Thursday, August 14, 2014

NATION 68


68th Independence Day.

There was a time, especially after 1965 and 1971 wars when every young Indian wanted to join the Armed forces. It was passion, it was Junoon. These were the ones whose parents didn’t insist upon their sons becoming Doctors or Engineer. Jai Jawan Jai Kisan was the buzzword. Every family in Punjab had one Jawan and one Kisan .That was the national commitment.


Somehow, with passage of time, we Indians have lost the sense of National pride. On 4th July, every American holds and waves the national flag. We are expected to remain locked in due to security concerns. There is a dream in the true patriot’s heart that one day he will see a nation, not on the basis of individuality, but its dependence over integrity within diversity.


For last ten long years, every year  we have heard a repetitive (almost) read out  speech from Red Fort .I have never found it to be with any specific substance. Addressing the nation without a message to the nation? If at all, it has always smelt of a preparation for next elections or appeasement. V P Singh even used Red Fort speech to announce Prophet’s birthday as a national holiday...Some of us are still clapping.

There was a time when singing of National Anthem was compulsory in Cinema halls, schools and most of public functions. Pity, today, even some Members of Parliament refuse to accept singing of National Anthem.

Print and electronic media, unfortunately, has not contributed to nation building. Media is expected to be an opinion former. Electronic media’s coverage in India is huge and the viewership is in direct proportion to the number of TV sets. TV channels earn an enviable sum as the Advertisement revenues. The rates are said to be as high as Rs 1 lakh per second of advertisement coverage. TV channels must devote at least 1 (one) minute per hour (1/60) during prime time to social messages for free. In case, they do not do this voluntarily, Government must make it mandatory for them to do so. Similarly, print media must be made to carry social message every day.

After ten years, with a new and a credible Government in place, every true, committed Indian is hoping for change from the ruling establishment, besides peoples’ participation and commitment.

Happy  Independence Day.

Let us CHANGE INDIA for INDIA OF TOMORROW.







22 comments:

Rahul Bhatia said...

No matter what aberrations we may have, Independence Day is a time to express gratitude to those who laid their lives for our independence! Unfortunately, not many are willing to do this little bit too:(

S.R.Ayyangar said...

National Anthem is still played in some multiplexes in Bangalore.

anilkurup59 said...

“After ten years, with a new and a credible Government in place, every true, committed Indian is hoping for change from the ruling establishment, besides peoples’ participation and commitment.”

I earnestly hope that your words come true.

If only the rulers of the past 67 years cared to erase the inequities , untouchaility and caste discrimination than appease Muslims calling them minorities when they are 14 % of the population, more than Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Jains, that would have been a watershed in Hinduism and this country a different place .

BTW, perhaps you could re-look the font in your post, it is a bit difficult to read, I guess.

SG said...

Happy Independence Day.

Hope things will change from now on under the new leadership.

indu chhibber said...

Nobody has time for the nation today-everybody is on his own trip.Even those in power do little to bind people together--in fact they do the opposite.

Insignia said...

Hope..We have hoped in the past. We'll continue to have that hope. If only we went beyond region and religion, caste, language, gender and other nitty gritty bias; we can be superpower in no time

Bikram said...

Happy independence day sir.. I do hope and wish that the last 68 years are forgotten today and a NEW era wakes up .. one that we hav all dreamed of .. but more than that ONE that those who gave their lives for us had dreamed of..

I think it is time that we at least have the shame to change and do what those heroes dreamed of ..

Politicians are all the same



Bikram's

Unknown said...

You are very correct. Lets hope for the best. Today's speech seemed to be optimistic! Let us hope better days are here again.

Beloo Mehra said...

Today's speech was a class apart! A new thought, a new vision, a new hope. Happy Independence day!

Sandhya said...

Vade Maataram! Let us hope things will change slowly...It needs time.

BK Chowla, said...

Rahul Bhatia,
I really hope things will change.
fact is that at least last ten years were very upsettinh

BK Chowla, said...

S R Ayyangar,
I have just realized that even in Maharashtra it is compulsory to play National Anthem

BK Chowla, said...

Anil Kumar kurup,
I agree with you absolutely.I am very optimistic of the future hoping it will be about the Nation and not about one community.
I am sorry about the font .I have corrected it

BK Chowla, said...

SG,
I am quite certain it will

BK Chowla, said...

Indu Chhibber,
True.But,let us not give up hopes

BK Chowla, said...

Insignia,
Bindu,that is what Modi has promised to us and I have reasons to believe we will go beyond religion and region

BK Chowla, said...

Bikram,
Something tells me AChche Din AA Gaye

BK Chowla, said...

Usha Menon,
I am very optimistic of the future

BK Chowla, said...

Beloo Mehra,
After decades it was one speech was not a routine read out speech.It came from the heart

BK Chowla, said...

Sandhya,
let us wait and watch.
I am sure we are heading towards happier days

Rama Ananth said...

India has changed, and is changing more for good. We may not be flying our National Flag for our houses during Independence day, but that certainly does not mean we don't have the spirit of love for our country burning with each every one of us whether we were born before or after independence. Not many of us can hold the tears flowing form our eyes while we sing or listen to or National Anthem.
The playing of the National Anthem can not be made compulsory, t is enough if we feel it in our hearts.
Unlike other developed countries we are not in war with other countries for selfish gains.
Despite the diversity our country has not disintegrated, and our government had never collapsed. We are still the single largest democracy in the world, and that makes us really proud of ourselves. We are proud as Indian living in India and we are also proud living as Indians abroad.
And I am glad we have a good leader, the only reader who doesn't need prepared speeches to read out of the Red Fort.
Jai Hind!

Rama Ananth said...

India has changed, and is changing more for good. We may not be flying our National Flag from our houses during Independence day, but that certainly does not mean we don't have the spirit of love for our country burning with each every one of us whether we were born before or after independence. Not many of us can hold the tears flowing from our eyes while we sing or listen to our National Anthem.
The playing of the National Anthem can not be made compulsory, it is enough if we feel it in our hearts.
Unlike other developed countries we are not in war with other countries for selfish gains.
Despite the diversity, our country has not disintegrated, and our government had never collapsed. We are still the single largest democracy in the world, and that makes us really proud of ourselves. We are proud as Indian living in India and we are also proud living as Indians abroad.
And I am glad we have a good leader, the only reader who doesn't need prepared speeches to read out of the Red Fort.
Jai Hind!