26th January 2018
26 January 2018
Musings.......
India celebrates its 69th Republic Day today to commemorate the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect. On 26th January the Indian Constitution replaced the Government of India Act of 1935 as the governing document. Why choose this date- well it was on this day in 1930 that the Indian National Congress proclaimed Complete independence (Poorna Swaraj), opposing the British proposal of Dominion status.
This day all Indians remember the millions of bravehearts, the real heroes of our country who gave their lives in the struggle for Indian Independence.
As I sit witnessing the Republic Day parade today on Television, I cannot but reminisce where have we missed out.
India is a country of great potential. Politicisation of all matters including development and the military has prevented India from achieving its full potential. However with millions of people living in varied terrain having multiple cultures, identity and ethnicity it is a wonder for many how we are even a country.
India is close to becoming one of the fastest growing economies of the world, surpassing China. It has one of the youngest populations in the world with substantial population below the 50 age mark.
This year India has pulled off a Diplomatic coup of sorts by having as many as 10 heads of states of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN ) as chief guest. This definitely shows Indias growing clout among ASEAN countries which is strategically important due to the South China Seas and growing Chinese presence in the area besides Indias economic interests in the area.
This years Ashoka Chakra has been awarded posthumously to IAF Commando Jyoti Prakash Nirala who died fighting militants in Kashmir.
Our country is going through an atmosphere of Hindutva hegemony nowadays with the public sphere being dominated by communalistic and divisive talks which I have been heightening for long in my own humble posts.
Latest issue is the Bhima Koregaon violence bringing into focus the Dalit community and their growing resistance to social and economic discrimination in the days of hindutva dominance. January 1st marks an important day in Dalit history as it marks the day when the British East India Company's soldiers defeated the army of Peshwa Bajirao II in the battle of Koregaon in 1818. Among the fighting units were about 500 Mahar soldiers. For them the victory was not just military but victory over centuries of caste repression by the Peshwas. Every year the Dalits gather on the spot in commemoration. This year things were going on as usual when a group of Hindutva forces waving saffron flags and chanting " Jai Bhavani Jai Shivaji" attacked the Dalits who had gathered spiralling into riots all over Maharashtra.
Such acts of facist forces even after 69 years of India becoming a republic is wrong and unacceptable. Behind the apparent Maratha-Dalit rift in the Koregaon Bhima clashes lies the more sinister mobilisation by Hindutva fringe groups that tap into Maratha greviences.
As this Government tries to reign in their not so hidden Hindutva and RSS agenda all over the country in the pretence of fighting Corruption, it is only time that the secular forces of this country will wake up from their slumber and capture back the national mood.
Food for Thought......
RC
Musings.......
India celebrates its 69th Republic Day today to commemorate the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect. On 26th January the Indian Constitution replaced the Government of India Act of 1935 as the governing document. Why choose this date- well it was on this day in 1930 that the Indian National Congress proclaimed Complete independence (Poorna Swaraj), opposing the British proposal of Dominion status.
This day all Indians remember the millions of bravehearts, the real heroes of our country who gave their lives in the struggle for Indian Independence.
As I sit witnessing the Republic Day parade today on Television, I cannot but reminisce where have we missed out.
India is a country of great potential. Politicisation of all matters including development and the military has prevented India from achieving its full potential. However with millions of people living in varied terrain having multiple cultures, identity and ethnicity it is a wonder for many how we are even a country.
India is close to becoming one of the fastest growing economies of the world, surpassing China. It has one of the youngest populations in the world with substantial population below the 50 age mark.
This year India has pulled off a Diplomatic coup of sorts by having as many as 10 heads of states of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN ) as chief guest. This definitely shows Indias growing clout among ASEAN countries which is strategically important due to the South China Seas and growing Chinese presence in the area besides Indias economic interests in the area.
This years Ashoka Chakra has been awarded posthumously to IAF Commando Jyoti Prakash Nirala who died fighting militants in Kashmir.
Our country is going through an atmosphere of Hindutva hegemony nowadays with the public sphere being dominated by communalistic and divisive talks which I have been heightening for long in my own humble posts.
Latest issue is the Bhima Koregaon violence bringing into focus the Dalit community and their growing resistance to social and economic discrimination in the days of hindutva dominance. January 1st marks an important day in Dalit history as it marks the day when the British East India Company's soldiers defeated the army of Peshwa Bajirao II in the battle of Koregaon in 1818. Among the fighting units were about 500 Mahar soldiers. For them the victory was not just military but victory over centuries of caste repression by the Peshwas. Every year the Dalits gather on the spot in commemoration. This year things were going on as usual when a group of Hindutva forces waving saffron flags and chanting " Jai Bhavani Jai Shivaji" attacked the Dalits who had gathered spiralling into riots all over Maharashtra.
Such acts of facist forces even after 69 years of India becoming a republic is wrong and unacceptable. Behind the apparent Maratha-Dalit rift in the Koregaon Bhima clashes lies the more sinister mobilisation by Hindutva fringe groups that tap into Maratha greviences.
As this Government tries to reign in their not so hidden Hindutva and RSS agenda all over the country in the pretence of fighting Corruption, it is only time that the secular forces of this country will wake up from their slumber and capture back the national mood.
Food for Thought......
RC
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