59 years from today, a bird, for the first time, was about to fly.
A bird, who had earlier spent her life in dark dungeons, was about to face the harsh glare of light. A bird, who had earlier relied upon others for survival, was about to step into the dark, unpromising world, all by herself. A bird, who had never before felt her wings, was about to fly; and serving as the wind beneath her wings, insiting her to fly on, were her hopes, her amibitions, her determination and of course, her courage.
On 26 Jan 1950, india, after being dominated for 200 dark, misreable years, set up her own norms, her own laws, her own constitution. In 1931, Mahatma gandhiji had already spelt out what he wanted the contitution to do:
"I shall strive for a constitution which will release India from all thraudem and atronage. I shall work for an India in which the poorest shall feel that it is their country, in whose making, they have an effective oice. There can be no room in India for the curse of untouchability...Ishall be satisfied with nothing else"
Indisputably, the constitution did justice to Gandhiji's expectations. Till date, no large social group or political party has questioned the legitimacy of the constitution; this is an unusual achievement for any constitution.
Republic Day, is therefore of grave importance in the history of India. It reminds of the blood and sweat drained by those, whose hearts beated and wept for India. It is a wake up call to all those, whose conscience has gone to sleep, but is not yet dead...it is a call to action for all those who have been indifferent and inactive. It invokes the particiaption of every ordinary citizen, so that they take up cudgels for the nation; a challenge that will surely put the nation on the path of prosperity.
Today, however, a concerned citizen feels help[less and lost; he wants to do something, but doesn't know what. He doesn't know where to start...he needs direction and finds none..he is angry, yet scared.
Our people have been deprived of their basic constitutional and fundamental rights, such as the rights to freedom and equality. They feel helpless when faced with inadequeate judicial resources. Have the common man's dreams been realized, or have they actually turned into nightmares? Is this the turnout of the constitution, proclaimed with much fanfare, 59 years ago?
Our freedom strugglers did their part of our country. THIS is is our moment. youth is the symbol of growth, development and dynamism. We are going to be tommorrow's political leaders, and decide how corruption free, or otherwise, our nation is going to be. As Shiv Khera puts it: "Our youth do not form 100% of the nation's population; however, they do consitute 100% of its future."
It is our turn now, to take up that flight..which was taken up by that bird..59 years ago.
(this speech was delivered by me on the eve of Republic Day (January 26, 2008) in my school).
