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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjfGA_IeMWoUllaash kumar is a noted freelance journalist and a writer.He is a passionate environmentalist and has participated in many national and international confrences on conservation.He is working on his own films now and has made documentries on enviroment.He shares with us an article which was published in "The Deccan Herald" on the 62 nd Independence Day.
Shadows in Dream Time- The Saga of Independence Continues
Ullash Kumar R K
The fight for the freedom ended the day we were given so called freedom from the foreign rulers. But the difference it made to the common man is that only the persons in power changed. From British rulers it became our own people who had the money. I don’t think democracy or Indian rulers have made any change to lives of people. People have become poorer under Indian rulers who have been selling our country and her interests for their own self gains and to satisfy some business houses in the country. All conscious and socially aware educated citizens should stop blind praise of any person or political parties and evaluate romance based on solid output criteria.
There have been several films made on the struggle of common man and what all he goes through to live in India. All famous actors or so called super stars who have made it big in India have portrayed lives of common man in India. The angry young man or a struggling person all clearly shows the life of a common Indian citizen. Rajanikanth or Amithabh Bachan, Mohan Lal or Suresh Gopi, MGR or Rajkumar all portrayed life of common man.
The run up to the elections has been phenomenal since Independence. The Kashmiri stock of our blood always witnesses bloody dogfights. Same with the North East India wherein the Indian Army still controls the land with the cruel Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which is a bad and cruel law? You think India is independent? People live tough lives, life in fear. What we see of Palestine or Iraq on TV is nothing if one watches what happens daily in Manipur, Nagaland or Kashmir. The Indian Army is also very cruel. One has to open his eyes and ears to see the truth. Since all this truth is always hidden.
What the British did was somehow knitted the 550 princely states and formed it One India not because they wanted it that way, because it was easier for them to rule. In Independent India what we did was just continuing with the same things except, the control was with Indian Politicians and Administrators. We have not progressed one step in the last 62 yrs rather our people have become poorer. People have been looted and robbed by greedy politicians and officers. Most of the Indian stock will become extinct if it goes like this.
Looking back at the preceding decades one finds that the Indian gains in the post-Independence period are sizeable. India functioned as a nation in spite of the cultural, social, political, economic and religious diversities.
The Iraqi stock I thought for a moment was endangered species after the Gulf War. There were numerous dogfights between allied forces and the Iraqi army on the great Mesopotamian Soil. Today, what I felt is coming true, since Iraq is on fire with street fights daily. With the killing of Saddam, it has become worse. The Palestinians are also belonging to the endangered category since there are numerous fights daily in their soil. But I feel today that my own Indians are also becoming endangered due to the kind of developments that are taking place in my country in the name of so called development. There is total disregard to the environment too.
We Indians have a lot in common with the Dogs. The ecumenical environment that we live in and the gregarious creature that an Indian is, he lives, a tapestry of cultural traditions and conditions and extremely, bizarre, convoluted doggy habits. It is this last spectre, to which I personally feel, we are very close to Dogs.
Whatever little progress India has made so far is by sheer dint of individual brilliance and entrepreneurship and not by political system and administrators supporting it.
The politicians and the administrators are corrupt, cynical, sadists and cheap and put all roadblocks in path of citizen's progress. Every thing is on sale including conscience of people. The IAS-Politician- contractor’s nexus is eating into vitals of our society, its ancient culture and human values. With technology coming in more crimes, jail breaks, naxalite type movements, blasts and other crimes and unrest will increase.
There is more divide in the society today than it was in 1947. We are heading for a civil war soon.
We are in top 10 corrupt countries in world, probably at No 1, where politicians (-cum goondas), so called bureaucrats (The class 1 services mainly) and judiciary all are super corrupt, nakedly arrogant and lethargic and are shameless and irresponsible too.
Once what were farmlands and ponds for buffaloes are today spots where high rise buildings and call centers are standing. Here are shining shopping malls, multiplex and restaurants and beer bars.
Everyone is so called working for the individual as per constitution. Without national character and education and strong legal system democracy is actually a curse. Democracy is no use for Indians.
