August 15, 1947 is looked upon by every citizen of this country as the birthday of free India. It was for us the end of an old era and the beginning of a new age. It was on this day, the nation woke up breathing in the air of freedom to herald a new beginning. It was this freedom that gave India a new identity as a sovereign country after centuries of colonial rule. Today, August 15, 2022 we celebrate 75 years of Independence. The country, the people, the media, the Government establishments are all agog with the theme “Har Ghar Par Tiranga” celebrating Amrit Mahotsava on Independence day with a shrill call: One Country, One Emotion, of course, One Identity! India’s democracy continues to be an enigma.
During the last 75 years our country has surely made tremendous progress such a scale our forefathers never imagined. People in our country have eliminated the much-dreaded famine by becoming self-sufficient in the production of food grains through the use of science and technology. The green, white and blue revolutions have ensured people regular supply of food, milk, vegetables, fish, meat and essentials. We have taken giant leaps in science and technology in the field of Education, Medicare and Health, Transportation, Housing, Entertainment, Clothing, Automobiles, Information, Technology and Space, Science as well.
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Who has been responsible for this gigantic progress? Despite much thumping on his chest by our present day Prime Minister Narendra Modi that his BJP Government has made India a ‘Super power’ on a reality check – it is actually our country’s farmers, dairy people, the horticulturists, goat and sheep rearers, fishermen, poultry people, artisans, building and construction workers, factory, mines, industrial and shops and establishment workers, market vendors and retailers, the government servants, teachers, bankers, medical staff, the transport people. But the ruling elite never tires of obliterating the history made by the toilers and the working class. What we see and hear is not therefore the reality. The reality is just the opposite. The credit for the stellar progress made by our country goes to the tens of millions of our people and cannot be attributed nor be the repository of any one or group of individuals or political formations.
During the last 75 years, we have also seen that poverty has not yet been eliminated. Exploitation of the working class and the toilers has not ended. Atrocities and crimes on women, children and the aged abound. Conflict and injustices and wrong doings by people against people is evidenced in the phenomenal number of cases in various courts in the form of litigation. The numbers of billionaires are on the rise and the ranks of the poor destitute and unemployed are swelling. There is serious democratic back-sliding in India. Repression and negation of the right to dissent by the BJP ruling dispensation is on the rise. The crackdown on dissent is endangering free speech. In today’s circumstances, the entire criminal/justice system is in collusion with the repressive state The present government is creating a climate of fear.
It must be borne in mind: that the power to question is the basis of all human progress. In the absence of dissent, democracy withers and dies. The “soul of India” resides in pluralism and tolerance. The courts cannot be made hand maidens of the executive.
Democracy is not a spectator sport. It is a participatory event if we do not participate in it, it seizes to be democracy. Democracy and the secular character of the State are the two principles solemnly affirmed by our Constitution. Let’s take courage. The recent trends are definitely politically reversible. The electoral struggles as we all see it, are on-going events. It’s heartening to know that the opposition parties are trying hard to put their act together to combat the combined might of RSS and BJP.
The Modi government has systematically demolished the secular foundations of Indian democracy, replacing it with a Hindu State in which non-Hindus are at best tolerated. The international community is well aware of the shrinking space for democratic rights and freedoms in our country, despite Modi’s persistent attempts to project “All Is Well” image of India, abroad.
There are of course several road blocks to a fair and transparent electoral system.
It is a fact, that these electoral bonds have enabled the ruling BJP to take whole sale control of thousands and lakhs of rupees as political donations from an “opaque system” of electoral bonds especially from its well wishers and billionaire friends whom they have promoted all these years during their corrupt rule. But let us keep in mind the observation of the Member of Parliament, Shashi Tharoor, who recently said, “India, has been born and re-born scores of times. And it will be re-born again. India is forever, and India is forever being made.” Democracy is said to be alive when the people of a country hold its government accountable and in control. We the people of India refuse to be controlled by any government despite the fragmented nature of the opposition parties that strengthen the hands of those in power.
My brothers and sisters let us know that we are citizens of a great nation led by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and the thousands of selfless freedom fighters.
We have nothing to fear, but disunity and fear itself. Knowledge, unity and informed action will set us all free. Be assured that our country which has long enjoyed the label of the world’s largest democracy has a bright future. For whatever happens in our nation sets its ripples in all other countries.
(The writer is a social scientist and a senior practising criminal lawyer)
