Indian Independence Day

Today is 66th anniversary of the day when British finally left India and India gained Independence, at least in the political sense. Looking at positives, things have improved tremendously in last sixty years. People are living much longer and much better life. Most of people in the country have better access to basic necessities like food, water, health, electricity, and transportation. Quality of life for most Indians has definitely gone up, especially in last two decades.  Most of groups that could be considered as weaker part of society have been given a push through reservations and can claim to be in much better position. Indian diaspora is increasing in the world and has sizable presence in most of top companies.

We always write a lot about what needs to change in India and there are lots of things. At the same time, most of the things that need changing will take a long time, as they have everywhere else. These changes will not happen in a day or a month, no matter what our twitter or facebook conditioned brains might be demanding.

Today is independence day so let’s think if India is really Independent. India has political independence and on that we can be sure. The inability of the elected representatives to get anything done is, for me, conclusive proof that at least politically we are free. Most of India still does not have independence from violence, government restrictions and discrimination (be of gender, religious or any other kind). For Indians to be truly independent, they need to be able to live their life free of threat of violence, free to express their thoughts and free to fulfill their potential without undue restrictions. These are the foundations of just society. India today is free country but unjust country none the same. If the nation is able to achieve independence should not be restricted to vote but should be part of life for every Indian. I hope that if not today or tomorrow, at least in another 60 years, India will be a country where not just the country is independent but the people living in it are as well.