I was driving down a busy street in Hyderabad a few days ago. At the crossroads a red traffic light made me stop. Soon a bunch of street children emerged from another side and one of them started tapping on the window of my car. Others spread out to the other cars that were pulling up. Each held tiny flag pins, the kind you can pin up on your sleeve or on the collar, slightly bigger tricolor flags that you can put up on the car dashboard or another bigger size that can be put up on tables and in offices and living rooms. 15th August was approaching. The day India got her independence 61 years ago. Unfortunate way for those street children to be independent I thought. They are apparently assigned traffic junctions and sell flags from 8 am to 9 pm starting from about a week before the independence day.
Yesterday one of the political parties of the country enforced a nationwide closure (bandh) protesting against a decision taken by the government to withdraw the free land that was given to a religious board to accommodate pilgrims. This closure resulted in the death of innocent people across India who struggled to reach a hospital after they were blocked by the protesters. In all these cases prompt medical attention could have saved their lives but that was not to be. This is what the citizens of India got for being in a free and independent country.
In India, freedom is an illusion. And unlike an elaborate hoax, this illusion is staring everyone in the face. People just refuse to see it and acknowledge it. They have no problems living under a nanny state that forces everyone to use seat-belts and helmets. Sure these save lives and should be worn by everyone traveling but the state shouldn’t be enforcing this on people. At most it can create awareness about these issues and let the people judge.
People employed by state owned firms and even private companies are forced to work without pay for over three months every year. Thats right. Most of us work without any pay for over three months. The government takes this hard earned money in the form of taxes and simply gives a large chunk of it to people incapable of earning on their own. Sure a part of the taxes go in boosting defense, improving roads, improving water supply and other infrastructural benefits, but most of it goes in public welfare programs and freebies for the poor. Every product we buy is inclusive of taxes. Every service we get is taxed. At every point in an honest man’s life, he is robbed by the state. His own child may be sick but it is his duty to pay taxes and ensure a stranger fills his stomach before he can help his own child.
The leaders of the country roam around in long convoys paid for by the people of the country and behave as if they own the country. Honestly, they are not far away from reality. Given the mindset of Indians, these leaders or politicians do own the country. That is why we have political protesters burning buses, blocking roads, pelting stones, destroying property and bringing the country to a halt at the smallest of provocation. They can because they own us.
India is not free. In fact it is going further and further away from freedom. I have seen people argue that we are much better off than a few Arab countries and most African nations. True. But that still does not make us free. Sure we are less miserable that most countries. That we have better living conditions than some disease infested countries. Better stability than most of our neighbors. But all that still does not make us free. Freedom is a dichotomy. So there is no such thing as we are more free than we were in the past or that we are more free than most other people. Freedom is two fold. You are either free or you are not. Indians are not.
There is very little we can be proud of in this country. People will argue that India has a glorious past and a rich culture. That no other country can claim such a vibrant heritage as India can. Now it is arguable as to how glorious our past was but even if one assumes so, in the words of Plutarch, “It is a desirable thing to be well-descended, but the glory belongs to our ancestors”.
Most of the modern day developments we see have come despite the government policies and working. Not because of it. Brave industrialists and great minds like Tata, Ambani, Murthy and Premji are slowly leading India out of its shackles. Foreign investors and companies have helped us more than our own government. The reason – their aim was profit not welfare. They came here to earn a profit and knew they had to deliver. They are accountable for their products and services. If only this were true of our government.
Independence is the freedom of a man to live his own life as he sees fit. Not in servitude to others. Not with a gun pointed at him. Not by sacrificing his mind to serve the state, religion, society or his neighbors.
On 15th August 2008 we will celebrate the successful completion of 61 years of a self made Indian government. It will be called Independence Day but we wont be celebrating our independence. That, we still haven’t got.
Nikhil Pawar
Eventhough i agree with most of the points you made, i still find myself unable to loathe our government as much as you do. Inspite of all their shortcomings, they are working for the betterment of our country. Example the WTO and also the current Nuclear Deal. There are numerous such examples which get drowned out because of other issues that finally get highlighted by the Media. But all in all I do agree that we are still miles away from the utopian concept of freedom that u have talked about.
All this reminds me of our endless discussions over nth cups of coffees!!!
I miss those cups of coffee
You know I do not doubt the intentions of our government. I am sure they are good. The problem comes with the very philosophy they adopt to attain the betterment you talk of. They get involved with everything! Take off the government involvement, let private players compete and let the people benefit. That is what they did in the telecom industry and aviation industry. Look how beneficial that has proven. The private players earn a profit and the customers get good affordable services.
Till the govt. *controls* and *owns* roads, power and public transport we will struggle forever. Let private players do it. The govt should be a protector of freedom and rights and ensure that there is no fraud or cheating. Thats all. The job of the govt is to protect freedom and ensure justice. Till they get involved in every aspect of our lives, we will not have our freedom even in this democracy.
