We as a nation turn 78 tomorrow, and on its eve, the mood is not festive. The monsoons are playing havoc, with reports of cloud bursts pouring in, every few days. The hurt pride of an aborted operation sindoor, a bullying American president and international isolation, does not help make 15th August festive. After all the Indian dream was to take its rightful place in the international community. It was to reify the “tryst with destiny “ of the ancient nation. The century long freedom struggle, was based on a dream of the people finally getting to govern themselves, and earning equity and dignity, never extended to its vast majority. The republic, its constitution and democracy are their greatest pride and perhaps only asset. And when this democracy seems vulnerable and even doubtful, they turn apprehensive about their future as well as their past. The Indian independence, was the product of the weaving of a composite social and national fabric. It was badly torn by the partition, that followed independence, and repairing it was the foremost national project. As the fabric gets shredded, independence becomes redundant and dysfunctional. Atop of it, the government is observing 14th August, not as independence eve, but as partition horror day. The juxtaposition of rising communal divisions and commemoration of partition and its horrors, make, 15th August, anything but festive. The people feel let down by their polity, and at the same time there’s a silent reckoning about letting down both independence and the constitution. It’s guilt and hurt together. The promise of justice, equality, liberty and fraternity seems hollow. Their practice was always hypocritical, but now they are not even professed.
