स्वतंत्रता दिवस मनाएं संकल्प के साथ
By प्रोफ़ेसर आनंदप्रकाश त्रिपाठी
Summary
The article reflects on India's independence on August 15, 1947, achieved through the sacrifices of revolutionaries like Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, and leaders like Tilak, Lajpat Rai, and Gandhi, who used non-violence to force the British to leave. It questions whether the golden dreams of these freedom fighters have been realized, pointing to issues like corruption, women's insecurity, farmer suicides, and violence in modern India. The author criticizes leaders for fostering corruption and dividing people by religion, caste, and region for votes, urging citizens to prioritize their identity as Indians first. Drawing on Acharya Tulsi's vision of a moral India, the article emphasizes the need for ethical living and personal responsibility, suggesting that individual improvement can lead to societal change. It references Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement and the Jan Lokpal Bill as efforts to combat corruption, but notes resistance from corrupt politicians. The author calls for a collective pledge on Independence Day to uphold Indianness, practice honesty, non-violence, and accountability, and work towards a better nation by starting with oneself.
Conclusion
The document’s implications are clear: true independence remains unrealized unless citizens embrace moral responsibility and national unity over divisive identities. It critiques contemporary India’s drift toward corruption, violence, and social fragmentation, contrasting these failures with the sacrifices and ethical vision of freedom fighters like Gandhi, Tilak, and Bhagat Singh. The outcome demanded is a personal and collective recommitment to integrity, starting with individual self-improvement as advocated by Acharya Tulsi’s anuvrat movement. Only by prioritizing ethical conduct, rejecting corrupt leadership, and fostering a pan-Indian identity can the nation overcome its current crises and honor the founders’ dreams. The text thus calls for a transformative shift from ritualistic celebration to substantive action, where every citizen’s daily choices rebuild a just, united, and morally grounded society.