Like last time, I’ll quote the example of Vidarbha. The farmers there need the welfare state. The private players, eventhough they are aware of the situation have not ventured there bcoz they work on the motive of profit and maybe they do not see profit in this venture.Some intelligent soul might find a way of combining the two (welfare and profit) but until then the govt is needed.(eventhough they have not been successful so far!)My point ultimately is Welfare state [in moderation]is not such a bad thing!:)
Nice post, Nikhil.
its not funny ..but i like it.
“It is a desirable thing to be well-descended, but the glory belongs to our ancestors” …. ah i love this line! And i know it is a borrowed line bt as i said u need to have a knack for borrowing also
And ya i really cant believe wht kind of jerks are running this country and where the hell is it goin… but then i dont believe in the concept of countries so i dont really care 
awesome post.. quite frustrating to look at this picture and yet stand alone helpless.. every one is jus lookin for his own profit.. including me.. obv. i am selfish enuf to hav t luxuries of the world rather than stand alone in the sun and protest bout the welfare of the people who are least concerned bout wot has caused all the problems to them.. and r fighting to somehow snap out of it.. if i hav a problem i wil find a solution..but really dont wanna be a saint to worry bout other ignorant ppl.!!
So I got an anonymous comment from a person banned from editing Wikipedia because of “abuse of editing rights” and putting up some un-constructive comments. He gave me a fake website and fake email… though a somewhat valid point.
The comment said that we ramble about things that are not perfect instead of finding solutions.
My friend the solution in the above case is simple. Less government interference, change the constitution from a pro socialist to a pro capitalist.
At a more personal level, stop self-sacrifice and be rational. use ur mind. act in your own *rational* self interest.
Its a very controversial issue you have picked to write upon. And according to me its a “sad” way of portraying one’s own country like that.
Going by commenting on a nation, any nation, one should not be so critical especially when its comes to your own country.
This post also has to do with the psychology of the population belonging to the country. So you have not really dealt with that.. The mindset of the population has not been identified.
I really want to remind the comment makers of this post that “less or little knowledge is always harmful”.. so they must reconsider. Not having a handful of things according to you doesn’t make them comment on the entire system.
I think this post lacks concreteness and overlooking of positive aspects.
Honestly Gunjan, I have been very lenient in describing the whole situation. The “sad” way of portraying this country is exactly how the situation is. Can you point out a single statement which is wrong? All the examples I stated are true examples. Nothing is hypothetical. I have not speculated anywhere.
That tells you the psychology of the people.
And this is not a case of little knowledge being harmful. If something is wrong, it is wrong irrespective of the surrounding conditions.
In your comment you have not given me a single point worth acknowledging. Everything is vague and speculative. Contrary to your concluding statement, it is your comment that lacks concreteness. Give me a few instances or example to demonstrate your point before I can debate or comment.
It is really good that this post saddens you, but note that the sadness is because the situation described here is prevalent in our country. Not because I described “the-situation-that-must-not-be-spoken-of”.
I would rather appreciate your writing on “the-situation-that-must-not-be-spoken-of”. This area would be more like to draw a base for criticism.
N yes ! Theirs nothing wrong when its comes to putting forth your ideas.
I agree hailing national flag every year and singing national anthem doesn’t satisfy freedom. I wont get into the political angle of your post. N even though things like being burdened by taxes and the unsubstantial rules of the welfare state, beliefs associated with the term freedom shouldn’t be thought from such angles.
Over time most of us, the Indian population has moved away from the qualitative essence of freedom But they have given or found new meaning to Freedom.
I agree to what u said.. “Its either their or its not”. But it must be understood in terms of what suits best. what is most approachable.. what comes to us in the least possible, comfortable methods to strike a balance between, in lay men terms, happiness and our approach to bare necessities.
Freedom from fear.. freedom from oppression…. No body can fight such fears..No country.. even those who claim or are thought to be, New challenges from terrorism.. unbalanced political resolutions somehow couldnt make it to the freedom from such fears.
There is very little we can be proud of in this country. . this statement is offensive and as a writer representing India who is highlighting flaws shouldn’t be this blunt!. I will say its you who is unable to figure that out and that its either sheer blindness or a mindset which you have developed without actually analyzing it.
Once again a very general concluding statement. My dear friend, please list out a few things we can be proud of. Achievements that can be credited to the country and not to individual effort.
we can be proud of Goa ..it rocks! ..oo but i think weed is to be credited for that ..still it rocks!!
Firstly, let me make myself quite clear. I disagree. India is a free nation, and we are free, independent people.
According to what you say in this article, it seems you wish to say that freedom means not having any duties or compulsions to fulfull, no taxes, no diseases, no poverty, in short, nothing wrong at all.
Mark this, “NOTHING IS PERFECT, NOR CAN IT EVER BE!”
The meaning of independence is not the right to buy things, or to not be paying taxes, or not having poverty either, the meaning of independence is the right to work for one’s own welfare. And in an independent nation like India, we do have that right.
