Satish Manhas
India is an oldest nation; we are a 5000 years old civilization. The existence of our society goes back to times incalculable. India as a land was ruled by many foreigners including Portuguese, Persians, mughals and than Britishers. Although on an average, the political impact of all these rulers or invaders was minimal, but they certainly affected our culture to a great extent. This effect led us nowhere but to confusion. So since the times of our existence, owing to foreign intermix, its inhabitants had remained confused in many ways. During the time of Portuguese, mughals and even Britishers, no clear policy was in existence to rule this part of the territory on globe. The invaders had only commerce and business interest in their mind. Whatever development they did, be that railways, ports etc was for their convenience to export our resources easily to their lands. Appeasement and “divide and rule” had its roots since those times. It found its way in the thought process and DNA of this land. This was one major reason for our enslavement for thousands of years together. Internal bickering even today is so deep rooted that at times in criticising the opponent we go to the extent of criticising even our nation and its history. To fulfil their own interest and greed, some from amongst us connived with the invaders to make our nation slave from time to time. Others also left no stone unturned to fight their own brethren for power. During independence, some rulers of their princely states were ready to connive even with Jinnah to keep their kingdom although they were wrong in calculation. Thanks to the iron man of India, they were forced to submit.
What and where are we confused as a nation and state? We are secular, we are socialist, we are democratic, and we are republic. But actually what we in real sense are, nobody knows. And none even ever tried to draw a line between what is written in the good books and its practical applicability. We are secular, we have minority commission. We are secular, we have reservation. We are socialist, does our nation fulfil the meaning of being a socialist state. Absolutely no. We are equal before law, but we have reservations. We portray equal opportunity to all but we promote a few. We are secular but still many religious laws find their way in day today life. Even at times have precedence over the constitutional laws. We are socialist but still a high percentage is feeling proper food deficient. We are democratic but still practically we have a huge number which can be considered as haves and have-nots. We are democratic, but does the poor, downtrodden have the guts to point fingers at the elite, be they political, religious or others. We are a republic constitutionally but does the real power lie with the people and their elected representatives. Former president Pranab Mukharjee and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has talked about the bureaucracy, its power and role. They questioned how a few create hurdle in the national progress.
Different states, different rules of governance. Goa has uniform civil code, rest of the country do not apply it for individual reasons. This is a big confusion prevailing since independence. Nothing is uniform in this country. All confusion. Why? Even the constitution is applied selectively at times to make the things suit for specific reasons or individual benefit. The term of lok sabha and state assemblies was extended to six years which was later on reverted back but Jammu and Kashmir continued in national disparity and to individual benefit. All selective approach. The basic structure of the constitution cannot be altered or amended. Then how came the insertions “secular and socialist” in 1976 through 42nd amendment and that too during emergency. Was the nation not secular prior to 42nd amendment?
As per freedom we got democracy and became democratic and a republic. Emergency made us secular and socialist. Independence or Freedom or transfer of power to satisfy the ambitions of a few on the bloodshed of millions, secularism while keeping many in jails. B R Ambedkar talked of all reservation for 10 years which is now continuing even after 70 years. 1 percent having 95 percent national income. 68 percent surviving on less than 1 percent national income. And we are socialist state. Is it not a mockery? A cap on the upper limit of the wealthy and super wealthy to help the poor grow must be made a movement. So to fulfil the meaning of socialist state. The rich growing richer, the poor poorer is a contradiction in itself of the constitutional definition about our being socialist. Need of the hour to have a check and balance. Many villages and families since three generations have not got the fruit of either development or employment or entrepreneurship and are surviving on the hereditary labour work. Ways and means need to be devised to take such socially, economically and politically deprived sector forward. Chawal, daal, chini, on subsidy, 100 days work for all labourers, ayushman cards, bank accounts, and free gas etc is good. But is this all sufficient? Nation is getting it in one way or the other since independence but even than we are far behind Japan, China etc, although got freedom at the same time almost. The fault is “Thanks our appeasement politics”. Change not that as it ought to had been brought. So where is the fault? Lack of vision in politics. Gandhi’s education much talked about but not followed. Faulty education system is one basic reason. Now the times has come where the nation may see a ray of light at the other end of the tunnel. Thanks Dr. Romesh Pokhrial for the new education policy. English education system only created barriers and did not educate us because it was meant to do so. So did the bureaucracy and officialdom implement it? Our borrowed constitution also treated the nation and its society unfairly, since it was suiting to the countries from where it was borrowed. Was there no rule to govern prior to the invaders? When we were a ‘sone ki chidyia’. We were a knowledge hub. What were the rules governing 5000 years ago? Need a research. Where we lost our way. Why are we still in the confusion? If as a society we are evolving, so should we be politically, socially and even religiously. West evolved by translating our Sanskrit into English and then gave it practical shape. We failed to recognise the potential in our own culture, literature, manpower, intellect etc
Everything suiting the political parties goes on unhindered. Courts power not clearly defined. Foreigners enter the nation illegally and now when their deportation is being talked about, the courts are mandated to hear them. Their cases at times get priority in the courts which have around 5 lakh pending cases for many many years together. Government for the sake of appeasement has failed to definite clear power separation between executive and judiciary. The deportation of rhongyas should be left solely to the government. It should be a matter of foreign affairs and home ministry. Chief justice of India SA Bobde recent statement in a seminar that he enjoyed delivering judgments in GOA as a Bombay HC judge. His advice for the so called intellectual to go to Goa and see the impact and effect of having UCC is worth a mention. How long the nation will afford this politically imposed confusion by a few needs an immediate answer and implementation to come out of this acrimony. The concerned must take a call. The future generations must have the fruits of real secularism, practical socialism, ideal democracy and viable republic.
Chalte chalte thak gaye hum aashyiane ki taalash me
Ghar abhi phaunche nhi the, sab khander ho gaye
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