India on 65th Anniversary of Independence

15^th August 2011 marks India’s 65^th anniversary of Independence from British after a long struggle and a bloody partition. Where is India today after 64 years of Independence?

	Achievement	Yet to achieve / failure
Economy	India is 5th largest economy in the world after EU, USA, China and Japan	Though India is rich, Indian people are poor. GDP per capita remains low and stands at 163rd in the World. According to a study, 25% Indians still live in poverty.
Literacy	According to 2011 census, literacy rates stands at 74%. In 1947 it was around 12%.	Average literacy rate of the world is 84%. India still has most illiterate people in the world.
Population	Per 2011 census, India’s population is 1.21 Billion. The rate of population increase has decreased.	India is likely to bypass China in 2025 and expected to have population of 1.6 Billion in 2050. Are population control program really working? In addition male to female ratio is high and there is always a question if that is due to abortion of female fetus.
Corruption	Democracy and strong media are supposed to keep corruption in control.	Corruption remains very high. India is ranked 84th in corruption index measurement. (Rank 1 means least corruption)
Government	While several new and old countries went through or are still dictatorship, military rule or anarchy, India continues the present a good example of successful democracy.	21 month period of emergency rule imposed by then prime minister Indira Gandhi will remain a block spot in Indian history.
Secularism and religion	India is truly a secular nation. At one time three key powerful positions were held by minorities – a Sikh PM, a Muslim President and a White female ruling party’s president. People are free to practice and choose any religion.	While religion is used as a card in election by all parties, a layman always worries about Hindu Muslim communal riots. Babri Mosque episode still haunts both communities. Massive massacre of Sikhs in Northern part of India in the first week of November 1984 hints the superficiality of secularism.
Foreign Relation	Being a major economic power and a successful democracy, India enjoys good relations with the USA, Russia, Japan, the UK and most other developed countries.	No viable solution of Kashmir problem is in sight. Kashmir remains an obstacle to build good relationship with Pakistan.

Contradictions in the achievements are clear. But India has been and probably will remain a country of extreme contradictions for several years to come. A relatively new country with one of the oldest civilization and glory of rich history, India always mesmerized rest of the world. With over hundred languages, a foreign language English is and will remain the common language among Indians of various regions. A wealthy may spend more money on a single meal than monthly salary of the person preparing the meal. Coexistence of luxury houses and slums constantly points to an incredibly high inequality between rich and poor. Culture, tradition, clothing, language and values vary dramatically based on religion, urbanization, education level and economic status. Towering disparity gives the impression that every Indian has its own India.

But that is the beauty of India and makes it a unique country in the world. Just being an Indian gives a sense of unity regardless of differences. Accepting the dissimilarities is inherited in Indians. Unity in diversity holds absolutely true and makes India the most vibrant place in the world.

Often one hears ‘You can take an Indian out of India but cannot take India out of Indian’. Is not that statement correct in spite of of issues, problems and challenges?

Happy Independence Day to all readers and a peek of India through Gateway of India

Reference:-

1. India Fact Book
2. Literacy Rate in India
3. Current Population
4. Demographics of India
5. Corruption Index