Every Independence Day is turning out to be a ritual meant for rejoicing. It is a holiday and plenty of sweets are distributed. The disabled are given sympathetic gestures, free hearing aids or crutches. Everything is indeed symbolic of the notion of independence. There is free lunch, tall promises, distribution of blankets, visit to hospitals by charity groups and not to mention the photo opportunity to be seen and read in the next day’s newspaper. Everybody loves the day of Independence particularly the politicians who use the opportunity to affirm public support. Indeed if it may be said, August 15 would remind us of election campaigns with the only difference that the political party in power can indulge in freebies without the prying eyes of the Election Commission running down on their extravagant propaganda.
But then, what does it mean to the commoners? Are they free, happy? While a sense of apathy is perceptible and for which the public must also take some of the blame, many people in the streets are also seething with discontentment on seeing how the benefits of independence have been usurped by a few. The indignation of the common man gets reflected at the hustings: any change remains only on paper. Sometimes the substitute proves even worse. This further erodes their faith in democracy. Whether it is Prime Minister Manmohan Singh speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort or Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio doing likewise from the State Civil Secretariat, the despair and despondency of the public is the same. It is true that independence of a country gives its citizens certain rights. A lot has been achieved even in Nagaland since Statehood in 1962. True, there has been development in education, social sectors, industry and technology. But the human values of honesty and hard work have been lost along the way. There is division and selfishness. The gap between the rich and poor is widening and though on record we say that all are equal before law, the powerful have been able to manipulate the system for their whims and fancies while the poor are victimized. It is either money or muscle power that decides the winner, whether in elections or otherwise.
Citizens have a moral duty to fight the injustice and wrongs in society. A person is independent if he or she is self-reliant. But for now, this will remain an ideal. Though we speak highly of unity, there remains bitter hatred between people of different groupings and regions. Insincerity and corruption is impeding progress of the State. If these challenges are not met, there is no meaning of independence from the social, cultural, political evils and economic abyss. Freedom becomes meaningless.
