Saare Jahan Se Achcha?

The dictionary meaning of independence is self-sufficiency, self-reliance, autonomy, freedom, liberty etc. but on India’s 72nd Independence Day, we ask the question are we really independent today?

Even after seven decades of achieving freedom, we are plagued by some of the worst issues ever faced by our society. Did our forefathers give up their lives fighting for our country’s freedom only to have India captured by a whole lot of social evils and problems that have managed to find a stronghold today? Do we really have anything to celebrate about? 

Violence against women is increasing. Rape, female foeticides, acid attacks, domestic violence, dowry deaths, honour killings, forced abortions, human trafficking and sexual violence are daily headlines. “We need to address all these issues first. Only when you become a safe country, can we be truly independent,” says V.V.S. Laxman, former Indian cricketer and a cricket commentator. 

Ex MP Renuka Chowdhury quotes Mahatma Gandhi, “The day a woman can walk freely on the roads at night, that day we can say that India has achieved independence” and adds, “We are still fighting for that independence. While some of what our forefathers had fought for in terms of India’s independence has prevailed, we haven’t reached our goal. But it is not something we should give up on, even as it’s extremely depressing to see that we still don’t have the right to dress the way we want, or the right to stay out as long as we want. The right to be treated with equality and respect is defined by our Constitution.”

Are the Gandhian ideals that inspired India’s independence struggle no longer followed by citizens today? “In that sense, we have not realised our independence and there is still much to be achieved in areas such as health, education and public infrastructure. Our leaders don’t talk about the real issues. We should remember the idealism of our freedom fighters and bring back the spirit of nation building in all of us,” says the CEO of Dr Reddy’s Labs, G.V. Prasad.

Of course, no freedom can be enjoyed unless we also shoulder the responsibility. “We can’t change the world and especially our country until we change ourselves. Independence first needs to come from within. We complain about society and forget that we are the ones who constitute it. Get out of your slumber, challenge yourself first, and live a life of ideals when no one is watching. Take personal responsibility and do your bit,” exhorts actor and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt.

“Freedom has to be felt,” says Capt Anny Divya, the world’s youngest woman commander to fly a Boeing 777. She adds, “We should celebrate freedom as many have given their lives for it and are still at it. Our armed forces are constantly working to keep us safe. I value our freedom a lot.”

Film director, screenwriter and novelist Piyush Jha optimistically sums it up, “Today we should celebrate that we can still ask this question and answer it too. I believe that there is a churn happening as also a great levelling. In times to come, things will be more balanced. So today, I shall celebrate and tomorrow, I shall resist again.”