But, as it is said, ‘Freedom is not free!’
May I ask you, if you see your children playing with siccors, what do you do? You stop them, right? Then, how can we let people do something like ride a bike without a helmet, or drive a car without a seatbelt?
We were born not only of our mothers, but also of this land, then, being the sons and daughters of this mother, India; how can we let our brothers and sisters endanger their lives; how can we cause this mother pain by letting her sons and daughters die for no proper reason?
And if you think that this is merely rhetoric and Indians do not reaaly feel so, then may I ask why every Indian calls every other fellow ‘bhaiya’ or ‘bhaisaab’ (meaning ‘brother’), or every other lady ‘behenji’ (meaning ‘sister’)?
It is the feeling deep down in our hearts that shows through these simple gestures. Surely sometimes it can be masked by the more earthly feelings like jealousy or anger, but in times of need, it is these feelings that come out to make us stand together as one people, one nation, India.
Now, for the taxes. If you have such a problem with the taxes you pay, maybe you shouldn’t pay them, but then again, if you don’t, you’re going to see quite a lot of those kids at the junctions. You see, what you call ‘freebies to the poor’ actually help you by not straining your eye looking at impoverished kids. And if you have a problem having to help a stranger by paying taxes before you can help your own child, let me remind you as I said, that stranger, somewhere, is your brother or sister. Oh, and you probably have a problem paying taxes for people who are incapable of earning themselves, well that’s already been thought of, and that is why a major chunk of the taxes go into the education sector, so you and, in the future, your children, don’t have to pay taxes for such people!
Finally, I would like to tell you that if you have a problem that leaders in this country think they own it, why don’t you join politics? You see, it’s quite easy to complain about not having this or that, and quite difficult to work for it, but unless we, as Indians, make an effort ourselves to improve the situation, it cannot change.
I do not say that India is perfect, but its a start towards that, a fine start judging by what we’ve acheived in the past 61 years; but if we’re to remove those children from the junctions and into schools, if we’re to make everyone capable of earning themselves, if we’re to make sure that we’re served by an educated government, if we’re to be perfect, we have to do it ourselves, nobody else is going to come to do it for us.
Its upto Indians where India goes, whether it becomes a ‘worldpower’, or it shrinks to a ‘third-world country’
Its upto us!
And we will make it a worldpower!
PS: I’ve posted this same comment on globalpundit.org
Hi Siddhartha,
I appreciate your concern. But there are a few points I feel I must clarify.
I do not imply at any point that a free person has the right to do whatever he wants. Needless to say that is a very shallow definition of freedom. There are a few responsibilities. The question is, how do you decide what these are. Can a state enforce them on its citizens?
Coming to the example you quoted, if I see my child playing with scissors I will not pull those out of his/her hands. I will try and explain why handling a scissor may be dangerous and make the child give it up on its own. If I jerk it out of its hands, the child will definitely try and play with them the next time I am not around.
Exactly same is the case with seat-belts and helmets. I agree that they are critical for your safety. I wear them every time I am driving or riding a bike. But I do not stand for a law enforcing these. If the govt. feels it must do something, it should try and educate the citizens and show them how important these accessories are. Enforcement is a pseudo-solution.
And all the points I have listed reduce to this single point. We are currently employing pseudo solutions. If there are poor, we give them freebies. If a company struggles, we bail it out. If a particular section of society screams that it was treated badly in the past, we give it reservations. If someone criticizes the politicians they are asked to join politics themselves. These solutions will not work. They have been tried over and over again.
If you give freebies, the people will get used to these and will never learn to earn their living. They will forever live off the the money the state gets off the hard working individuals. Taxes should be there to boost defense, support judiciary, account for emergencies and other critical functions. Not for anything else.
The only solution is to change our philosophy. To realize the importance of individual rights. You asked me why I do not join politics and do something about our country. Its because it is a solution that will not work. I am solving the fundamental problem. I am in education management and I am changing the way children think and act through educational reforms. I am contributing to change the educational system of India. Only when the society evolves to understand these points will we have a permanent workable solution. One honest man joining politics will never work because the philosophy of the system is flawed.
After reading your comment there was one point that stood out and that is something I completely agree with. We are the ones who will change India. The only trick is to employ workable solutions not pseudo solutions.
There are some points in your reply which I agree with.
You are quite right that improving the education system is the best possible solution, and it also needs quite a lot of attention; I’ve seen it. So, great that you’re working for it, keep up the good work.
As for the freebies for the poor, I think some might be removed, but not all; after all, if we don’t provide the basics, we can’t hope that they can muster everything they need on their own. I agree that too much help does spoil people into doing nothing, but zero help is also not the solution.
We need a balanced approach, strictly balanced to make people work, and become INDEPENDENT.
the governments intentions may be good or bad, but most of the time they are self centered. May it be any political party either at the Center or state level. We Indians have become immune to the ways of working of the Governments.This is my personal opinion.