Reflections on the occasion of I Day anniversary

By

Randeep Wadehra

Liberty is the hardest test that one can inflict on a people. To know how to be free is not given equally to all men and all nations.

-----Paul Valery (1871–1945) French poet and writer.

Yet one more Independence Day is being celebrated. India’s tryst with destiny has had to negotiate bumpy roads, detours, roadblocks and various other hazards to enter the present comparatively fruitful phase. Today, India is looked upon as an economic success story with military muscle to protect its interests – both within the borders and overseas. Its scientific and entrepreneurial genius has started making its presence felt on the international stage. All this could not have come about had India not gained independence and opted for a democratic way of life.

More than celebration, it is the time to pause and reflect. What exactly does the term ‘freedom’ mean to us? Is it, to borrow the late British poet Hartley Coleridge’s expression, a universal license to be good? Or, is it much more than that? Traditionally, Indians have been a bit overly good to the world at large. We haven’t been merely tolerant towards all comers but hospitable too. Our all-inclusive culture imbibed the best from alien cultures without any hint of jingoism and, in return, gave much more. Reticent by nature we, as a nation, never usurped the land of others. Traditionally we have been seekers of peace and knowledge. Hence, we were able to open and run such repositories of research and education as gurukulas and sophisticated universities like Texla and Nalanda while people in other parts of the world were still hanging from the trees by their tails – metaphorically speaking.

The long period of slavery killed our indigenous genius, stunted our socio-economic growth and subverted all such institutions as are vital for the growth of a vibrant polity.

The Fundamental Rights are considered essential for the development of the personality of every individual and preservation of human dignity. Democracy becomes a farce if civil liberties, like freedom of speech and religion etc, are not recognized and protected by the State. Since public opinion is a vital input for the sustenance of democracy the means of formulating public opinion should be secured to the people. For this purpose, the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression and various other freedoms in the form of the Fundamental Rights, viz., Right to equality, Right to freedom, Right against exploitation, Right to freedom of religion, Cultural and educational rights and Right to constitutional remedies. These intend to ensure the perpetuation and protection of civil liberties for individual as well as common good. Moreover, these are enforceable through courts of law.

Sadly, despite the constitutional guarantees, day in and day out, we witness violation of these rights. Our police remain the archetypal colonial anachronism that looks at the citizenry with a predator’s eye. Every day there are media reports of fake encounters, extortions and use of third degree by policemen in different parts of the country. Strangely, in spite of the public outcry and recommendations of different police reform commissions little has been done to rectify the situation.

However, there are other equally serious governance related issues. Take the example of the country’s public distribution system.

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