Sir,
This refers to the editorial’70 years of Independence'(DE, August17,2016).There is no doubt that India, the land of so many faiths, languages, cultures, ideologies has recorded tremendous progress in all the fields and emerged as one of the most powerful countries in the world and belied the apprehensions of those who doubted her capability and strength.
We celebrated the 70th Independence Day with great enthusiasm.Big functions were organised in the nook and corner of our country, national tricolour unfurled and glowing tributes paid to the freedom fighters who laid down their lives so that we may live and breathe in the Independent India.Even after so many years of independence,we are grappling with the monsters of communalism, casteism, regionalism etc and we continue to have communal riots.Almost everyday there are also reports of our girls and women being raped, gangraped and in some cases killed.Child labour continues to be in force despite strict laws banning child labour.In many cases, our elderly people are not treated honourably and with reverence.The monster of corruption continues to raise its ugly head now .
The gap between haves and havenots has not narrowed down to the desired level.Perhaps our freedom fighters had not visualised such a freedom where in the name of freedom of speech anti India slogans are shouted with full might.
Over the last 70 years,we may have made spectacular achievements and breakthroughs in science and technology and all other fields but these are the issues which continue to haunt us even after 70 years of freedom. Freedom is not the end; it is a new beginning.The youth, who comprise about 60 percent of India’s population below 35 years of age have an important role to play.This huge human resource, if harnessed properly,can work wonders and catapult our country to Himalayan heights of progress and rid our country of all these vices and replace ‘Gundagardi by ‘Gandhigiri, treat our women and eldery people with love and care, endeavour to end child labour vow to end communalism, casteism etc.and live in an atmosphere’where mind is without fear’ as Tagore envisaged.The youth have to act as catalysts of change to transform our nation into a powerful and economically super power.
Yours etc…
Ankita Sharma,
Udhampur.
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