Republic Day: A Reflection on India’s True State
Republic Day: A Reflection on India’s True State
By The Sensible Arya
Today, January 26th, marks Republic Day in India, a day of historical significance when the Indian Constitution came into force in 1950. Across the country, this day is celebrated with grandeur and enthusiasm. In New Delhi, Rajpath becomes the stage for a magnificent military and cultural parade. The President of India, Draupadi Murmu, will take the salute, accompanied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, the Chief Guest of the event, alongside other dignitaries.
Republic Day, however, holds a bittersweet resonance for me. While millions commemorate this occasion with pride and festivity, I find myself unable to join in the celebrations.
The Constitution, which we so proudly honor on this day, has been reduced to little more than a symbolic relic, its ideals trampled under the weight of systemic failures and unfulfilled promises. What is there to celebrate when the nation struggles under the burden of persistent challenges?
Has massive poverty been eradicated? Has unemployment ceased to haunt millions? Are our people provided with basic necessities like nutritious food, quality healthcare, decent education, and adequate housing? Have the soaring prices of essential commodities become manageable for the common man?
The stark reality is, they have not.
Instead, what we witness is a celebration that feels hollow, a parade of hypocrisy that masks the grim truth of our nation’s plight. It is a cruel irony to host festivities when over 75% of our population lives in abject poverty. Half of our children are malnourished, and 57% of women are anaemic. Farmers, the backbone of our economy, continue to commit suicide. Corruption is rampant, governance remains elusive, and promises of "vikas" (development) are mere lip service.
Women and minorities face relentless discrimination and violence. Female foeticide, dowry deaths, and ‘honor killings’ persist, casting a dark shadow over our progress. The much-celebrated secularism of our nation remains a fragile and often violated ideal.
It is often claimed that the Indian economy is growing, but this growth remains a distant dream for the millions who struggle to make ends meet. How can one celebrate when despair is the lived reality for the majority?
You may call me cynical or negative, but I cannot ignore the suffering that surrounds me. While many see a shining India, my eyes are drawn to the despair and despondency of our masses.
For me, Republic Day and Independence Day will hold true meaning when India transforms into a nation where every citizen enjoys prosperity, equality, and dignity. That day will come when poverty is eradicated, and all Indians can access healthcare, education, and opportunities.
I believe that day will arrive, though perhaps long after I am gone. On that day, I will rejoice in spirit, showering flowers and rose petals on my motherland from the heavens.
Until then, I choose not to partake in the celebrations of a nation still shackled by its failures. Instead, I will reflect and hope for the dawn of a truly prosperous and equitable India.
- The Sensible Arya
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