A. JAISON, M.A.,B.L.,
(Samaj Weekly)- The whole country as well as Indians abroad are celebrating India’s 76th Independence Anniversary while a major section of Indians are groaning and mourning due to the onslaughts unleashed by the ruthless majoritarianism and India remaining afflicted with so many political, economic and social diseases, more particularly during the last 9 years, upon ascension of BJP under Mr. N.D. Modi to power. Irrespective of all these unjust and illegal acts of negation of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, the Trinity that enlivens Democracy, we need to celebrate the Independence of our country. Nevertheless, we can’t remain stone-hearted like Mr. N.D. Modi and his servile companions while the whole country has been witnessing divisiveness on account of unchecked and unquestioned hatred being let loose by the heartless hardcore Hindutvas cunningly and daringly promoted by the RSS and its allies and the judiciary, by and large, being a silent spectator.
In the interest of our nation and to instill the patriotic feelings in the minds of all the good-souled Indians, it is worthy of quoting what Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar said in the Constituent Assembly on 25th November, 1949:
“On 26th January 1950, India will be an independent country. What would happen to her independence? Will she maintain her independence or will she lose it again? This is the first thought that comes to my mind. It is not that India was never an independent country. The point is that she once lost the independence she had. Will she lose it a second time? It is this thought which makes me most anxious for the future.
What perturbs me greatly is the fact that not only India has once before lost her independence, but she lost it by the infidelity and treachery of some of her own people. Will history repeat itself? It is this thought which fills me with anxiety. This anxiety is deepened by the realisation of the fact that in addition to our old enemies in the form of castes and creeds we are going to have many political parties with diverse and opposing political creeds. Will Indians place the country above their creed or will they place creed above country? I do not know. But this much is certain that if the parties place creed above country, our independence will be put in jeopardy a second time and probably be lost forever. This eventuality we must all resolutely guard against. We must be determined to defend our independence with the last drop of our blood.”
I have my own thoughts disturbing my mind and here-below is its reproduction:
Let us celebrate our Independence
The hard-won Independence
With the bloodshed of our forefathers
With the sacrifice of the great leaders
Unlike the current fascists
Who tom-tom with their hollow claims
That are well documented false claims
And with their nothingness as everything
Except their betrayal in the freedom struggle
Joining hands with the British regime
For the sake of selfishness and self-prosperity
At the cost of our Motherland!
Not even could we celebrate our Platinum Jubilee
The fascists have captured power
Not by just and fair means
But by unjust and foul means
With the dictatorship reigning the nation
In the name of falsified democracy
Which is glorified as democracy!
Majoritarianism not having conscience
Shamelessly exposing its bruteness and crudeness
And good-souled majority being helpless and hapless
Although it doesn’t digest the fascism
Because the dissenters’ voices are stifled
Their existence is ruffled with brutality
Of the barbarous political establishment.
Let us celebrate our Independence Day!
Let us not forget the bygone dark past
Let us not insensitive to the gloomy future
Let us not remain mute against the brute
Let us resolve to unseat the fascist regime
Let us not rest until then
Lest our future is doomed by the goons
Lest our next generation will curse us
For being shamelessly mute and spineless
For having failed in our democratic duty
For not having stood up with collective might
Against the brutal and illegal political might
Hailed by the spineless godi media
Who have sold themselves for a hefty price
Unmindful of the Constitution and Democracy
Unmindful of the millions of the people
As they mind about money and not morality
Because morality is an anathema for godi media!
Let us remember Gujarat riots of 2002
Let us remember the endless brutality
Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere perpetrated everyday
Cow-vigilantes slaughtering the minorities
The downtrodden, other weak and meek
Let us remember the Delhi riots
Let us remember the burning Manipur
Let us remember the flaming Haryana
Let us be watchful of the engulfing fire
Aggressively spreading across the country
With the evil designs of the fascists!
Let us join together with a spirited will
To unseat the nasty fascist regime
In the elections ahead in 2024
Let us resolve: 2024 or Never!
2024 is the deadline for India’s lifeline!
Lest India will tremble and crumble
And get balkanized like USSR.
Let us be awake and vigilant
In line with the thoughts of Swami Vivekananda,
‘Arise, Awake and Stop not till the goal is achieved!’
United India is the Strength for all Indians,
Let us nourish and cherish this forever!
Let us celebrate Independence Day!
Long Live India! Long Live India!
A. JAISON, M.A.,B.L.,
Member, Social Justice Monitoring Committee,
Government of Tamil Nadu/
Writer, Ambedkarite and Social Activist/
General Secretary, Bharat Ratna Dr.Babasaheb
Ambedkar Rationalist Youth Movement (ARMY)
Written on 15th August, 2023