Our country’s struggle for freedom resulted in the
birth of a beautiful country with incredible culture, traditions and natural
wealth. Being an Indian is a matter of pride.
However, what I,
as a young person, see around me is a breakdown of systems for the benefit of a
few. We are being stripped of our rich inheritance often by the bodies that
should protect it. Sometimes it feels like we are staring at a bleak future. Is
our country safe anymore? Can we really make the change it badly needs?
– Ana Smriti Paes, Student
at GMC
As youth we want to see a better future for Goans in India. Hence as a
proud Indian I want to experience true freedom of expression and speech and not
a fear of political leaders who intimidate us youth when we raise genuine
issues. I want freedom from bad governance. The Indian citizens in Goa are
protesting and raising their voices due to the failure and bad decisions of the
government, be it the three linear projects or an attack on our heritage. As a
youth we will come out and raise our voices whenever the government fails. I
love my India. Jai Hind
– Gavrav Gawas, St
Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim
As we see youths still fighting for the betterment of the state, it
shows we are not free from corruption. There is politics taking place between
well educated and uneducated people. I also feel that some major things
happening in the state are not in favour of the public, it has been initiated
to fill the pockets of the people sitting on high. The young had to come out on
the road to ask the government to revoke the destructive projects and bad laws
implemented which really don’t benefit the Goans and its culture. This is not
the freedom we want.
– Sabira Shaikh, Student,
St. Joseph Vaz College.
75 yrs, Azadi ka amrut Utsav has to be real. And it cannot be Amrit as
long as the poison of communalism, greed, goondagiri, is not neutralized. As a
youth, I will fight for my right but the fight is in order to attain true
freedom. As a youth I want to say to the powerful, ‘don’t manipulate us for
political gains, don’t misguide us for your greed, don’t ignore us when we mean
business, we know to choose the good things for us, so Respect us and let us
truly be free and enjoy the ‘Azadi ka amrit’
– Neha Gaude, Secretary
CYFC, Chicalim
To me Independence Day is about freedom. A fragile freedom that is
increasingly under threat. The same kinds of illiberal forces that were at work
prior to independence continued unabated post-independence and liberties like
freedom of the press, of speech, of religion continue to be at issue today.
Privacy, (in particular digital privacy) seems to be a value that is fast
disappearing especially in light of the recent Pegasus affair which touches on
both freedom of the press and the affected journalists inalienable right to
privacy. Freedom isn’t something we “achieved”, nor is it a destination we
should strive toward, but rather a battle we must resolve to fight every day.
In sum, I think Independence Day is a reminder for us to be ever vigilant and
ensure that the hard-fought freedoms we’ve inherited from our forefathers isn’t
lost through our inaction or apathy.
– Jason Fernandes, Founder,
TokenJay.com
Our generation is suffering from all sorts of corruption. We will be
free only after this corruption ends. We need freedom from divisive policies
like the bhumiputra bill, major ports authority bill, faulty CZMP and ODPs,
political misuse of the police force, etc.. Jai Hind
– Myron Lucas, Fr
Agnel college, Pilar
Yes, the young are fighting for issues. These issues are not imaginary
but real. Our young generation is in touch with reality. The young generation
is logical they feel pained when they see illogical things happen for the
state, eg. Monsoon session at national and state level. They are angry cause
there is no humanity or compassion shown towards the needy. There is corruption
not only with regard to money but values and culture and nature. We are
relational beings and for young relationships are very important. They see that
these are in danger. The biggest project the government must undertake is the
happiness of its citizens. The focus is changing. In Goa we are physically,
mentally caged. Our women can’t go out freely, their bodies are caged, they are
raped.
I firmly believe
the soul of the young generation is ingrained in the very nature of our state
and country. Young will rise when there is a need. I think young people have
realised it’s better to fight for freedom and survive, then to be dead in the
long run.
– Fr Reagan Fernandes, Youth animator Panjim
Our forefathers have fought for independence.
Independence provides a base for equality, justice and fraternity. However,
even after 75th years, equality and justice is still not being served to us as
citizens. We are being deprived of our rights, when we as youth try to raise
our voices or try to fight for our rights or even try to implement a change,
putting our future in a pit-hole. On this Independence Day let’s pledge to be
the change for a better future.
– Atish Vaz, Chicalim
We are celebrating 75 glorious years of India’s freedom. The recent
heartbreaking rape cases and murders of young girls in our state truly reveal
the freedom we enjoy. Crimes are one the rise. The government does not take
into account the stakeholders of the state in the decision making. Laws are
imposed on the people reducing them to mere subjects of the state. Multiple
projects that are not in the interest of the common masses are flourishing.
Does this mean we
give up? 75 years ago the Indian brave hearts fought the British and after a
series of revolts and movements and a great deal of hardships and struggles
they finally got India free. Let this inspire all the youth across Goa to fight
relentlessly against all the social evils that we face everyday and truly free
Goa and India.
– Darina Lobo, Aldona
