On January 26, 2015, India will complete 67 years as a republican country. But the land of milk and honey has today turned out into a democracy of corruption and scams. Corruption has reached the highest level even after Narendra Modi becoming the Prime Minister of the country. Prices of all commodities, including that of food grains, LPG (liquid petroleum gas), bus, train, autorickshaw and taxi fares have sky-rocketed. As a result of this inflation, the common man has to bear the brunt of the price rise as his/her salary does not increase in tandem with the surging inflation.
Although India has achieved both Independence and republic, it is one of the most corrupted and polluted nations in the world. Unemployment is at an all-time high. Even the people who are educated cannot get decent jobs; and even if they get one, they are paid lesser remuneration. Majority of the States in India today are fighting among themselves and people, irrespective of caste, creed, colour and religion are being persecuted for no fault of theirs. On the other hand, ministers and politicians are misusing the common’s man hard-earned money which they contribute to the nation in the form of Professional Tax, Income Tax, etc. Ministers have dinner in 5-star hotels and travel by air-conditioned cars.
In most of the Western and developed countries, people pay their taxes honestly to the government and in return, the government rewards them by taking good care of them in their old age. But in India, the middle-class which forms the backbone of economy are taxed heavily and are completely forgotten after their retirement from service or when they turn old. Unless and until we rise above our differences and petty squabbles, India will not become a prosperous nation like some of the countries in the West. Take a look at the Arabian Gulf countries and also America. They are the most prosperous nations in the world because the kings, queens and prime ministers there care for their citizens which is not the case in India.
British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill when he learnt that India was fighting for Independence has rightly said, “Power will go into the hands of rascals, rogues and freebooters, and all Indian leaders will be of low calibre and men of straw. They will have sweet tongues and silly hearts. They will fight among themselves for power and India will be lost in political squabbles. A day would even come when air and water would be taxed in India.”
Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire in India is said to have left a will to his son Humayun which is still preserved in the State Museum of Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. The contents of the will is that Babur informs Humayun that India is the hometown of many religions and that he has to be respectful and impartial towards all of them and ought not to destroy, desecrate or burn any shrine of any religious order. But what is happening today? Catholic churches are being burnt, destroyed, demolished and desecrated.
(This is the first part of the article and the remaining part will continue tomorrow)
Jubel D’Cruz
