Pondering 67 years of Independence
On 15th August, we stepped into the 67th year of Independence, feeling nothing short of triumphant. I watched the Independence day parade on the television, and listened to the Presidential speech. The day was beautiful – crisp, with just a hint of cold. Watching the tricolour unfurl, underneath the glorious blue sky made my heart race, and I felt proud to be a citizen of India.Despite all odds, India has survived, but more than that, she has cherished the wonderful institution of democracy. India is the largest democracy in the world, and nourishing the democracy in a country where divisive forces are prevalent, is no mean feat.India is a country where the diversity is mind boggling, and often, the differences outweigh the similarities. After 66 years as a sovereign republic, I cannot help but marvel at our country. Sir Winston Churchill, the British Statesman had remarked that ‘India is a geographical term. It is no more united than the equator.’ But today, it is evident that India has stood its ground against the naysayers, against the dire predictions of its ‘inevitable failure’ as a democracy. There has often been a fear that our diversity would drive the wedge between the people, instead of binding them together. But this very diversity, once considered a source of strife has now evolved into a blazing beacon of hope and pride. As long as our diversity is protected, we exist.The panoply of India’s terrain is amazing. It is the sheer expression of its multiplicity. This is, of course, one of the reasons why travelling in India is a fantastic experience. To the north stand the proud Himalayas, peaked with snow, and shrouded in a mantle of dense alpine forests. The people here are hardy – their weathered faces a testament to the harsh forces of the natures. But at the same time, their sunny smiles display their true nature – happy, warm and welcoming. Towards the north-east are thick forests. The land is a true paradise upon Earth, where time seems to have stilled. People from India, and from all over the world have now come to appreciate the beauty of the ‘Seven sisters’, the seven states which make up the north-east part of India. This region also offers a mix of the old and the new – traditional festivals, like Nagaland’s Hornbill festival, alongside the Shillong Autumn festival, which is a three day extravaganza of frolic and feasting.
From the base of the mountains start the flat plains of Deccan. The river Ganga, daughter of the Himalayas and Northern India’s benefactress, sweeps majestically across the terrain. She is worshipped with an atavistic reverence that resonates within all the people of India. Fed by a network of rivers and their tributaries, the land here is rich, verdant as are the people, in their diversity.
Kumbh Mela is the most iconic festival of Northern India. It is the largest religious gathering in the world, and draws sadhus and curious tourists alike. It is a celebration of the triumphant human spirit, of the devotional nature of the Indians. It paints a vivid tapestry of the rich diversity of the country as people from all the walks of life become equals when taking a dip in the holy waters.
The people in India have an unquenchable curiosity. Some may call it being nosy, but mostly it is just harmless. Indian people are inquisitive, but gently so. Staring is not considered rude in India – it is attributed to the natural curiosity of all Indians. It is not uncommon to fall into conversation with people in trains or buses, exchange life stories, and part as the best of friends. Being talkative and being inquisitive are essential parts of being Indian.
In a stark contrast to the fertility of the gangetic plains are the golden expanses of the Thar desert. The arid region, however, supports a culture that is quite delightfully vibrant. Western India speaks many languages, shares a love for food and worship. The terrain changes frequently – mountains shelter fecund plains and rivers snake through the valleys. The people here share the love of festivals – Ganesh Utsav, the ten day festival dedicated to Lord Ganesh, and Navratri, dedicated to Maa Durga are particular favourites.
As we move towards the south, the languages change, the terrain becomes flatter, but hilly and mountain ranges are strewn across the area. The main ingredient of the food becomes rice. Dense, rainforest-like foliage occupies the wooded regions of the area. The general air of south India is festive – with kolams drawn near the doors of the houses, and multi colored strands of flowers adorning the hair of women. Men prefer loose ‘lungis’, which are cloths tied around the waist, while women wear sarees made from fine cotton that are perfect for the warm climate.
Andaman and Nicobar islands lie to the east of the Indian peninsula, in the beautiful Bay of Bengal, while the Lakshadweep islands are situated on the west in the Arabian sea. Indian Ocean, named after our country, lies to the south of India. It is the third largest ocean in the world, and spans an impressive distance.
The taste of food changes throughout the country. The flavours vary too, from teeth-achingly sweet to fiery hot. The sheer diversity of the land, the people, their cultures and traditions is astounding. It is incredible that such variety can exist in a single country!
But then, India has always been a land of contradictions. For all its natural beauty and the enviable cultural heritage, India fails to make a mark as a prime tourist destination. The reasons are numerous. The state of infrastructure in the country is lamentable, but the attitude towards its lack is particularly abysmal. We tend to take bad roads and shoddy buildings in our stride dismissing it as the ‘way of the world’ in our careless shrugs. Despite being punctilious towards cleanliness, our streets are chock full of garbage. Our cities and rivers are choked by a burgeoning population, as the supplies of basic amenities fail to match up to the level of demand. Roads that are strewn with rubbish and riddled with potholes can hardly be encouraging towards the promotion of tourism. One of the most startling problems in India is the lack of public washrooms, especially for women. Even metropoli ignore this important issue. On long stretches of highways, toilets are more conspicuous by their absence, making road journeys quite difficult. The neglect towards sanitation is quite terrible.
But more appalling is the attitude towards women. Despite being a culture where women as worshipped; they suffer at the hands of men in real life. It is disheartening to know that women fear not only dark alleys and silent roads, but also busy thoroughfares and crowds. Recently, the trend of hiring bodyguards by tourists, especially by international female travellers was brought to notice. In light of this shocking trend, we need to take security seriously in India. If we cannot guarantee the safety of women, how can we expect to progress? After all, one gender cannot progress without the aid of another, and until the women in India breathe in air that is truly liberal, India cannot succeed as a nation. Indian women are breaking out of their rusty cages, and are eager to spread their wings. Indeed, many notable business leaders, politicians and activists are women. Women like Kalpana Chawla, Mary Kom, and recently, Durga Shakti have blazed the trail for Indian women everywhere. Like most Indian women, I too dream of a free, liberal India, where unbound by the traditional strictures, women can truly experience the feeling of being ‘liberated’.
Despite all its contradictions – mind numbing poverty and oppressive wealth, swanking metropolises and desolate countryside – India holds a rare charm. Many international tourists return to explore more of India, to peel away its layers of dirt and laughter, to find its spirit and its pure core. India is enchanting, and justly so. With its rich variety of culture, cuisine and terrain, India becomes much more than a just a country. It is an obsession, a way of life. Every turn on the road, in India, presents a new experience. With great pride mingled with a little bit of trepidation, I look forward to our next year, the 67th year as a free republic. May this next year be a year of change – social, political and economic, and enable us to strive towards our dream of a truly liberal India.
Image credits: Wikimedia commons – Pogaface, Abdulsayed, Jpoonnolly, Mohsyn, Utpalnath, Rajkumar1220, Zozimus Fernandes; Hindustan times
