65 Years of Indian Independence

 15^th of August, 1947 as the history will describe was the day when India, one of the oldest civilizations of humankind, rose to independence and sovereignty. 15^th August, 2012 marks the 66^th Anniversary of this celebrated festival in India. On this day, the Indian tri-color will govern the skies; songs of patriotism will fill in the air and on the terrain will be 1.21 billion people celebrating the past and anticipating a future.

India has a history of many thousands of years, a nation where one of the earliest human civilizations lived. This piece of land, called the golden bird, was ruled by many but in its history of over 10000 years it never invaded any other country. The Sultans and the Mughals, the Rajputs and the Nawabs ruled this country and only contributed to make it more diverse and even better. This multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and secular state was ruled by a band of sailors from an island called the Britain for over 200 years. It was 15^th of August, 1947 when this state became free from the shackles of slavery, to be ruled by the people in the years that followed.

India, a big player in the history of human existence is rising again to global prominence. It has been  65 years of growth, development, happiness and definitely freedom. Men and women have lived in this part of the world the way they have wanted to and that is what we call democracy. India, the largest democracy has shown the world what it means to ruled by people. Built on the strong foundations of the Indian Constitution, the second most populous nation in the world has brought together people from different religions, caste and creed, and tied them with one knot of unity.

A pool of valued engineers and doctors testing the limits of science; and a nation where traditions still live in the heart of its people, India has made the two ends meet. A land where cows are worshiped and nature is preached, culture and traditions never end in India.

In the 65 years that the Republic of India has lived, the bruises of some injuries still remain. The bloody partition of India and Pakistan will be remembered on every Independence Day, in the name of every person who could not breathe the air of free India. Over 1 million people died in the riots that followed the partition resulting in blood and tear all over.

While many Indians have lived their freedom to their fullest, there are people who still suffer for basic necessities of food and shelter. These slaves of stomach demand for their freedom too.

Let every Indian make this Independence day, not only a celebration of the past but resolution for a better India.

In the blogs that follow, we look at the events and processes that changed the face of post-independence India.

Wishing you a Happy Independence Day.