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The passage envisions an ideal society inspired by Tagore’s dream of fearlessness, free knowledge, truth, and reason. It presents Modern India’s ancient civilization, Sanatan values, family structure, and Dharma as foundations of social harmony, while acknowledging historical inequalities such as caste discrimination, gender injustice, sati, and child marriage. Change is described as either gradual evolution or sudden revolution, with independent India adopting a democratic, secular, socialist republic through its Constitution. Although progress has reduced disparities and improved governance, major challenges remain in affordable healthcare, quality education, political divisiveness, and social attitudes. The author urges constructive democracy, responsible leadership, and national welfare over narrow interests.

“Where the mind is without fear…”

The longing for a more amicable society is everlasting. Ravindra Nath Tagore, the famous thinker, poet and Nobel laureate, had expressed his wish to have a society “where knowledge is free” and “words come out from the depth of truth”. The great poet longs for a society “where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way…” Considering such a place a heaven, he prays to God to be in the country.

“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high…”

-Ravindra Nath Tagore

Modern India, that is Bharat

Amongst the oldest civilisations, India, that is Bharat, evolved as a most organised and structured society. Our sagacious primogenitors squeezed the essence of life into olden treatise, which is the treasure house of knowledge, wisdom and years of experience. It was an open society that gave equal opportunity of study, gaining knowledge and choosing the way of life within the legitimate confines of Dharma.

Dharma or religion was neither narrow in definition nor in practice. It was scientific and a way of life and imparts the teachings of “Live and let live”, giving proper respect and space to every organism, considering that all are the creation of the Supreme Soul: God. Because of its long tradition of purity, devotion and respect; hence, it is Sanatan. It is spontaneous that came from within, not imposed. Like Sanatan, the values are vital which developed and precipitated in society with time. The basic unit of society is family which plays important role in making a country great.

Family: Basic unit of society

A microcosm, family mirrors society and, in turn, a country. It runs on a set of ifs and dos, which is necessary for the smooth running of a systemic structure with collective responsibilities. The ethics, religious bindings, rules and laws are to regularise society. In the absence of it, anarchy prevails, causing a chaotic situation where people would feel insecure and unsafe.

Dirty drains make a pure and pristine river impure, dirty and polluted. The power of self-purification has its limitations. Despite having it, excessive pollutants cause pollution of the stream. It is true to any society or culture, too. In later part of life, as selfishness, mendacity and cupidity increased, society started changing to vicious.

Human beings

Humans are a highly developed and advanced group of animals who are gifted with intellect, speech and the power of thinking. They have evolved into a better organism that is adequately adapted, and using their brain can change the situations for the welfare of individuals, society and country.

Learning from their experience, the human race has evolved and developed to gain an advantage over other organisms. Initially a lone hunter, he soon became a gregarious gleaner, and later a settler who formed a family. Needless to say, a family is the building block of society.

Menace of inequalities and awakening

A mix of good and bad, human beings are not perfect. It is natural; imperfection gives a scope of improvement. The degree of a trait determines the nature of an individual which, nonetheless, can be managed by self-control and discipline. An epitome of equality, Indian society gradually slipped into gender and cast based inequalities. Women and a few groups of people used to get differential treatment who were devoid of education, equal rights, and dignity. Sati system and child marriage were serious blots on society. Great souls like Raja Ram Mohan Roy raised their voice, awakening the people’s consciousness to stop the menace. It gradually gained ground and the dreaded menace was eradicated.

Change is eternal

It is well known that change is eternal. Stagnation negates life; it is a form of inertia. Life is free-flowing, and living organisms need proper and ample space to grow, flourish, and bloom. Since its beginning, the Earth has been changing, and this process continues. Strife for betterment has always been in an omphalos position. System changes with the need of time and condition. It is relative. It is a wish for betterment and modern India is achieving it.

Change can be gradual or drastic. A gradual change takes time to become noticeable, but it is always lasting. With time, it matures and establishes. The gradual change is imperceptible, but it steadily and surely changes things. It is evolution.

Drastic and sudden change

Contrary to evolutionary change, drastic change is sudden and swift. It brings a paradigm shift in the thought process, ideology and overall system, which gives a tornado-like experience and improbable change which feels like a shock wave. The sudden change is revolution. It can be peaceful or occasionally forceful. “The forcible overthrow of the ruling society” causes a revolutionary change in a system where people’s participation and public opinion become secondary. Instead of establishing a “classless society”, revolution creates a new class, that is “ruling class”.

Contrary to evolutionary change, drastic change is sudden and swift. It brings a paradigm shift in the thought process, ideology and overall system, which gives a tornado-like experience and improbable change.

