"India has reached its 60th year of Independence", I was telling the flower vendor in my street corner during our usual chat. Her immediate reply was,
"Oh yes, it comes every year no? My daughter gets a chocolate in her school every year for that." Is this how a citizen reacts?? Blame it on her ignorance and
illiteracy. You see, India is independent!
Its a sad fact that Independence Day is almost becoming like someone else's Birthday. You celebrate it every year on that particular day, block the roads, spend in lakhs for the parades, give patriotic speeches and poosh!! Everything ends with that day!
Children in the corporation schools are excited about Independence Day - they get a chocolate!
Working people are excited about Independence Day - they get a HOLIDAY!
Television channels feel good about Independence Day - Their TRP increases with new programmes and new movies!! Again you see, India is Independent!
By the way, its been my long term doubt. Have you seen the list of programmes piled up in the TV channels to celebrate ID?? How on earth can you CELEBRATE Independence Day by watching the interview of a sexy heroine??? Then there would be a couple of cine programmes and finally a new movie. The intermissions would say "Celebrate ID with our _____ Product" (How Innovative!!)
For & Against:
Well, looking at the darker side of all this. I read in someone else's blog that there are 90,000 schools in India which still doesn't even have a blackboard. There are still child laborers working in the match factories of Sivakasi (not only sivakasi). There are lakhs and lakhs of families who still live on platforms..... The list would be never ending!
At the same time, look at the brighter side of things - The IT revolution, BPOs, Sensex hitting 15000 points, major acquisitions and mergers, Discotheques, pubs, Shivaji at a budget of Crores of rupees, fan clubs for Shreya, opening of Multinationals, SEZs, and lots and lots of money with the corporates and professionals and of course in the hands (pockets) of the Government!!
An IT professional gives a tip of Rs. 500 to the bearer of a hotel, for a bill of Rs. 2000!! Of course, its his/her hard earned money, but still, isn't that ridiculous when a common man without education still earns only Rs.15 a day in the villages? And finally blame inflation for all this!
I really don't think that I can call India an Independent Country till it is able to bridge the gap between these darker and brighter sides. But how is it going to do that? No one knows! I would openly admit that I can just grumble about all these and seriously cannot do anything about them. Ultimately, its the mindset of Everyone which has got to change.
The flower vendor should realize that Independence Day is not some Posh guy's birthday..
The IT chap needs to realize that his earnings could be put to more productive use..
And above all, the political parties gotta stop fighting and blaming each other (Which is of course a myth!).
Anyways, the Indian market is booming. There are splendid opportunities for us. Lets hope that our country too would soon rise as a fully developed and equipped one.
One second, I suddenly get a feeling as if I've been writing a patriotic composition for my English Exam!! I'm stopping here.. Let me Celebrate ID with chocolates, TV shows and a Holiday. Jai Hind!!
