It was on 15th August 1947, when we broke the chains of slavery (foreign bondage) and emerged as a free nation and started shaping our destiny. At that time we were 34 crore and today we are 140 crore strong, self-confident and vibrant citizens, struggling for a brighter future for ourselves and the future generations. We did adopt, enact and give to ourselves a golden Constitution on 26th November 1949. Now our population has grown fourfold and in sha Allah next year we would overtake China and will become the most populous country of the world.
At this juncture we should remember Rabindranath Tagore’s words, “Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged (disappointed) of man.” Therefore, we should feel that Almighty Allah has given us a large opportunity that we may prove our worthiness as the best human beings and the best nation. Come, let us do some stocktaking through introspection. Our Constitution has set for us the goal of serving justice, social, economic and political. We are far far away from this. A majority of citizens have been denied their social, economic and political rights. Power, wealth and decision making is concentrated with a few people who are usually corrupt, greedy and selfish. Oxfam reports confirm this fact.
We swear by liberty but most citizens are still under the bondage of one to two per cent people. Wealth, resources and decision making are concentrated in the hands of those people who have captured power. Another goal of liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship is continuously being violated. A particular religion is being vehemently imposed upon the various segments of this multi-religious and diversity-filled nation. Equality of status and opportunity is there just in our Constitution for decoration purpose. It is abysmally absent from the country.
Finally, our Constitution sets before us the pious duty to secure for all citizens of all religions, regions and ethnicities to promote fraternity of all citizens. Unfortunately, communal, parochial and blind policies being promoted from the corridors of power have endangered the unity, integrity and security of this great country.
Let us all join hands and fight against the forces of hate, bigotry and fascism and struggle, heart within and God overhead, to usher in the atmosphere in our country which can be as good as heaven on earth.