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.

The End of a People's Movement

The End of a People’s Movement

5^th of April 2011, Anna Hazare rose to public recognition when he sat on a ‘starve till death’ strike against the widespread corruption in the country. People saw in him the hope of a corruption free India, and participated in it with the fullest of their verve and enthusiasm. After the strike at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 5^th April, a series of hunger strikes followed. It seemed that the stubborn government had finally bowed in front of an old man and his thousands of supporters. Jan Lokpal Bill, a Civil Society formed, edition of the Lokpal bill which is believed to root out corruption from the nation was finally considered by the standing committee of the Parliament. But as time flew the Jan Lokpal was struck in between nothing and the Civil Society believed that they were cheated by the Government.

The episode of the hunger strikes ended on the 7^th of August,2012 at the same spot where it all began i.e Jantar Mantar. The Team Anna pronounced that it was worthless to waste time on hunger strikes while the insensitive government would sit silently. After ten days of hunger strike of the members of Team Anna, it was decided that this people’s movement would have to take a political form. Speculations began that ‘Team Anna’ would now be ‘Anna Party’. General V. K. Singh, the ex-army general stood with the team Anna and addressed the people by saying “All you have the power to change the society. With that magic wand, you have to end corruption.”

While Team Anna did not make it clear if they will form their own party or find other ways to feed the best people into the parliament but it is clear that the team which kept distance from active politics have jumped into this tricky game. In the language of the Team Anna they will be looking to find a political alternative to the Congress Party.

The response to this decision of the Team was mixed among the supporters of Anna Hazare. While some activists of India Against Corruption voiced their discontent against the decision; many supported this calling it Final War Against Corruption. Political Parties welcomed Team Anna into the political arena and made it clear to the team that a tough road lies ahead.

Time only can decide whether this was the end of a people’s movement or the birth of a new political movement which will build a new India.

You can put forward your views at www.facebook.com/finalwaragainstcorruption.