On the occasion of Independence Day, News Central 24*7 spoke to many renowned personalities across the country to understand their perspective about Independence Day.
As patriotic Indians, we must once again follow in the footsteps of our founding fathers: Teesta Setalvad
“Real independence can only be achieved when people from all sections of society, including those who belong to socio-economically marginalised groups, have equal access to resources, opportunities and justice. This is what empowers them to have greater control over their lives and destinies.”
She added: “Today, many Indians are struggling to live with dignity because their rights are being violated with impunity. While Dalits face discrimination and oppression in an unequal society, women and even children continue to face sexual violence across the country.”
“Adivasis are being thrown in jail for claiming land rights that are actually guaranteed to them by the law of the land! What you cook in your kitchen can have you killed. You can be lynched for just walking with cows! Being transgender or differently-abled can significantly reduce your career prospects. Therefore, this Independence Day, as patriotic Indians, we must once again follow in the footsteps of our founding fathers and devote ourselves to making India truly independent again,” Seetalvad said.
Independence Meaningful Only If no one placed above the individual: Gautam Bhatia, Lawyer & Author
“The Constitution rests upon the faith that independence is meaningful only when no individual, group, community, of party is placed above the individual.”
Is the Tricolor being used to create communal disharmony? : Sohail Hashmi, Historian
Historian Sohail Hashmi asked, “A Hindutva organisation made a statement yesterday that they will start a Tiranga Yatra from Muslim majority area, are they trying to use the tricolour to create communal disharmony?”
Commenting on the tendency to put flags on cars during Independence Day, Hashmi said, “Post-independence day try to research where all the flags which people put in their cars go, they are simply thrown in the garbage cans. This is just a macho display of patriotism.”
He also said, “The laws suggest that flags can only be made with handspun or handwoven Khadi or silk. But you will see flags made with every material, including plastic; they are simply making a mockery of the tricolour.”
Invoking Faiz
Invoking Faiz Ahmed Faiz, former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt said:
“Yeh daagh daagh ujaalaa, yeh shab gazidaa seher
Woh intezaar tha jiska, yeh woh seher to nahin.”
(This tattered raiment of darkness. This sputtering of dawn. This is not the dawn that we had hoped for.)
Spare a thought for the wounds of Kashmir and Kashmiris- Daanish Bin Nabi, Opinion Editor, Rising Kashmir
“Since last 72 years, New Delhi has done nothing for a common Kashmiri to celebrate the Independence Day. Just citing a simple example, while typing this message, the Internet bandwidth speed has been reduced. Police are frisking people everywhere, checkpoints have been erected. All these measures are related to the bigger problem called the Kashmir issue. New Delhi has failed to address the Kashmir issue in a genuine manner.
While the rest of the people in mainland India are celebrating, Kashmiris are feeling suffocated in their own land. When you close all the possible means of expressions, there’s every possibility that they are bound to look for other options.
Also, you can gauge the ground realities from the fact that in the afternoon today (August 14) three non-local youth tried to hoist the tricolour at the historic Ghanta Ghar in Lal Chowk, and the shopkeepers roughed them up. Later, the police took them to a CRPF camp nearby. Even after 72 years, if Kashmiris are not allowed to hoist the tricolour in Kashmir, it simply means that New Delhi has miserably failed in addressing the Kashmiri and the Kashmir issue.”
Those in power today spare no effort to denigrate the heroic efforts: Salman Soz, INC Spokesperson.
“Today’s rulers have made every effort to denigrate the heroic efforts of our founders. In 1947, India faced a massive refugee problem, inadequate food production, just 1500 villages were electrified, only 12 per cent of Indians were literate, and 90% of industrial goods were imported. Imagine what they were up against. But, they had heart, conviction, and love for all Indians. They built the foundations of a modern, secular, and democratic India that thrives on diversity. Never forget. Happy Independence Day!” Congress leader Salman Soz said.
What makes a population desire its own repression? Mayank Tewari, Writer, Newton.
“Indians should be thinking about: what makes a population desire its own repression… Don’t know the answer but know for sure that freedom is painful as it inflicts tough choices”
Indians need to think about the things that make a nation liveable: Annie Zaidi
“Indians need to think about the things that make a nation liveable, and more – a joyous place to be. Are we working to create justice? Are we driven by a vision of safety, balance and beauty for all? Do we dream sweet dreams or are we haunted by nightmares?”
How do we begin to tread back to our constitutional promises? Gautam Bhan, Activist & Writer.
“We should be thinking about how we can begin to tread back constitutional promises that feel more frayed today than they perhaps ever have, and we should do so by standing behind newer and younger voices that have shown us that they have the imagination to lead the way.” Gautam Bhan, lawyer, activist and writer.
How to treat every single person as a rights-bearing citizen: Urvashi Butalia
“How to make India the truly inclusive egalitarian and diverse country it deserves to be. How to treat every single person as a rights-bearing citizen. How not to exclude target and kill but to embrace difference,” Urvashi Butalia, publisher of Zubaan Books said this is what all Indians must reflect upon.
Article 377 and Independence
“I think India will be truly free when our bodies aren’t imprisoned in the chains of Victorian mindset. The day Article 377 will be ripped down, India will truly celebrate,” activist Harish Iyer said.
Independence is a constant negotiation between citizens and state, says Mitali Saran, writer and columnist.
“Independence has no warranty. It is a constant negotiation between citizens and the state. The smallest unit of independence is the individual. Let your mind be free, the country will follow.”
Freedom will mean so much more if every Indian lives a dignified life- Atishi Marlena
“India continues to be a deeply unequal society. Indians who lead a life of privilege should celebrate this Independence Day by taking a pledge to be more compassionate towards those who have less in life. We should spare a moment to think about how each of us can contribute towards building a more just society, where everyone has more access to opportunity. Freedom will mean so much more if every Indian lives a dignified life,” Atishi Marlena, former education advisor to Delhi government and senior AAP leader said.
“How do we take our nation back from the predators?” – Jeet Thayil, Poet & Author.
“Today and every day we must ask ourselves one question: how do we take our nation back from the predators who have seized it?”
When democracy loses confidence in people, it has nowhere to go but corporations: Amit Bhaduri
Economist Amit Bhaduri said: “Paraphrasing the German Poet and Dramatist Brecht, I would like to say that, ‘When democracy loses confidence in people, it has nowhere to go but corporations’.”