The Independence Day of any nation invokes emotions of many kinds. After all, being able to freely live, express and contribute is the birthright of every individual. Independence day celebrates the occasion when one had acquired that fundamental right. India’s independence was historical. World War II had ended. The world, especially Europe, was in turmoil. While Adolf Hitler’s defeat was a great relief, Britain’s diminution of power had pleased many across the world as well. British colonialism had caused misery to the victim nations, which included destruction of indigenous economy, social systems and sheer discrimination and torture of its subjects. While apartheid ended in South Africa long after India’s independence, not many possibly remembered that Indians too were kala aadmi to the British and brutalized by savage discrimination in their own country.
Some insist that the British rule had a mixed impact. They try to separate the Queen’s rule and local behavior of the rulers and business people who came from Britain. Some suggest that if British colonizers had not come to India and other countries, these nations would have remained submerged in darkness even today. There might be some truth in what they say. Yet the fact remains that India, even when the power of the Mughal empire was withering away, had its own homegrown industries, education system and a relatively good economy. These were demolished by the British whose primary goal was making profit for the industries they owned.
The classic example is that of cotton going to England, and clothes being sold back to India. India had a great share of world trade before the British arrived. During the Muslim rule, India’s pioneering role in innovations had been buried. That itself was a major reason why India lost its leadership in manufacturing and trade of important materials. Lack of innovation was haunting the world with jihads, crusades and other inhuman occurrences that messed around with social stability. The world cried for science and technology to be back, an area where India had led in the past. That’s when Europe took charge.
India became a cursed land. Millions died in famines masterminded by the colonizers. Billions of pounds worth of gold, diamonds and other precious materials were hijacked: which, ironically enough, is said to have supported the industrial revolution as seed capital. By the time the British left, Indian economy was in tatters.
What facilitated our freedom? The debate continues. Gandhiji’s non-violent non-cooperation; sacrifices of Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Surya Sen; other factors like the role of Veer Savarkar, Netaji’s Indian National Army, the Naval revolt in Mumbai: reasons were many, each catalyzing the ultimate emancipation in its own way. That Britain had become thoroughly depleted after the wars is a cause as well. India’s freedom was also the mission of Swami Vivekananda. Pandit Nehru called him the architect of modern India, and his philosophy had a huge impact on the way our predecessors thought and acted. Though slavery was abolished, indentured labor did exist. Millions of Indian origin suffered unparalleled torture and pain in many countries, such as Trinidad, Guyana, Surinam, South Africa, Mauritius and Fji. Today, their descendants are not only free, many are leading the nations.
Today, Indians need to realize that securing freedom for the country wasn’t an easy affair. Although it wasn’t as bloody as in America and many other countries, the nation breathed freely only after several obstacles had been conquered. Huge sacrifices of great leaders and followers had led to this freedom of India and freedom of Indian origin people in the British colonies.
While the Indian economy is going through ups and downs, it is playing a major role in the world economy, innovation and many other areas of modern civilization. One only hopes that governance is improved, corruption curbed and ethics and rule of law rule supreme. That is the key to the success of a society in which non-partisan active vigilance of common man is very important.
Therefore, each person of Indian origin must salute the heroes while celebrating the occasion. They must also share the responsibility to make the country where they live, better and help fellow citizens to achieve more. This is the vision of the New Global Indian platform. On the occasion of this Independence Day, NGI salutes the sons and daughters of Indian origin people for their contributions, innovations, achievements and developments – both in India and outside.
