Soliloquy

India celebrates its 70^th Republic Day today and the fact that we are here to speak about it and enjoy the fruit of the struggle made by our ancestors years ago is a testament to the stronghold she has become during this time.

India is a democracy in the truest sense of the word in which she allows her citizens to be secular, free and independent of any chains- archaic or archetypical. She has given her citizens a platform and a stage upon which they have added more meaning to the word ‘republic.’ Unsurprisingly, it was India herself who emerged the better after this process.

All of us here are free to speak our mind, express our views without constraint, free to choose our leaders, free to protest against oppression and that is largely due to what India decided to make of herself after the turn of events on 15^th August 1947. Although Independence was granted to us, albeit with gritted teeth by the British, what India is today is the result of what her men and women have done after that eventful day.

Speaking of embracing democracy was never hard, what was difficult was to imbibe the ideal to work upon that very promise. However, we haven’t done too badly and India can count herself among one of the fastest developing nations in the world. India is on the rise and adding gallantry to its citizens of valour, she has become confident and sure about its abilities.

However, there have been glimpses of what India will become if her democracy gets threatened and she must steer clear of all anti-social elements and unruly substances that plaguing her today. By agreeing to govern herself with the help of the people, India had pledged to become one with some of the biggest nations in the world but that very idea is being held hostage today. The lynching of patriots, killings over beef, mutilations over caste and many more such petty thoughts have arisen from the cauldron of moral turpitude that India used to pride herself upon earlier.

Although still in its infant years, it is apparent that democracy in India is under constant threat and it is only you and me- the future of this great country- who can bring back the glory days.

If achieving Independence was tough, maintaining that Independence has been harder but India can be very proud of some of the men and women she has given birth to over the years- men and women who knew the difference between right and wrong and who never let any circumstance blur the line between the two. The time has come for us to stand up and preserve the democracy of one of the biggest republics in the world and we will do well to follow those great men and women of yore.

Jai Hind!