1
Nourhechulie Rulho, B.A. 6th Semester, (Sociology Hons.)
India, my country or to say our country, is in the era of darkness, the darkness that has covered the beauty of our country. India is such a beautiful country, from the snows of Himalaya to the beaches of Kerala, from the deserts of Rajasthan to the mountains of Nagaland, everything is fitted so perfectly. India is known for its 'Unity in Diversity'. Yet, India is in darkness today.
India is known to have the largest democracy with the lengthiest Constitution, but how safe is it to live in India today? How concerned are our political leaders for the development of India? Does 'Secularism' really exist in India? These are a few questions that arise in my head when I read the newspapers or watch the news channels. The famous definition of democracy given by Abraham Lincoln i.e.”Government of the people, by the people and for the people” has completely taken a different meaning today. People have lost their faith in the government and people are still suffering because the government is failing to tackle some of the biggest social issues. According to The New Indian Express, there were 3,422 rape cases within Delhi in the year 2017, rape cases has become a severe problem in our country, women of any age be it 60 years old woman or a five months old baby, are being raped and killed yet only 1 out of 4 convicts are given punishment by law. Dr. Priyanka Reddy, Jyoti Singh and so many other women and innocent girls have become a victim of this inhuman act. Yet, our country still fails to provide proper security and justice to the people. India is known as a developing country, but today many of the political leaders are only concerned with the development of the needs of the group who are categorised by Karl Marx as the 'Haves' and have forgotten to uplift the 'Have nots'. The National Crime Records Bureau of India reported in its 2016 annual report, that 11,379 farmers committed suicide in India, also according to World bank, India has more than 224 million living in Below Poverty Line in 2013. The word 'Secularism' is such a beautiful ideology which is a part of our constitution, crippled and destroyed by our so called political leaders. Today, the Political leaders and parties propagate and practice the use of religion in politics despite India being a 'Secular' country. Leaders like Yogi Adityanath who is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh using speeches like "give a chance, I will install Ganesh statues in every mosque" is really alarming creates a state of fear for the minority religious communities in India. How RSS is using the Political parties to bring their agendas and aims, to turn India into a Hindu country (Hindustan) is very much threatening to the National integrity of the country. The word 'Secularism' has been recently challenged by the ruling Government by introducing the 'Citizenship Amendment Act' which will grant citizenship on the basis of religion. Despite 31 people dying during the protest and millions of people; students, lawyers, farmers, old and young, voicing against this Act still the government refuses to withdraw the Act. The Government of the people is not for the people anymore. Even the media has become a stooge of the ruling government.
The list of problems and suffering of the students, farmers, women etc continues. Who then will bring the changes in our society? Who will be the person who will remove the political darkness which is prevailing in our country?
It is You and I, who will bring the light to this darkness which is prevailing in our beautiful country. It is our responsibility as a citizen of India to eradicate all the evils from our country. Our constitution provides us with Fundamental rights and it is our duty to repay it back by saving it from darkness. We have to develop an attitude of "For the love of my people and my country" like how Mahatma Gandhi sacrificed his entire life to save his people, like how Kanhaiya Kumar is working towards the betterment of our society by awakening the larger community, like how Arvind Kejriwal is contributing so much for the development of education, healthcare and other important social needs of the people in Delhi. Let us also become a concerned citizen of our beautiful country and uphold and uplift the phrase "Unity in Diversity" and look towards developing India into a developed country.
"The people who have access to education, information and communications and platforms have covered the streets with a blanket of silence" Faye D'Souza (Indian Journalist).
Let us not be mere silent spectators anymore, for if we do not save India now, India will have another Hitler, another Holocaust will take place. Let us understand the importance of our 'Right to Vote', ''Right against exploitation' and every right given by the Constitution. Let us all develop the feeling or attitude of "I'm The One Who Will Bring the Change" ,because we are powerful when we stand together.
Degree of Thought is a weekly community column initiated by Tetso College in partnership with The Morung Express. Degree of Thought will delve into the social, cultural, political and educational issues around us. The views expressed here do not reflect the opinion of the institution. Tetso College is a NAAC Accredited UGC recognised Commerce and Arts College. The editors are Dr Hewasa Lorin, Dr. Aniruddha Babar, Dr. Pfokrelo Kapesa, Webei Tsühah, Meren and Kvulo Lorin. For feedback or comments please email: dot@tetsocollege.org.
