India is celebrating its 78th Independence Day today. Despite progressing towards a developing nation: a question still lingers that ‘Is India actually a free and independent nation?’
Though India is free from the British Raj, but it remains entangled in a web of deep-rooted malpractices-corruption, unemployment, pollution, violence, the list just goes on. These issues continue to fuel economic instability, lack of civic sense, persists as a reminder of unresolved social challenges.
Corruption: A never-ending cycle
One of the biggest curses that India is suffering from is bribery and corruption. Corruption is a “poison” that seeps into the minds of people, who prioritize themselves and not nation.
According to a 2005, Transparency International report, more than 62 percent of Indians have bribed a public official at some time in their life.
Unemployment: A major concern
Despite seeing the fastest growth among major nations, India’s economic progress has not translated into sufficient job possibilities. According to the most recent data available by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the unemployment rate increased from 7% in May 2024 to 9.2% in June 2024.
Young people, especially in rural areas, face difficulty in finding steady work. This problem is worsened by the mismatch between requirements and market demands. The situation leads to a cycle of annoyance and underemployment.
India’s Violence and Unrest
‘Manipur Violence,’ ‘Hindu-Muslim Violence,’ ‘Protests against laws, system’, and so on. These violent practices are India’s major obstacles. These protest and violent situations lead to the damage of public property, affecting nation’s GDP. It also raises questions about the nation’s image. Though situations like these are mostly unpredictable but can be resolved through proper dialogue.
Conservative Thinking
There are still many places in India that are disconnected from modernization. Even today, there are villages and families that follow the practices of child marriage, dowry, gender bias. Although the government has many laws and punishment against these practices, what about the people who are the victims? When will they be free from a conservative society?
Lack of Civic Sense
Putting up status on social media and delivering a 2-3 min speech will not make you a true citizen of India. We often see after Independence Day ends, people throw the tricolor on roads or stepping over it. There’s no point in being an independent nation, where society still lacks civic sense. Urinating on roads, instead of using the public washroom, only reflects our lack of responsibility towards the nation.
True Independence doesn’t only come in the form of economic stability, infrastructure or just implementing laws. The actual meaning of freedom is free from societal issues and creating a place where everyone feels secure and stable. It applies to each section of society, regardless of age, gender and other criteria.
How can we overcome this?
Rather than blaming the nation and just ranting or sitting in front of TV, it’s time for some serious action. There’s a saying that Charity begins at home, meaning we should first clean our image and then point others. If we promise ourselves and start following the rules, the day is not far when we can proudly say that, yes, we live in an independent nation.
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