Reflecting on India's Independence: The Price of Mismanagement

 Date: 15/08/2006

Summary:

In this diary entry, Tushar Mangl reflects critically on India’s progress 59 years after independence. He laments ongoing issues such as electricity shortages, corruption, and public complacency, examining the intertwined roles of both the government and the public in creating the country's current challenges. Mangl voices frustration over political sycophancy, systemic mismanagement, and the responsibilities that citizens hold in upholding a democracy. He critiques the Congress party's leadership post-independence while acknowledging some of its contributions, calling for greater accountability and active citizenship.

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Diary Entry:

15/08/2006

Happy Independence Day!

After 59 years of independence, I still don’t receive 24-hour electricity. It’s not just disappointing; it’s shameful. A person, a human being, typically reaches retirement after fulfilling many responsibilities. But, looking at our past, India’s record is a striking example of mismanagement—particularly financial mismanagement. Analyzing this issue leads me to realize that the true culprit is not just the politicians but the public, the janta itself.

The poor, innocent people, who have often been deceived by politicians, share responsibility. After all, what is a politician without votes? And these votes are cast by the public. Yet, blame is conveniently and frequently shifted to the executive, judiciary, government bureaucrats, and police. First, we bribe them, and once they grow accustomed to this corruption, we label them as corrupt.

It might have been understandable if these issues had persisted only for the first few years or, let’s say, a decade after independence. But 59 years is a very long time. As for the achievements we are proud of—our IIMs, IITs, AIIMS—these are merely like small returns on massive investments made over decades. It’s as if we’ve been fishing in the ocean for 50+ years and managed to catch only 10 or 15 fish. And yet, we feel satisfied and content when we can blame the government for all our troubles, from traffic jams to power shortages. When it comes to taxes, many are quick to seek ways to evade them, while the government’s response seems to be endlessly raising taxes, claiming lack of funds. As we continue to point fingers at one another, the struggle for existence is only going to intensify.

I am personally opposed to the Congress party. I believe that, from the pre-independence era until now, the Congress party—particularly those loyal to the Gandhi family—has, despite its achievements, manipulated the system for its gain and severely damaged our nation’s prospects. The culture of sycophancy, which can be traced back to the royal era and British rule, was only given a new form by the Congress post-independence; instead of eradicating it, they enhanced it. Every sycophant was given a position, and even new posts could be created for those who pledged loyalty to the Gandhis. Most of our issues could have been resolved within 25-30 years of independence, but thanks to the Indian public’s complacency, these problems—be they related to caste, religion, or other societal divides—persist.

The people seem to accept the status quo and fail to raise their voices. One thing I am certain of, however, is that the Gandhis can never become Gods, no matter how much they are revered. That said, I still respect them because, at the very least, they did something, even if imperfectly. They fought, albeit with flawed methods, and failed to maintain the Hindu-Muslim unity that was their responsibility.

We achieved independence, but let’s not forget it came with certain conditions—such as partition and the unresolved Kashmir issue, which remains even after all these years.

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