India at 75: HfHR Members Reflect on 75 Years of Indian Independence

As we mark 75 years of India’s independence from British colonial rule, members of the HfHR community shared their thoughts and reflections on India at 75 years old. Read their reflections:

Raju Rajagopal, co-founder of HfHR:

Independent India and I have journeyed together for the last 75 years. There have been ups and downs in both our lives, but we both have much to celebrate.

From a country whose democratic and pluralistic future many were skeptical of in 1947, through food shortages and rationing, costly wars, license raj, political crises, communal riots, etc., India has emerged as a country that is seen as an important global player, with whom the countries around the world are now seeking allyships.

I have much to be grateful to “Mother India,” who prepared me well to face the world, with a quality education that has allowed me to succeed in my adopted country, America. I am also grateful that India has allowed me to continue to participate in its development by openly embracing me as an “Overseas Citizen of India.”

On the other hand, even after 75 years, India has been unable to live up to its egalitarian constitution to make equality a reality for all its citizens. Casteism and untouchability are still major hurdles to achieving true equality.

Sadly, in the last few years, India appears to be on a backward journey, with Dr. Ambedkar’s dream of “Liberty, Equality and Fraternity” being systematically replaced with the hate, hype, hubris and hypocrisy of a new polity, which is spreading like a virus eating India’s very soul.

On this 75th year of India’s independence, it seems to me that we are in a second struggle for independence, this time from home grown ‘colonialists’, who are hollowing all democratic institutions and are threatening the very idea of India, with their unjust laws, arbitrary arrests, Islamophobia, and street violence.

Swati Garg, HfHR board member:

As a young girl, Independence day meant flag hoisting at school, early dismissal, and pedantic programming on Doordarshan that made little sense to a kid. In second grade, Independence day fell on a Sunday and thus the scheduled kids' programs were canceled for the special broadcast upsetting me greatly. It was only after a few more years, that I could fathom the significance of the flag's unfurling, the sacrifices it took for us to have the right to hoist it as a free nation.

This year's celebrations brought back these memories when the cancellation of "Potli bab ki", my staple show seemed so unfair. It stands in stark contrast to the current visuals when poor people across the country are denied access to the ration unless they buy a flag. We as school kids enjoyed the celebrations, but the excitement of getting Boondi ka laddu (An Indian sweet) would sometimes distract us, so much so that one would hardly pay attention to the stories on the freedom movement. Standing still while waiting for a Laddu was a test of patience, and today people are forced to make the choice of patriotism over hunger, a flag before ration.

As we celebrate our 75th year of Independence, these words from the first speech to an independent nation resonate stronger than ever:

"The service of India means the service of the millions who suffer. It means the ending of poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity." - Prime Minister Nehru

Preeti Gamzeh, HfHR Development Consultant:

75 years: Marking (In)Dependence

Anniversaries are like potholed roads:

bumpy rides registering a de-growth.

When hate is a vector, and lies, a weapon

to hunt down defenseless citizens.

Paint us a white sign post

pointing to that oasis

of fearless dissent, protest and chants.

Show me that green arrow

leading to the garden of dialogue where

differences are things to celebrate.

Let's take a walk to the orange corridor

where religions are peaceful loops

in a Venn diagram of spirituality.

Jai Bhim and then maybe, just maybe, Jai Hind.