Happy 61st Republic Day, India

Yesterday President Obama gave his annual State of the Union speech to the US congress. In his 50 minute speech he mentioned China 8 time, South Korea 7 times and India 3 times. This is a progress for India compare to last year when he only mentioned India ‘twice’!

It’s been 61 years since India’s constitution was adopted and boy what a journey it has been. We have witnessed the low of ‘Operation Blue Star’ and the high of ‘many’ hung parliaments, which never compromised our constitution. Our constitution has been tested over and over again but it has always been respected, no matter what. India is a proud democracy and with her diverse culture and huge population, I don’t think we credit her enough for this achievement.

In a very ‘short’ period of time, India has become the world’s fourth largest economy (PPP based), World’s Information Technology hub and hopefully, pretty soon, permanent member of the UN Security Council !

           
            India’s Constitution has been ‘adopted’ and ‘respected’ but has it been ‘implemented’ in a way that it trickles down to the bottom of the population, so that they can also reap the benefits? I am afraid not. Justice is still ‘delayed’ till the people involved are dead and the case closes. Same thing with our democratic system, Democracy is not ‘only’ about holding successful elections; it is about fulfilling people’s wishes.

It is ‘Of the people, ‘By the people’ but is it ‘For the people’?

What India has achieved in the past 61 years is phenomenal, but given the potential that this nation has, I am sure we can do much much better.