As we approach the sixty-fifth commemoration of our
Independence Day this Wednesday, my thoughts go back to the early
nineteen-seventies, especially the silver jubilee year, 1972. That was the year
when, having passed out my SSC, I had entered the campus of St. Xavier’s
College, Mapusa. That itself meant freedom from the restrictions of school to
the broader environs of college life.
The whole country was looking forward to celebrate
twenty-five years of Independence. Our college had organized a symposium to
mark the occasion, with Pratapsingh Rane, a young first time minister in the MGP government, as
chief guest. We were not used to seeing such refined and soft spoken ministers
at that time, and Mr. Rane definitely made a good impression on us. There were
many other functions, and patriotism was in the air. We were becoming a strong
nation. We had a strong leader in Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. We had not only
won the war against Pakistan in December 1971 but had marched right into the
heart of East Pakistan, helping in the liberation of this territory from the
domination of West Pakistan, now Pakistan. We had played a big role in the
birth of Bangladesh. We were not only an independent and free democracy but
liberators of another country.
Immediately after the victory over Pakistan, Indira Gandhi
led the Congress in an election to all state assemblies. Her Congress party
swept the elections. There was stability. The war on poverty, “Garibi Hatao”,
was the rhetorical slogan. Socialism and mixed economy were the creed of the
day. Self reliance was another goal of the government. And non-alignment was a prominent
feature of our foreign policy, though we were inclined towards the Communists
of USSR.
There were no threats to the minorities. Communal disturbance
and riots were very rare. Extremist organizations were on a low key, unlike
today. Minorities felt secure and rallied behind the ruling dispensation. I
should say that generally speaking our country India was at peace with herself.
When the mood is so upbeat, the people of the country
naturally sing praises to their motherland. No pressure is required from
authorities. I remember writing an article for the Silver Independence Day
issue of the school magazine of my Alma Mater, entitled, “The Flag is in my
Heart”. I meant every word of it, and remember some of the juniors telling me
that it was the best piece I had written in the magazine which I myself had
established with the help of Fr. Raymond Carvalho, our principal, and some
empowering teachers during the final years of my schooling.
My school, St. Thomas Boys’ High School, Aldona, had prepared
me with a nationalist fervor. I had studied under three teachers, Sir Pereira,
Sir Pinto and Sir Godinho, who were freedom fighters for Goa’s liberation from
the Portuguese. The Independence day and the Republic day were great festive
occasions for them. So though born in the nineteen-fifties, we could understand
better what the Indian freedom struggle meant, and much more what Goa’s freedom
struggle was. During my final year, I was asked by the acting principal, to
deliver the Independence Day speech after Flag hoisting. I was delighted and
prepared my own speech. The principal, having confidence in me, did not ask me to
show him the script. I referred in my speech to the Twenty-year Indo-Soviet
Treaty, which had just been signed a month earlier and which would strengthen
the defense of our country in the event of a war with Pakistan and even China.
The United States of America, and China were inclined towards Pakistan. During
the next civics class, Fr. Archie Fernandes, the acting principal, referred to
my speech and gave us his interpretation of the Indo-Soviet treaty. Could the
Soviet Union which suppressed freedom not only within its state boundaries but
in the Communist ruled countries of East Europe, be expected to protect our
freedom in India? Did we know how the Soviet Union intervenes in and controls
countries like Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland? I did not know. But my
horizons were widened. I began to understand the full dimensions of freedom and
liberty. When Indira Gandhi declared emergency and curtailed our freedom in June,
1975, I did not celebrate the Independence Day for next two years during the
emergency. But I did celebrate the day when she lost the post emergency
election in March 1977. That, I thought like many others, was our second
liberation.
We celebrated the golden and diamond jubilees of our
independence in 1997 and 2007 respectively. Both were big celebrations but
lacked the magic of the silver jubilee in 1972, perhaps due to change of
circumstances. In 1972 we were one nation fighting against external threats.
From nineteen-nineties, for the last twenty-two years, our external threats
have diminished. But our internal threats have substantially increased:
terrorism, communal tensions, riots, depriving people of land, partialities in
the face of injustice, police atrocities, economic disparities, corruption, etc..
We shall regain the magic when equality before the law,
freedom for all citizens and communities to grow to their full potential,
decentralization that empowers citizens to decide at the local level, and
inclusive growth – all these become not just provisions on paper but a reality.
Unity in diversity.
Published in The Navhind Times, Panorama 12.08.2012
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