India, our Nation, has completed 64 years after it got Independence from the British rule in the midnight of 14th / 15th August 1947. The two centuries of slavery under the British was over at last and India became an independent nation. It was after continued and sustained struggle that we got independence. At this time, we remember the First War of Independence of 1857 which gave a big jolt to the British empire. The sacrifices of thousands of sepoys and their leaders like Rani of Jhansi, Tantia Topi, Nana Saheb, Begum Hazrat Mahal and of course Mangal Pandey who fired the first shot on the altar of freedom can not be forgotten. The valiant battles fought by Tippu Sultan, Pazhassi Raja and many others still inspire us. After the formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885 a new era started. The arrival of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on the scene gave a new dimension and popularity to the struggle for independence. The declaration of Swaraj, the Salt Satyagraha and the Non-cooperation movement- all are shining chapters of struggle for independence. The Communists were in the fore-front. The British were especially brutal against the communists. The British were afraid that a Soviet Union type revolution may come here. Hence the moment the Communist Party of India was formed, the British Govenment arrested them one after another foisting conspiracy cases against the Communists. Peshawar Conspiracy case, Meerut Conspiracy case, Kanpur conspiracy case and Madras Conspiracy case- almost all the leading Communists were arrested and jailed.
The Jhalianwala Bagh Massacre shocked the nation and the young revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru and Sukhdev who gave back in the same coin to the British were hanged. Chandrasekhar Azad was shot dead by a posse of police men.
The end of the second world war opened a new chapter. The Thebhaga struggle, the Telengana struggle, Royal Indian Navy revolt, the INA, the Postal strike all added fuel to the Independence struggle and British had no other go but to grant Independence to India. But they did after dividing India in to India and Pakistan. Along with the victory of independence, both countries had to face the biggest tragedy of partition and the displacement and sufferings of crore of people who had to migrate from one country to the other.
India has grown during the last 64 years in all spheres. But still a majority of the people in this country do not have education, job, food and house. But at the same time the number of millionaires and billionaires are increasing in the country. The national wealth is grabbed by big business and corporates for a song causing loss of lakhs of crore of rupees to the government. The corruption has hit the roof with even the top level politicians and administrators under the scan.
It is only the working people and the toiling masses of the country who can make a change to the present situation. A revamp of the political situation has become necessary. The ruling congress party and the main opposition BJP are both in competition to implement the neo-liberal policies which had already brought more and more misery to the common people. It is only through committed, dedicated and sacrifices that the country can be changed. It is what is required in the present moment. Let us be part of this great task.
Best Wishes to all in the eve of the 65th birthday of our dear nation!