THE INDIAN INDEPENDENCE: A FUTURISTIC PERSPECTIVE
As near as eight decades ago, we were
slaves under the British. Our people had to suffer innumerable atrocities.
Blood was shed, lives were laid down- our freedom did not come easily. It was a
struggle of 200 long years, generations involved, millions of fighters
martyred. Lead with the ideas of truth and non-violence, it was one of the most
influential revolutions in the history of mankind. Our freedom movement was a
renaissance in its own right. It boosted the confidence of people across
continents to fight for their rights, encouraged them to take control of their
lives. Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela got inspiration from the Gandhian
philosophy and created buzz across the world for fundamental human rights. A
global peace-keeping force in the form of UNO came into existence in 1945 and
India was among its founding members. The freedom struggle built the foundation
of a united India, which till date cherishes its unity in diversity.
15th of August, 1947 marked the
end of British rule in India. The British departed from India but left behind
an ailing nation. An unstable young nation, widespread poverty, exploited
resources were everywhere in sight. A war was yet to be fought. This time with
deficiency. We stood united and fought again, this time with greater strength.
Sixty eight years have passed away and the struggle continues till date.
Meanwhile, we have taken huge strides. We have become a global power, we share
the ranks among the fastest developing nations. We are a hub of excellence in
software and IT industry, our space technology has gathered international
acclaim, we have a large pool of scientists, doctors and engineers. We are a
young nation with huge possibilities of growth lying ahead of us.
Today we live in a globalized world. The
meaning of independence has reached beyond rule and rulers. It now incorporates
a vast multitude of ideas. Now we think of independence more as a fundamental
human right rather than associating it with a community or a nation. We now
need an independent world rather than independent nations. We seek independence
in living, in work and other day to day activities. We need independent
societies- free from poverty, unemployment, corruption and those which are technologically
advanced. We need freedom from fear, terrorism and violence. We must ensure
that the fundamental rights of all the individuals are maintained and the world
remains a peaceful place to live in.
In his Independence Day speech from the
ramparts of the red fort, the prime minister of the nation roared, “Start-up
India, stand up India”. This quote outlines the importance of the IT industry
in the growth of India as a nation. Information Technology is leading the world
of science as well as business. It has reached the remote corners of the world.
IT will be very influential in making a more independent world. The focused
approach of IT on empowering the individuals is a great instrument towards accomplishing
the goal. A few decades from now we will enter the age of Internet of Things
and quantum computing. The Internet of things will reinforce the notion of
independence in the world. It will take independence to individual levels. It
will foster a world where every individual has full control of his life. India has already proved its excellence in the
global IT industry. IT industry is on boom and will keep so in the near future.
What IT holds for India is its independence. It will make India self-sufficient
in technology and capital. It will generate employment, alleviate poverty and create
huge capital inflows. What else is required to keep independent?
Independence in its root sense signifies
self-sufficiency. Are we self-sufficient? When we depend on France, Russia and
Israel for all our artillery, we are the highest debt takers from the world-bank,
the poverty in our nation is worse than that in the sub-saharan nations, how
could we think of us an independent nation? Independence is not a discrete
entity which can be attained in a single go, rather it is a continuum which is
to be sought after incessantly. We are independent, but to what extent? India
is a democratic sovereign republic but not an independent nation in true sense.
The future of India will build on technology but will it be indigenous and
independent, remains a quest!
Author - Sanket Rai
(IPG-2015)
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