15th august: Just another holiday or it really means to you?

Its 15th august, does this date remind you of something? Does this date have some importance in your life? Do I need you to tell, what vital significance this particular date plays in the history of India? Well, I think, I don’t really need to say about all these or answer these above mentioned questions in my life.

Ya, its 15th August, the day we got independence...freedom, liberty, the synonyms can go on and on. It was 15th August, 1947 we got independence from British rule. Fortunate enough, today we are celebrating 61st birthday of our motherland, but however I want to ask to my friends, juniors, seniors and so called respected politicians... what does freedom mean to you in your life? Do you wish to devote your entire life for the sake of our motherland? What can you do for the improvement of your nation? I again know, you all come across these types of questions every next another day. But dear friends, please don’t take these questions lightly. Some might say...salee kyo paka raha hai... abe bore mat kar...

Sounds bad, well it is bad. How can you react like this? Today, every next day, we talk about development, progress, unity and so many so called economical and social issues. Every four years, new government gets elected depending upon the faith of billions of people and four-year or five-year plans proto-types strategies are designed. We say India is rising; we are looking for the permanent membership in United Nations. We say that the world is looking India as the next potential market in south-east Asia. Again, my dear friends this imagination can go on and on. But dear Indians what about our in-house problems that have remained unresolved since our independence. Where is education for all, corruption free environment, equal rights for every citizen, poverty-free India?

Today, even after 61 years of Indian Independence, there are regions across India where child education still acts as a dream. Issues related to child like female infanticide, child labor, child sexual harassment has in-fact grown at tremendous rate. Why in country like India, where we worship goddess like Durga, Parvati or Laxmi disrespect women? Why women in India still not safe even in her own home? Every 30 minutes, one woman is raped in India and in 75% of the cases the offenders are the victim’s acquaintances. We talk about 33% women reservation bill in parliament, then why the picture has still remained unchanged? Fortunately things or the circumstances have changed in metros, but the large ratio in rural areas remains static.

Education for all. Doesn’t it sounds very good? Certainly it does, but and but...the current scenario depicts the true picture. As per The Week, monthly magazine, there are about218 million child labourers under the age of 14 world-wide and 15 million in India; 85 percent of them are from rural pockets. Globally around 126 million children work in hazardous conditions and 1.8 millions are forced into prostitution. The story on other side of the coin is not different. About 46% children below six are malnourished. So, think can you still cheers for our great motherland.

Poverty...well very familiar with this world. Unofficial estimates show that districts of banda, Hamirpur, Jalaun, jhasi and Chitrakoot have witnessed around 2,000 unnatural deaths in the last four years. Out of 32 Lakh people directly engaged in agriculture, 80 percent are deeply in debt. The statics and go on and on.

Well, the 15th August, 2008 is over, next year again we will just meet and perhaps will raise our concern on different areas. But dear citizens of India, how long we will just wait for things to improve...perhaps the time has come, when we should all get united and make this land a better place to live.