Celebrations on Indian independence day eclipse the areas that still concern all of us. Let us show the guts to look into such issues. It is time for introspection. It is time to assess how far we have progressed since Nehru's 'tryst with destiny' speech at the dawn of political freedom in 1947.
(1) About four million children still remain outside the ambit of formal primary education in the country which does not hesitate nowadays to broach the topic of economic superpowerdom at every international high table and forum.
(2) Poverty has only been managed in terms of statistics which a common man hardly understands. To a common citizen like me, poverty alleviation still remains the single largest challenge to our governance.
(3) We are an IT-superpower. But we are a laggard when it comes to basic research in science and technology. And this is in spite of IITs and a host of premier universities and research labs.
(4) We have nearly dumped our model of democratic socialism. We have never ceased talking 'money' since our economy was opened up in early 90s. We are embracing values of Western civilization and taking to the path which was shunned by the likes of Gandhi and Tagore. We have started identifying development with swanky glass-and-steel commercial buildings and titanic fly overs criss- crossing one another.
(5) Our sensitivity to moral and social problems of the day is abysmally low. We are now mere 'consumers' catering to the market-seeking brands of foreign corporations. A mode of transport as simple and primaeval as railways (local trains, to be specific) claim about 9 lives every day in the modern megalopolis of Mumbai. Buildings collapse in every monsoon with a nauseating regularity in this ambitious city that dreams to become world-class and equal those in the league of Dubai, Singapore or Shanghai.
(6) We are content as our economy has grown at 9 per cent rate lately. Barring economy, almost everything appears to be in a mess.
(7) Our democray is functioning well apparently. On closer examination, it looks no better than a spoils system. An educated youth hailing from a humble socio-economic background still does not dare to enter politics. Debates and discussions are still confined to air conditioned studios of NDTV or IBN-CNN.
-DIPAN ANJARIA
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