All these stray experiences would often make me wonder how much the people of the country, - post Independence - especially the youth, cared about the freedom struggle, and valued our much coveted Independence these days. I would also hear people, especially the old; say that the youth of today cared little about either Independence or about what was happening to the country. ‘Let these go to the dogs,’ was their attitude as if, ‘as long as we get our fat monthly dough at the M.N.C.S. or the I.T. joints.’

This Independence Day, I, a senior citizen of India, about whose being common place there is no doubt whatsoever, have decided to cast a good hard look at how, from my boyhood days to my old age now, I have been viewing my country, its freedom, and other related matters. This purportedly subjective journey will make me realise perhaps a thing or two about myself and about other commoners like me, both old and young.

I was brought up on a regular diet of the post Independence precept that India was a nation of diversity, all the divergence of which, more than less, was finally put together in a neat bunch of unity. It was this very concept of unity that was trampled on by those in power. We were told that the revolutionaries who had laid down their lives in Punjab, in Bengal and elsewhere were nothing better than young terrorists gone astray, and the freedom of the country was really brought about by Gandhiji and his men through non-violent, non - cooperation. One would wonder why both the Gandhians and the revolutionaries, who thought nothing of laying down their lives for the country, could not be brought together in a bunch of true patriots! One appreciated the idealism, the secular aura of the concept ‘Kashi kaba ek hai! Ek Ram Rahim’ even while wondering how much of the ‘kaba’ does the ‘kashi’ know after all, and vice versa, and whether it would not be better to recognize the separateness of Ram and Rahim, and then know them and revere them for what they are more than any other corner’ stone of the Indian constitution, it is this concept of secularism that has taken a lot of hammering over the years to undergo a complete metamorphosis. From Nehru’s nation that the majority has to be more accommodating through the fall of the Babri mosque to the blatant appeasement of the minorities to preserve them as vote- banks, is indeed a long journey. In the process ‘secularism’ has come to be used more as a political tool than as a concept protecting national stability.

The socialistic pattern of governance threw up ministers who ‘forget’ to submit their income tax returns for several years even as people endured starvation and unemployment. Progress was made, but by the government’s own admission only 20 paise out of each rupee reached the people it was meant for.

Politicking appeared to be more important than serving the cause of the nation, and we had the infamous president’s rule against Namboodiripad’s government in Kerala, the fanning of the Khalisthan fire to burn the Akali Wings, and then the dreaded Emergency. A Bofors here and a Mondal Commission there were thrown in to good effect. In between we had the hijacking of old political parties, conscience voting which often turned the temple of democracy, the august parliament into a den of hypocrisy and opportunism.

In this ‘nation of diversity’ we have an economic growth at 8 point something, even as the peasants commit suicide, footpath dwellers get under posh cars driven by the film stars and the rich. In a nation proud of its spiritual heritage, politics, corruption and the criminal factor can walk the ramp hand in hand. Leaders who shed tears for peasants and labourers bulldoze the same have nots in Nandigram and Singur. Inflation reaches double digits, and still the business tycoons can buy their wives luxury yachts and airplanes, and parties can spend crores of rupees to buy votes. The Trust Vote about three weeks before the Independence Day celebration has seen how inflation has liked the rates of MPS from 3 crores in the 1993 J.M.M. days to several times more now. It has seen jail birds flying out of their cages to take their place of honour in the parliament.

Have we reached the nadir of cynicism and despondence?

Where do we go from here? Should we change Tagore’s prayer and say:

‘O Father! In that morning

Freed from all politicians,

Let my country awake!’

Where to turn for solace? If our representatives are totally saturated with wealth, wine and women, if our youth are just self – concentrated, then where does mother India turn for success? Various N.G.Os and socially conscious individuals are perhaps the little spots of light in the growing darkness of a monstrous midnight.

We have to have the dedication and determination of a Baba Amte, a Medha Patkar, a Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak of the ‘Sulabh’ fame and of Mrs. Nandy and Mrs. Shourie. Otherwise our progress would be a pyrrhic one involving only the progress of the well to do. It will indeed take monumental efforts on our part to lift the sinking feeling that has come to weigh down on the entire nation after the ugly episodes of the Trust Vote tragedy.

Pinaki Prasad Dhar.