What we have not learnt during sixty five years of Independence ...

India has transformed profoundly from last 65 years of Independence. But the lessons which we have learnt in 65 years are far less than what we have missed during those 65 years. Conditions which were prevail at the time of independence, even exist today and in some cases it has become more worse than before. Mixed perception of hostility and euphoria were observed during 15 August 1947, the day India got its independence due to various reasons, such as partition, which was of course inevitable at that time. But in today's India we can see the same feelings of hostility and euphoria  among different religions and ethnic groups which shows that our leaders and politicians have not done much to allay that ghost of antagonism. Bifurcation of states on linguistic base still a major issue for Indian Union ( Vexatious issue of Telegana ). Sardar Vallab Bhai Patel and V.P. Menon had made it possible through their efforts by uniting more than 500 princely states to form a union of 14 states but today we have started disintegration of states again to maintain "status quo ante" which was prevail before the independence.  At present there are 28 states and according to some authentic speculation, by 2050 we will have 50 states within India. Which is detrimental sign for the existence of "Indian Union". We never endeavour to imbibe 'How to remain united?

We have never learnt how to deal with the problems prudently, especially Social problems. In spite of lots of works have been done to eradicate this draconian caste based discrimination, ill treatment of lower caste and lower class by upper class still exist in our society. Chauvinists of 'Varna System' still want to dominate over so called lower caste groups. Scarcity of religious tolerance which was felt during the days of independence can also be felt in Independent secular India. We still lack how to respect other religions along with the religion which we practice. In India we have totally failed to recognise the basic doctrine of all religions, that is "Humanity" in large perspectives.

How to alleviate poverty? Since independence, it is still an enigma. It is an election manifesto for politicians and hot topic debate for debaters, but we have never looked at grassroot level and never tried to know the atrocities and adversities of poor through which they are passing, and never have done enough to mitigate its effects. India has attained 65 years of independence, why a democratic India still holds largest number of poor in the world? It's because if a person is affluent, he never try to see others who need help to cope up with destitution. Our motives are always self-centered. We have had selfishness in our own well being. We never make ourselves cognizant with sufferings of the society of which we are also a integral part. We have never looked upon those people who sleep on an empty stomach. To eradicate such problems each and every citizen should comply by their responsibilities. There are many reasons of existing poverty. Poor lack aspiration and zeal and somewhere their own mindset becomes the decisive cause of their destitution. Poor are also caught in 'vicious cycle' from which their emancipation is very tough, but still possible. Even after 65 years of independence we have failed to end "bonded labor". In the recent news brick kilns owners of hydrabad were found guilty of perpetuating bonded labor. Child labour is still augmenting. burgeoning sexual harassment of poor women, working in these brick kilns is a great matter of concern. At the one hand India is developing , people are creating concrete jungles with high buildings and infrastructures, and on the other hand people with poor background are being exploited. Unfreedom that gets promoted in the names of free markets is the main reason of escalating inequalities and this scene is enhancing since 1990's.

Indian nationals never tried to install scientific temper within them. They still believes in the myths and mysteries. In 65 years we have moved so much towards science and technology but we still lack scientific temper. We need to legitimize our thinking through logics and by imbibing rational thinking.

Current education system of India was started by Macaulay to ruin the Indian Culture but even after 65 years of independence we rely upon on this education system. Indian are timid by nature. We should not resist necessary change. If the changes are for the welfare, we should welcome them. This is the prime cause "why we unable to make Indian education system compatible with rest of the world. Something lacks in the current education system, which unable to put a cap on unemployment and brain drain. At some point we lack ethical education also. Still people have not learnt how to make best use of human asset. Becoming rich has become a status symbol and public service has taken a back seat.

Politics of the country is becoming worse day by day. Politicians know how to create vote bank meticulously on the basis of caste and religion. They have never learnt how to fulfill the rhetoric promises. They have created efficient social engineering to perpetuate caste based vote bank through different reservation policies. Cheats and adulterers go scot free because we have not learnt to teach them lessons. Reservation policy was started to eradicate caste based discrimination and to stop casteism in the society, but we have failed to cultivate the very purpose of reservation. The real beneficiaries are still at large, and they are still deprive of reservation policy benefits, that's why caste based discrimination still persist in the society. State have never learnt how to implement this reservation system for the welfare of really needy ones.

We never want to take individual responsibilities. People only know how to criticize others for the malfunctioning of any machinery. Never learnt to change themselves, which they want to see in society. People always impose lame excuse to get rid of their obligations. We forget our duties as a responsible citizen and blame on particular institutions for 'status quo' omnishambles in the country. We always blame government , but never tried to know what are our obligations as a responsible citizen. Majority of citizens have never learnt what are their constitutional duties and how they should protect their rights from abuse.

Gender inequality is not a new problem for Indian society but we have never learnt how to allay this escalating inequality in this independent India. Girls in most cases treated as "paraya dhan' and boys always get preference over girls. If 'girl child' born in a family then everyone observe the day of mourn, but if it is boy then we celebrate it with euphoria. Notwithstanding, showing equal competence with boys, girls are always regarded as mediocre albeit the scene is gradually changing but still we have to learn too much. Hitherto we have not learnt to give proper degree of respect and care to the women. Domestic violence and prejudice against women are enough cogent evidence to endorse the aforesaid sentence.

The most important of all , We have yet not learnt to democratize our democracy. On the eve of Republic day Dr. B.R. Ambedkar had said that "Constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment. It has to be cultivated. We must realize that our people have yet to learn it. Democracy in India is only a top- dressing on an Indian soil, which is essentially undemocratic." Unfortunately, even after 65 years of independence, we have not cultivated constitutional morality and democracy is still a top-dressing on an Indian soil.

In nut shell there are myriad of lessons which we have not learnt during 65 years of Independence. And the main reason why we are so far from these lessons because 'we are comfortable with our fiasco, the pandemonium, chaos, adversities and all evils which exist today. We have never learnt these because we never dare to accept these changes, we lack enthusiasms to move towards the new dawn. If Indians will take up these issues seriously, according to my speculations, we will succeed in accomplishing all the lessons in next 15 years.

By:- Tanveer Ashraf