I wish that this year, we get freedom from:
1. Regressive mindsets
Discriminating in the name of caste, religion, region, language, color – how can a society prosper when it’s shackled with so many evil mindsets?
2. Controlled and biased narrative of the mainstream media and journalism
Journalism and the media industry are pegged to be vital pillars of the growth and uplifting of any society. They have the power to bring out the truth in the most subtle ways to influence people to do wonders. The media in every part of the world has often supported every struggle for independence. However, it’s sad that the media has turned into a business in this country.
People take pride in the fact that India has more than 500 news channels, over 50k newspapers and hundreds of thousands of social media channels – but this sounds scary to me. With so many avenues of getting “News”, I am not sure what is the truth and what is a crafted piece of misinformation. Are you?
3. Polarized views – about almost everything
From wearing different clothes to eating meat, worshipping animals to worshipping human beings, blindly following a person to disagreeing on various issues, lynching someone in the name of religion and faith to letting someone die on the road after an accident – we as a society are in a messed up shape. How and when will we free ourselves of such a regressive mentality?
4. The mindset to belittle soldiers
I do not have to elaborate on this point since it would be insulting the extreme sacrifices that our soldiers make for each one of us in the country to live a peaceful life. There is a significant section of our society that takes immense pride in belittling the soldiers now and then – for little mileage for themselves! I pity such poor souls!
5. Corporate nexus that exploits people
One of the most significant cults that have grown huge in this country is the CORPORATE! Just like any other cult, people give away everything in their life (health, family, happiness, peace of mind, at times life itself!) for the fake status, position, power and money in the corporate world. The bosses sitting on the top, live swanky luxurious lives, created by the money earned by the people on the ground, with their sweat and blood.
You enter it with dreams to make a great life but, you barely manage to survive every day. I do not see a way to get free from this as it’s a very thick nexus – a cult to be precise! People with vested interests have no regards for human lives and values. The whole system is designed in a way that it destroys the very source that it breeds on – human beings; without ever realising the effects. I do not care if anyone wishes to counter my views on this by whatever logic; the bottom line doesn’t change.
6. The Keyboard wars
If you switch to any news channel, you get a feeling that the country is doomed and everything is dark and gory. But when you head towards the social media – you feel that the country is loved and protected. You find people sharing posts of army men, the national flag, social work done by people etc. You will also find people hurling abuses and insults at people from other countries to defend our own. Wow! What wrong can be done to a nation full of such patriotic people!
But, the truth is that most of these people are just “Keyboard Warriors” who are hitting the keys on their computers or phones with all the rage. It is a shame that this rage does not materialise to genuine efforts outside their screens. My point is, no power in the world can do any good for a community if it doesn’t want any good for itself. Our society is severely ill from the inside, and no external treatment can cure it.
Having said all that, we still have a reason to celebrate today. Let’s enjoy our freedom, for whatever it means to the people today!
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
Do feel free to add, support, counter or blatantly deny the points raised above – do share your thoughts in comments.