Long live Indian Independence

Its not like I am away from my home for Independence day for the first time. But this time around the thoughts and emotions surrounding India are much more stronger and passionate. The mind is full of conflicting thoughts about India and the state that it is in.

On one hand, I can see so many Indians so far away from home fighting very hard to maintain their culture, tradition and identity. On the other hand I can see the so-called westernisation (and the protest against it) and the influence it is having on India and her culture. I can see Indians making great progress all over the world and in all fields while at the same time I see India still lacking basic infrastructure and the facilities with one of the highest number of child deaths and very low literacy rates. I see the country moving towards globalisation rapidly opening up hitherto unknown avenues for young people. I also see the way the Indian bureaucracy is pampered and the way it exploits the common man. I see the corruption and mismanagement and petty politics at the top.

Do I still feel proud to be an Indian. Definitely. Given all of the above, India has a lot to look forward to in the coming decade or two. The next generation of India is a wiser and knowledgeable bunch of people with full of confidence and desire to be the best in the world. It is said that till now British were living under a colonial guilt for so long which they are now shedding. On the same lines, India was living under some kind of unknown pressure where she had to prove something to someone everytime and be deferential to the westerners. No more. Today's Indian can take on the world. And for sure will change the way India functions. All that is needed is the right leader and channel.