All of us want India to become a respectable super power in the world. India ha a rich past. it was because of its riches, that it was invaded innumerable times and its wealth was plundered.
The British rulers exploited the country. At the time of independence, the country was in turmoil, its economy had been shuttered and there was unrest all around. In sixty years since independence, the country has made tremendous progress. However, it is still for behind the developed counties of the world. India of my dreams is a peaceful, progressive, literate country free from the pangs of poverty, where every citizen feels safe and secure, where health facilities are provided top all and where the women of the country are treated with utmost dignity and respect.
India, is proud of its rich past. It was because of tis riches that it was invaded innumerable times and that its wealth was plundered. The Britishers ruled India for almost two centuries and exploited the country economically.
At the time of independence (August 15, 1947) the economy of the country was shattered and there was social unrest all round. However it was time for India to write its own history. A lot of progress has been made on various fronts. There have been short comings in our planning as well as its implementation. However when we notice other counties, who also achieved independence around the same time, we feel we are much better placed.
Agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy. It provides employment to over 60 percent of the country's work force and it accounts for over quarter of India's gross domestic product. It also contributes substantially to export trade. However except for some pockets of development, agriculture scene in rest of the country is dismal. The farming community is generally under debt. A large number of farmers in recent years have committed suicide because of mounting economic difficulties.
Industrial development plays a significant role in the growth process of the under developed counties. It helps in raising income levels and in absorbing rural surplus labour. It is believed that prior to 19th century India was a great manufacturing country. However at the time of independence the industry was in bad shape. Industrial development stared with the second five year plan. It has passed thought different phases. Many bottlenecks and red tapism came in the way of rapid development of industry. Some of the areas of concern have been addressed in the post liberation ear. The new industrial policy of July 1991 is market is needed for the growth of industry. India maintained a favorable policy towards foreign direct investment till 1967. Some preconditions and regulations were imposed from 1968 onwards. Realizing that these conditions were hampering India's industrial progress, the relaxations were made. With the economic liberalization from July 1991 onwards foreign direct investment has been encouraged and it has been allowed in many sectors.
India has made its mark in 'Service Sector'. It has emerged as an important Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs and Call centers) destinations. India fortunately has a large number of well qualified English speaking population, which is needed in this kind of enterprise.
India's population as per 1951 census was 36 crore. In 50 year i.e. as per 2001 census the country's population on March 31, 2001 rose to 102.7 crores. Such rapid growth of population places a huge burden on our limited resources and limited land area.
India's literacy rare as per 1951 census was less than 20 percent. In over fifty seven years it has increased to about 65 percent, which clearly indicates that even today about 35 percent of the population over 350 million people in our country are still illiterate. It is truly a sad reflection of the sate of literacy in our country.
India has made rapid strides in many spheres. the economic condition of the people is better today than it was at the time of independence. We have made tremendous progress in science and technology. Our infrastructure is far better. A large number of universities, colleges and schools have been set up. Industrialization has taken place. Better health care is now available especially in urban areas. Average life span has increased. Infant mortality rate has come down. Better employment opportunities are available to the youth of the country. Means of transpiration and communication have undergone a sea change. Print and Electronic media has played a key role in creating awareness and bringing people closer. Improvement is noticeable even in provision of sports facilities.
India is the third English book producing country after USA and UK. Indo-English literature is now well-developed and internationally recognized. It is able to capture many international awards like Booker price. Pulizter prize etc. Arundhati Roy, Jhumpa Lahiri, Anita Desai, Arvind Adiga etc. are some of the important names in this field.
Despite all this progress which is commendable, a lot needs to be done to improve the living conditions of agricultural and industrial labor and the people working in unorganized sectors. Steps should be taken to stop crime and violence. The misguided youth of some troubled states needs to brought in the main stream. Communalism, regionalism and fundamentalism need to be curbed with a strong hand. Condition of women folk needs drastic improvement. Women empowerment is the demand of a civilized society. Equal opportunities need to be given to the girl child for education and career development. Illiteracy and poverty need to be rooted out. Self-sufficiency ought to be achieved in all spheres. Dependence on other counties should be a thing of the past.
India of my drams is a country where nobody is illiterate and nobody sleeps hungry, where there is no distinction on the basis of genre, religion or caste, where justice to a common man is neither denied or deleted, where corruption in public life does not exist, where criminals can not occupy and ministerial berths nor enter legislative assemblies, where merit counts in every sphere of life, where jobs cannot be purchased, where rapists have to spend the rest of their lives behind the bars, where the intellectuals like Amartya Sen and Har Govind Khurana do not have to leave the country's shore for higher research and recognition where the Shabad Kirtan from Gurudwaras, and Azan from Mosques, the Bhajans from Temples and chiming of the bells from churches merge and mingle and produce a harmonious, melodious, spiritual tune, loved by on and all. A classes and casteless India, a country which all Indians can be truly proud of.