It is surprising that 80% of Indian systems and law are still same as British made, who were tyrants and invaders and sucked blood of colonies. Our brown men are continuing same laws to enjoy.
It is tragedy that Indians loose control on both politicians and government officials the moment we elect or appoint them.
Our constitution mentions citizen's accountability and duties but not that of civil servants and elected representatives who are still aping British. President, Prime minister, judges all have made themselves immune to prosecution and legal action. Why?
In name of liberalisation and globalization, these people in government have started loot and plunder. In fact they have only got liberalized from all restrictions. And looting people and poor farmers. There are SEZs and industries coming on agricultural lands, the coasts are also going away from the fishing communities.
40% people are hungry and with all bones showing, in country even after 60 years. 50% are virtual illiterates.Still we see people coming and begging in all cities. Why? This is sad, I am terribly upset with the way my country is progressing.
And today’s development is actually making more people beggars.
You remove the farmer, tribal, fisherman, dalit, and other poor people from their lands, where will these people go? They will also become beggars or will become extinct.
There are no human rights. Only namesake commissions exists in States & Centre who do drama of human rights protection. The whole world condemns India for poor human rights. In eight states daily people are being killed by security forces whom we pay. The north east especially places like Manipur are still under AFSPA, which is a cruel law used by army to kill.
At the same time we see sea changes in the cities we knew. The cities have lost identity in the process. So extraordinary is all this that those who knew Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad a decade ago are confused. They are lost; they might have to pinch themselves to see if they are alive. Like if someone came to Bangalore after a long 10 years, he or she will be sad to see his lovely Bangalore gone to dogs, in the name of development.
But is India changing in physical terms only?
Wealth is concentrating in few lakh hands only. There is a big divide in the society and inflation is growing at a fast rate. Where will common man go?
The gap between image and reality is growing in India, which claims to be the world's largest democracy, with an educated middle class and a free news media. The media is no more the fourth estate has it no longer shows the truth. The media has become the fifth pillar of corporate autocracy. It only sensationalizes some news and that too which is not important for the country. Media is more of a glamour industry with women taking over from men. And news is hardly news today. Though there is too much information available, the right information to right people is never given. And the fundamental rights to clean water, food and work remain empty abstractions to millions of Indians, whose plight rarely impinges on the news media's obsession with celebrity and consumption.
Lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty cannot happen overnight. It requires vision, statesmanship and selfless working from many of us.
Lack of opportunities prevents the complete participation of huge masses of Indians in the nation's democracy, the country's governance. And linked to poverty are the problems of illiteracy and lack of healthcare, both of which create their own sets of problems
Many of us are skeptical that the market-led growth will alleviate widespread poverty and unemployment, particularly in the rural sector, and hence we reemphasize the need for the public sector to produce "socially necessary" goods and services unless the private sector is willing to do so. But the government wants the private sector to take over everything.
The other thing we are seeing today is reckless resource depletion and environmental degradation which will undermine long-term sustainable development.
But despite of all achievements, several formidable challenges remain: exploding population, widespread poverty, illiteracy, squalor, ruptures and cleavages based on region, religion, language and gender-threatening the social fabric, urban congestion, wounded eco-systems and critical power and energy situation. Almost as many Indians are below the poverty line and illiterate as the entire population of India in 1950.
One could sum up challenges facing India as follows.
- Unemployment
- Checking infant mortality rate.
- Affordable health care.
- Population growth
- Illiteracy
- Social equity and justice with Dalits, adivasis and the marginalized
- Better deal for women in all respect
- Environment protection which include water resources, use of mineral wealth, etc.
Hope in this 63rd year of Independence we learn and strive to make all Indians happy and try to achieve all the challenges rather than looking at GDP growth or becoming a global leader.
Mera Bharat Mahan, My India is Great, with lot of nice people, I urge all my Indian Brothers and Sisters to fight for their rights and also for their own country men. Never allow this indiscriminate looting by being mere Spectators. Fight for our independence today, tomorrow will be too late. Wake up my country men…. India is yours, no Ours!!!!
