Aug 14, 2007 12:58 AM
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(Updated Aug 14, 2007 01:00 AM)
Disclaimer : This article is written as an Indian and for Indians. Others may understand the sentiments in the right spirit. I believe I can help others better when I am self sufficient. This review is my wish that India will be great one day!
In 1947, India got political freedom from the last occupiers of our country, the British. When we look back the last 60 years of freedom, we achieved a lot but the task in hand is more than what we attained. With approximately 1.12 Billion people to feedthe population clock tick each minute with 29 births on an average. The situation is alarming and basic issues of Poverty and illiteracy take drivers seat India needs to feed these human beings born in our land. Have to provide shelter and education to them. They need empowerment too. We need to spread education to control the mad growth of population. The health problems of the billion plus is another worry, as there is not much research is on to find solutions for common diseases affects India. Each weather change and natural calamity brings a bundle of problems. When authorities stand helpless, the poor suffer it silently.
With 28 states and 7 Union Territories India is the most diverse country in the world. With 3,166,414 Sq. km of land, India occupies 7th place, behind Russia, Canada, USA/China, Brazil & Australia. If we compare our density of population, the area is much behind other nationsabove listed. For example, Australia has double size land of India but has only about half the population of our small state Kerala. 22 official languages and so many unofficial languages India find its unity in diversity. Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian…there are people from various religions live in harmony in the villages and towns. There are disputes between states, issue of languages, colour and caste which prevent India's progress.
India, the biggest democracy in the world keeps the democratic values, the key of its unity. It is sad that democracy and the unity of India are challenged by communal forces and sectarian factors from each corner of it. When we holds the value of peace, certain factors like maoist or naxals, certain political parties and communal factors resort to brutal force to get their demands done. Every responsible Indian needs to underscore our dedication to the value of peace and non-violence. Only these values can keep our unity and without unity a country as diverse as India cannot co-exist.
Our dedication to non-violence however is not a license to attack our country and we should be and we are obliged to protect our country and values from outside forces. The country always nurtured peace and harmony which I will consider as real greatness. The value of peace has been passed through generation with breast milk. Our position in the world in military might is not less than 10, but arguably we are in the 4th position behind USA, Russia & China. UK & France do carry technical advantage, however we are improving and the rest of the countries will find it difficult to cope with our progress.
Ours is now the 5th biggest economy, only after European Union/USA, China & Japan. However, in per capita income we are at 118th number, which is very bad. Thanks to the liberalization efforts, the economy is growing faster. However, the development should be streamlined to get the maximum out of it. Our Roads, Rails & Ports should be modernized and we should reduce the cost of it to the nation with development. The excess money should be invested in infrastructures than in 1% US securities. Agriculture, Industry & Service sector need concentrated efforts to increase the productivity and efficiency. Industry will be our key, as it will give job opportunities for the unemployed to remove poverty, at the same time it will help to increase the efficiency in the production of agriculture using modern machines and knowledge. Our industry should concentrate of quality, to promote the brand 'Made in India'. The recent boom in IT Software sector has opened many eyes, but we need to make use of the huge potential of educated people to improve the technical know how and perfection in quality. Inflation in the country should be checked without which we cannot win an economic battle.
'Sports' is one of the neglected fronts for years, but now little by little, one by one we are improving. Our concentration on Hockey or Cricket no longer hold good. It is a shame that a country of 1.12 billion is missing Athletics gold medals. Anand & Sania are only exceptions and we need a group at least of 1000 such people to grow the glory of India in each day and each hour of the year. We need a thorough restructure and planning in sports, for which we need a motivator. It is not the sports, but the attitude, that does matter. 'Sports' is one motivator which can unite a nation, for that we need to do more homework.
Our film industry is arguably the biggest in the world. While Bollywood work as the mouth piece of India, there are equally strong regional film industries which grow in parallel which can be considered bigger than many other countries. A Telugu or Tamil film industry is equally big or bigger than a German or Italian film industry. Bengali & Malayalam film industry produced the quality movies both of commercial and art values. One who watches Indian films will realize that ours is the culture where people celebrate love and life.
I know I have left many valuable points. However, the purpose of this write up is only to generate a thought to the situation where we stand in the modern day world. We are not far behind. We have achieved a lot in the 60 years of freedom. Even with all our achievement, the world still not considers us as serious. We don't have a UN permanent seat or a Veto Power. We are yet to form a steady foreign policy.We don't influence any world issues, including the one of our neighbors. We have to solve our problems at home sooner to get hold of the world issues to make our nation as model and leader in the world scenario. To do so, we have to kill two evils first, Poverty & Illiteracy for this we need positive development and planned action. We need entrepreneurs who can organize. We need politicians with will, visionaries with mission & missionaries with vision. Let us work as a carrier of the positive and constructive message to the nation like a nerve which allow the blood flow to cells for it's and the body's existence.
Independence day wishes in advance to all Indians. Let us think together, plan together and act together to grow together!
