60 years and still counting...

"Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity."

J.N.Nehru.

Its 60 years now,since these illustrious words were uttered by the First Prime Minister of Independent India. The above speech was reflective of the vision that Nehru had , a vision with which he was able to see a fledgling become a super power, a vision with which he was able to see the complete realisation of the meaning of the word "Independence" in all respects .But sadly for Nehru,India did not progress the way he thought it would and his speech, even if delivered today shall still fit the present India in many ways.

Poverty, unemployment ,caste systems, child labour, illiteracy still haunt the nation. Programmes are underway to alleviate these social-ills but they seem to proceed at snail's pace. I still walk into my college mess to see three kids,with an age less than 10,cleaning plates and serving tea. 27.5% of Indian population still lives below poverty line, a mammoth 37% still are illiterates. These figure dont make a good reading at all, considering what Nehru's vision of India was 60 years later. Hence my message to the nation is as follows.


"Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity."


JAI HIND!