The nation has long been a British colony. Before it, invaders and looters arrived and tried to destroy the fine social warp and weft of the nation. They trampled culture and tradition, demolished temples and the seat of learning, and consigned them to fire. Despite it all, the inner strength of country remained indomitable. Invaders, nevertheless, failed in their mission except that they looted the wealth and prosperity.

Post independence: Modern India

After independence, people of India adopted a system to be run by the people. It was to be a system of “by the people, from the people, for the people”. The Constituent Assembly drafted a constitution which was adopted by “We the People of India” and came into effect on 26 January 1950. Modern India resolved to ensures equal opportunity for all and fair distribution of wealth.

The concept of Ram Rajya is a utopia, but any system that guarantees equality, fraternity and social awakening is very close to Ram Rajya. In consonance with its long traditional values, Indian people opted “secular, socialist democratic republic” system. (Hindustan Times)

Changing society in the nation

Things change and so organisms, yet in humans it is distinct. With progression of time and experience, it stabilised effecting society and country. Changing situation in the country the gender and caste disparities are waning fast. The weaker and marginalised sections are getting fair chance of development. With minor amendments, things are being made amicable to the changing conditions.

Despite changes in the outlook and perspective of society, some areas still need change. One of the most important is the change in modern India is of attitude. The not-so-positive attitude is changing and negativity is replaced by hope and aspiration. Systemic attitude and function has radically changed. The bureaucratic steel doors are opening, and the speed of work is gaining momentum. The schemes that lingered on for years are completing in stipulated time and allocated budget. The speedy all-around development resulted in a positive approach. Though people are confident, determined and hopeful about the positive changes, there are grey areas that needs proper attention.

Modern India: Health sector

Despite increasing health facilities and its integration with modern technology, health sector is still not as desired. The costly health facilities are still beyond reach of common people which is consternating. The artificially increased cost of medicines, tests and care is a great impediment in reaching good health services to common people. The staff, doctors and paramedics are not sensitive and empathetic. Medical profession is losing confidence among people, and their image is becoming notoriously money-siphoning machine. The mushrooming private hospitals and government hospitals are not enough. Besides increasing the number of hospitals, proper health services at reasonable cost are necessary.

Amidst all, it is heartening that government is acting sensibly. The recent drastic cut in the exorbitant cost of life-saving drugs especially cancer treatment is a welcome step.

Education in the nation

Similarly, there is yet another field that needs attention is education. Education is essential for all. Despite a plethora of schools, colleges, and professional colleges available, and they are being established often, quality education is still a distant dream even after shelling out exorbitant school/college fees.

Students are vying for good and quality education. The financially well off are still trying to get admission in foreign countries. Foreign education is still a coveted thing, and people receiving education from there are getting good job opportunities abroad. This is not good for the country. A large number of fine brains are serving outside the country, who can’t offer them quality education and proper job.

India is home to a vast pool of talented, intelligent, and hardworking individuals. They are often available for relatively lower wages. Attracted by the allure of foreign countries, many young people in India strive to obtain education and secure jobs overseas. For those who are of average ability, achieving this is a significant accomplishment, and they boast about it.

Political system

India is a democratic country. People elect their representative through a system of adult franchise. The system emphasises on vote count that gives rise to electoral politics where the number of votes is crucial. The system fragmented society into compartments of caste, creed, language and region. Politicians incite hatread on language issue beside playing other cards. They encourage publicly slapping Hindi-speaking people in a Marathi majority state. The fissiparous tendencies are not allowed in a healthy democracy. The social divide on flimsy issues for parochial gains is vicious.

Broader interest of the country

People’s perception takes time to change. It changes in the light of reality and work done by those responsible for delivering justice. It is not in merely in words but actions. An honest push is important.

People are aware that for a new robust building to construct dilapidated old one has to demolished. In a system this is done by the power of votes through democratically elected government, not by arm-twisting or pressure tacts.

The increasing number of anarchist demonstrations on the pretext of one thing or the other is nothing but a futile and desperate effort of opposition for media glare. Opposition has a great role to play in a democratic system, but it should be constructive and with a valid reason. The recent wake of demonstrations appear hollow, without reason. It must be avoided. Political parties must see to it that they act for the broader welfare of the country.

Further reads:

• The Fascinating World of Animals in Nature
• The Importance of Lifelong Learning for Personal Growth
• The Joy of Train, Car, and Hiking Journeys
• Chanakya and Dharma: Timeless Lessons on Ethical Leadership
• When Best Friends Drift Apart: Why Relationships Evolve With Time

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