"Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. 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 new when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance..."
The historic speech reflected the sentiments of jubilant Indian people. Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, first Prime Minister of free India, was addressing the nation seven decades back in 1947. Independent India was emerging; the euphoria was palpable. About two centuries of British Raj was culminating after a long impetuous struggle. Under the Indian Independence Act, 1947 passed by the British Parliament a smooth non-violent transition of power was taking place. Poverty, inequality, injustice, oppression, dejection and frustration prevalent under the foreign rule were going to become a thing of the past. It was new dawn; people were masters of their own.
Abutting ecstasy there was dejection, treachery and wounded humanity. The nation paid a heavy price of freedom - India was vivisected. Pakistan was carved out ludicrously in unholy haste as an Islamic country on amorphous religion-specific ‘Two Nation Theory’ which proved futile; Bangla Desh (erstwhile 'East Pakistan) emerged as a free nation in 1971. India decided to remain a secular democratic country with an egalitarian social system.
Strife for independence was over but the gargantuan predicaments facing the country were yet to be conquered. The nation was to prepare for Armageddon against poverty, hunger, illiteracy and disease.
Erstwhile rulers treated this great country with the utmost disrespect, contempt and apprehension. Winston Churchill at the time of independence had reportedly said:
“Power will go to the hands of rascals, rogues, freebooters; all Indian leaders will be of low calibre & men of straw. They will have sweet tongues and silly hearts. They will fight amongst themselves for power and India will be lost in political squabbles. A day would come when even air and water would be taxed in India.”
Though the above statement is not authenticated, the sentiments of the Britons were on the same line - cornering and demeaning a country they had sucked for long. Those days were over.
Severe communal conflagrations during and after the partition lacerated the faith of people whose self-esteem was at the lowest ebb. Shattered faith, disgust, anger and frustration had smashed their identities; deeply furrowed society was on a tinder box. Fifteen million people were uprooted from their soil and displaced. Women, children and dotage were worst affected. It was massive transmigration of population because of widespread communal violence, arson and looting. The wounds were not only physical but have had scathed the souls as well. Besides establishing peace and order, the refugees urgently needed to be helped and rehabilitated.
The tormented nation has had no time to lament. With determination and resolve, people joined hands in making India a nation with distinction to live up the expectations of those who hecatomb their lives on the altar of the motherland. Cleansing and purifying the vicious atmosphere, the work was to start with an inclusive thought process. People intrepidly took it head-on.
Unifying the utterly fragmented country with 565 princely states, numerous Zamindars and petty rulers having the power of self-determination post-independence was an uphill task. Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel sobriquet 'Iron-man', first Union Home Minister of free India, took up the challenge. Princely states were successfully and smoothly amalgamated making India a unified one nation - a bouquet of varied customs, cultures, languages and faith.
A legal framework is necessary to establish the rule of law. After several marathon meetings, debates, discussions and burning the midnight oil by the illustrious members of the Constituent Assembly a Constitution was drafted in two years eleven months and seventeen days. On the twenty-sixth day of November 1949 ‘We the People of India’ adopted Constitution which later was enacted on the Twenty-sixth day of January 1950. Redundant would it be to say that the Constitution is sovereign and the source of power.
Citizen centricity is the linchpin of a civilized nation. Governments strive for the betterment of their people. The Suprema lex is people's welfare, education, health, sanitation and infrastructure. These are but few basic needs which are of supreme importance for the decent life of people. Satisfied people are creative and constructive. The Constitution promises governance through the rule of law. The preamble reflects the idea and thought-process of the people of the nation.
With 133.92 crore population, India is the world's largest federal form of parliamentary democracy and a system wherein nation-building is a collective object. Our 34% energetic, intelligent and positive youths are capable of making impactful change. They are creative, think big and achieve. It is Young India - 'Youngistan'.
Since the first general elections in 1951, Election Commission of India has performed its duties effectively. The world is amazed to see the vast, efficient and foolproof Indian election system. Using the power of their votes, people constitute their government. The stunning magnitude of election is evident with the fact that in May this year 900 million people including 432 million women enthusiastically used their right of franchise to elect 17th Lok Sabha (Lower House) in the recently concluded largest world over general elections. More than 1.035 million polling booths were established across India - including the one at the altitude of 15256 feet in Himachal Pradesh and one for a single person in the dense forest of Gujrat where the polling party sauntered 35 kilometres to reach. The mammoth democratic process involved 3.96 million EVMs (Electronic Voting Machine),1.74 million VVPAT (Voters verified Paper Audit Trail) machines and 11 million election personnel. To assist in peaceful conduction of the poll process, 2,70,000 paramilitary force and 2 million state police personnel were deployed.
As with light shadows are inherent so are flaws with system especially the one as elaborate like India. Affirmatively it is organic and self-reformatory wherein the nation learns through experiences. Emergency imposed in 1975 by the then government is one such dark chapter in the annals of free India which taught harsh lessons. It buttressed the idea of constructive opposition and impartial fourth column which act as a watchdog to protect the democracy and its institutions. Showing maturity the people mandated against the tyrant rule of emergency dethroned the most powerful Prime Minister of the time - late Mrs Indira Gandhi and her government. It testifies the deep-rooted concept of democracy in the country where the real power vests in the people.
In the systemic construction, India has three vital organs which run the whole body - Parliament, Executive and Judiciary. All three work in tandem for the welfare of the nation. Fair delivery demands transparent and corruption-free functioning, underlining the importance of impartial and honest functionaries. Strangely enough, however, India ranks high at 78th out of 175 countries in the Corruption Perception Index 2018. Needless to say that corruption is the breeding ground of crime and terror; sucks the legitimate rights of the eligible, besides damaging the morale and adversely affecting the economy. The country is fighting back this menace.
India is a vibrant nation with multifarious thoughts, ideologies and philosophies. Here we have optimism and juxtaposing pessimism. One section believes that India is progressing fast, other one sees the fallacy. This mental pugilism leads to a logical conclusion, beneficial for the country as a whole. The nationals are free to express their views as the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression. The freedom imposes certain restrictions as well. It is innate and necessary. The national interest is of paramount importance.
It has been a long journey. Travelling through time for more than seven decades, the nation has developed a lot. The matured institutions have shown that even the most complicated issue can be resolved within the framework of the Constitution. India is now shining. We have made our presence felt, the world cannot ignore us. The challenges are being meticulously taken up and resolved.
A nation is not merely a piece of land inhabited by people of similar origin, language, customs, culture, rites and rituals. It is an organic entity. Like the mother to her child, people are bonded with a cosmic bond. The motherland nourishes and sustains us. It is, therefore, incumbent upon us to protect her modesty.
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