saying that India is a land of diversity. People of different religions, caste, color have been living here peacefully with cooperation and harmony. We speak different tongues and practice varied cultures which add to the beauty of India. India is known for its rich diversity and respect for each difference.
The brotherhood we share has been under attack for a few years now. Some forces are spreading hatred under the mask of religion. If our Freedom Fighters had thought about RELIGION during the struggle for Independence, probably The British would still be ruling us. Secularity is the foundation of the concept of India, no particular religion should be defining this country. We have taught the world how to live with differences, how to respect each other’s beliefs and celebrate every festival with the same enthusiasm.
We say that India is our motherland, our ‘Maa’ how can we expect a mother to show partiality among her children? Or how would she feel seeing her children fighting among themselves? Rather than fighting among ourselves, we should be fighting the forces which are affecting the country and our lives as a whole. It’s time to fight and eradicate those social evils which are hindering the progress of our society.
In the past few years, India has achieved great heights as a country. Technological wonders like the Mangalyaan have put our Space Program in the best light. Times like the crash-landing of Chadrayaan 2, have put our solidarity to test. We’ve come far as a society too. We’ve won battles like the decriminalization of section 377. Our progress in accepting the LGBTQ+ community is a clear sign that society has come far. There still is a long way to go, it is a half won battle.
There is one major question in front of us demanding our attention — Has anything changed for girls after the Nirbhaya case?
Well, after what happened with the veterinary doctor in Hyderabad, this question has a clear answer, NO!
It’s not that no such cases happened after the Nirbhaya case or that the situation has changed after the Hyderabad case. Nirbhaya’s convicts are yet to receive punishment. This raises another question- Is the judiciary at fault or the society?
The answer is both. The judiciary has loopholes, amending laws solves this. What about Society? We have failed as a society in changing our thinking towards women. Many Indians still see women as objects. Numerous standards exist for girls from their childhood, no such standards exist for boys. Society has made women believe that they are weak and dependent. Women who broke these molds have made history!
Women like PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, Sushma Swaraj, etc. were able to create history because in their mind they never considered themselves as weak. Women need to believe that we have that capacity and courage to fight all odds and that they are no less than anyone.
The government is trying to give equal opportunities to all, but it’s high time that we start working as a society to respect everyone irrespective of their gender. As an individual, we need to believe that we can do anything we dream of.
There are many challenges that India is facing right now. And as an individual, we should not get divided based on the religion we follow or the political party we support. Political parties will try to spread hatred but we shouldn’t fall in their trap. It is not the time to ask anyone to prove his/her nationalism but to understand our rights and duties. The right tribute to the Freedom Fighters would be to create the India they dreamt of and sacrificed their lives for. Let’s join hands to transform India into the paradise it was meant to be.
