After massive struggle by our freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Chander Shekhar Azad, Sukhdev and fellows; and leaders Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and lacs of others for the freedom of the country, we are independent and 75 years have passed.
No doubt, we have established glory, enjoy a strong economy in the world but the real strength of any country is assessed from how its people live. Despite our extraneous reputation being so remarkable and since partition whichever governments whether Congress, BJP, Janta Dal or NDA or any other alliances have been ruling, they could not improve the fate of more than 1,00 crores of the people of the country, including common man, underprivileged and many other communities, which is incorrigibly needed for the true economy, health and unity of the country. Day by day we Indians are losing cohesion, love, sympathy, social affinity, and help for each other which used to be interlinked before partition, and it is the total sum-up of happiness.
Very naked evidence of heterogeneity is visible in the ongoing assembly elections in the five states of the country; all parties are playing gimmickry, hypocrisy besmearing each other with muddy substance through their utterances in the campaigning and social media, and truth of all may be miles away but they are bound to play this game to spoil each other’s chances and moreover to win the voters. New plans have been evolved, freebies have been declared if victor, and there is a hectic change in the free supply line than what it used to be earlier.
India is a thickly populated country and more than 30 percent of its people are living below the poverty line, so there is a justification if they accept free ration etc., or other essentials. Shockingly some heavy freebies have been announced which is seemingly befooling the poor and the common man. Political parties aim at winning by hook and crook and when any party wins and takes control, then no poor man exists for them. The creation of such type of atmosphere or situation generates many abnormalities in the character of the nation.
Can anybody sensibly reach conclusion on whom to vote for, as parties have multiplied which clearly shows that power and wealth are the truly dominant features of Indian politics now and the old style of party loyalties are nowhere to be seen? There is a complete race among parties to break away from other parties and then manage the propaganda through media. There is no peaceful way of campaigning for voting and after voting, leaders get apart from the voters. This is a fantastic strategy of snatching the votes and then parting ways with the poor people, waiting for five years as their conditions do not improve, and again waiting for free ration and other facilities.
If we like to become a strong well-established country, we will have to cover up all fields irrespective of any caste religion, favoritism, and nepotism but to do all, we need to have changed heads which house today bitterness against each other, selfishness, and corruption. It doesn’t mean equality of everything which is impossible but the livability of all residents of the country should be smoothed and their social standing is normalized as per the society norms so that they can feel happy.
If today’s atmosphere of the country is so badly shaped, this is just because of the corruption as evident from the political scenario of how the political leaders are fighting for the rule. At the moment, the government must perceive how to give good education to the poor children and health system which are deteriorating in the country day by day and need improvement to feed the poor well and free of cost.
Hospitals and educational institutions should be upgraded and updated to the world level, so that poor should not lag behind in the boost of democracy. It is inevitable fact that India is a strong country and Indians are very smart, even if they are not paid the attention which needs to be given. Every political party since partition has been using the poor for votes and in return, the latter should also be petrified when politicians become leaders with their help.
Our country has been ignoring the poor, just imagine if a little thought is given towards this side, how strong India will be. These poor people are the real force of the country, rather than the force for the wealthy corporates, they work and enhance their empire. Unemployment in our country is a grave concern and the government must give proper attention to reducing the number of poor men.
Strategies should be formulated to stop qualified students from going to foreign countries for jobs. This way, these Indians uplift the economy of the foreign countries; such means should be explored and evolved to absorb the brilliant minds here to make our country more strong. Instead of giving some freebies and other things at the time of elections, these needy deserve to be given some employment so that their parents should feel satisfied.
It is a healthy sign that Indian laborers have a lot of immunity and during covid-19 days, when they leave for their villages, they cover 1,500 km on foot. If this category is properly looked after, imagine how strong India will become.
TS CHAWLA is a Senior Journalist based in Ludhiana.
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