Republic Day and Independence Day are both marked by stereotyped, predictable observances that are intended to make citizens feel good about themselves because of where the country is today. The founding fathers of the Constitution had idealistic dreams which now lie in tatters even as the idea of social justice is trampled day in and day out in a society that is characterized by massive disparities of wealth and opportunities. In Jammu and Kashmir and some states of the North East, the idea of the nation state is a contested one and some groups continue to nurse heartburns against the Indian state. A day before Republic Day the NSCN-K of Nagaland, the ULFA (Independent) and at least three outfits from Manipur have called for boycott of Republic Day. Left-wing extremism too persists in parts of India with no solution in sight. Why is the Indian state unable to resolve the differences with these disgruntled sections of society, some of whom continue to operate from foreign soil. It is time to call their bluff if all they do is to stifle economic activities by large scale extortion from established businesses and young entrepreneurs. But if they have genuine grievances those too should be addressed.
India’s 73rd Republic Day is also marked by a war of words between the Judiciary and the Executive on almost a daily basis. The verbal sparring does not augur well for both sides especially when the Law Minister is addressing those sitting in the highest seat of justice through the media, instead of both sides sitting across the table to resolve their differences. The number of pending cases in different courts of the country have turned the legal system one of the most sluggish, which in turn hampers the justice delivery system. Justice delayed is justice denied but this does not seem to trouble those charged with delivering justice. India is today governed by a political party that does not believe in diversity but is intent on forging cultural and religious homogeneity by attacking minority faiths. While on the one hand this country claims to be a leader in IT, science, and technology, large sections of the poor still have no access to primary education due to acute poverty. Malnutrition among children cuts across large swathes of this country rendering them unable to use their cognitive abilities. No education means no jobs and therefore, abject poverty. Consequently, the divide between rich and poor and the urban and rural is growing alarmingly. This insurmountable divide is a real threat to law and order in the country.
The ideal of equality of status and opportunity has been shattered by the emergence of what appears like two nations within the Indian landmass. On one hand we have a prosperous, resurgent urban India and on the other, a dirt-poor rural Bharat wallowing in mass illiteracy, hunger, and disease as well as the pernicious class, caste and gender discrimination. Rhetoric must end in favour of rapid action to address the above issues.
