66th year of Indian Independence!

Thousands of ‘midnight hours’ have come and gone by, the world slept and awoke as a routine and India managed to complete its 66 years of existence as a democracy when states around it succumbed to military rule and autocracies. This by no means is a mean feat but India now needs to rise from the ‘midnight hour’ phenomenon as we certainly did not catch the entire world napping; for the record it was 2.30pm in the American Capital and most would have been wide awake. Nevertheless, the allegory symbolises the intrinsic value of the historical event that was unfolding – the lowering of the Union Jack and hoisting of the Tricolour!

India will always have a special place in history. Not only because the Indus valley civilisation was much advanced than the contemporary world but also because it has resolutely but subtly had its effect on the entire world. UK would not have been such a roaring economy (pre-crisis I mean) but for the gold that was looted from India. Bangladesh would not been born if not for Indira Gandhi’s timely intervention in the erstwhile East Pakistan. So also South Africa would have taken a few more years to rid itself of the apartheid that was prevalent therein if the Mahatma had not stood against the whites. These are the few direct impacts we have had on the world. But we still continue to prop up the IT industry of the world and many of NASA’s scientists are Indians.

But now India needs to reclaim its lost glory – lost because the current glory is but a mere shadow of its original being. India needs to assert itself on the world stage. By assert I do not mean that it should disturb world peace or disrupt the democratic systems around the world. But a point needs to be driven home that we shall not take things lying down. Indian diplomacy needs to rise to the occasion and re-engage with like-minded countries and untie to fight the scourges of terrorism, violence, corruption and similar global vices. Using the platforms of multilateral platforms a refreshing change needs to be brought in the way systems function. From expansion of the UN Security Council to giving impetus to the Non-alignment Movement, from establishing channels of communication with the African nations to building bridges with the South American continent, from playing a meaningful role in the Middle Eastern crises to taking decisive action to arrest global warming – the time has come for a nation to reawaken.

National interest should be at the forefront of any decision, political or otherwise. If anyone falls short of the patriotism that is needed to support India in nation building, well, simply tune in to the numerous patriotic songs that are playing around. The heart-wrenching voice of Lata Mangeshkar singing Vande Mataram instantly makes one teary eyed. It affects you because somewhere within you know you are falling short of doing your bit for your country, your motherland. It is time you wake up to the nation’s call. Take a pledge to serve your country in whatever way possible. Be a responsible citizen. And remember – we are all Indians first and lastly we are Indians!