Editor, Goemkarponn
AERIAL VIEW
While we claimed our sovereignty from foreign rule many years ago, but do, we truly have freedom of living in a dignified manner.
Even today, the people of Mayem are fighting for property rights. Unemployment is an issue even today.
Our women are not safe. Even after 75 years of Independence, our women cannot step out of the house late evening fearing rapes; the law and order situation is at its worst.
Every day, we experience this disparity closely, but we have become so immune to it that we turn a blind eye to it.
In a nation where manual scavenging is still a profession for many, casteism still rampant, with many not having access to basic amenities like education and sanitation, we need to ask ourselves what does independence truly mean. Even after so many years of independence, women cannot venture out to pursue education or careers due to fear for their own safety.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
Today India celebrates its 75th Independence Day. The independence which was achieved was bitter-sweet. The bitter truth was India was divided into two nations – India and Pakistan. Nonetheless, it was a great achievement as it came after the sacrifices and martyrdom of several leaders and revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Sukdeo and Rajguru.
However, as we look at India today, one would wonder what we have achieved after 75 years of Independence.
Of Course, this article is not to blame any party or leader – neither Jawaharlal Nehru nor Narendra Modi. We need to acknowledge that every leader has worked for India, and that is the reason we have seen the development and growth. Today, Indians may be shining, becoming the top CEOs at Google, Microsoft and many other multinational companies our IITians are raking in crores and are amongst the top executives at IMF.
Today as we drive on the streets of Porvorim, Panjim, Margao, Vasco, Ponda and Mapusa, we see many children running at the traffic signals waving the tricolour flags and trying to cajole passersby into buying them (especially Porvorim junction), which the transit foe every tourist heading to the beach hotspots.
The windows of the car would roll down, and someone would give them little change in lieu of the flags.
This makes me ponder on the eve of 75th Independence Day – “Have we truly achieved our Independence?” While we claimed our sovereignty from foreign rule many years ago, but do, we truly have freedom of living in a dignified manner.
Even today, the people of Mayem are fighting for property rights. Unemployment is an issue even today.
Our women are not safe. Even after 75 years of Independence, our women cannot step out of the house late evening fearing rapes; the law and order situation is at its worst.
Every day, we experience this disparity closely, but we have become so immune to it that we turn a blind eye to it.
In a nation where manual scavenging is still a profession for many, casteism still rampant, with many not having access to basic amenities like education and sanitation, we need to ask ourselves what does independence truly mean. Even after so many years of independence, women cannot venture out to pursue education or careers due to fear for their own safety.
They are not free to express their opinions without being trolled – whether online or offline.
We call ourselves a free nation but do not have the freedom to choose what we eat, what we wear or even whom we love.
Independence Day doesn’t mean one day of nationalist pride; it means a commitment to serve the nation in a truly inclusive way.
We salute the brave hearts and heroes who fought in the freedom struggle, but they dreamt of a nation of peace and harmony where people prospered.
Unless we eradicate these social evils and learn to accept differences and celebrate them, the people in the country can’t prosper.
I hope that someday, I will see those kids in schools unfurling the National Flag in their schools and not selling them on traffic signals which would be trampled upon by cars the next day.
We must make the dream of a progressive nation with all citizens having equal rights to live with dignity come true.
The Har Ghar tiranga movement was surely a great initiative to instil patriotism amongst every Indian and it was heartening to see the majority of India putting up Tirangas in their homes.
But the question we need to ask ourselves are we really worth unfurling tirangas at our homes? What has been our contribution to the nation? Have we fulfilled our duties towards taking India forward? The day we get these answers, we will feel we are really independent.
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