What’s something you’d love to see in the future, but know you probably won’t live to witness?
The passage reflects on India’s historical journey from ancient invasions to becoming an independent nation. Starting with an evocative image of a national flag symbolising pride and identity, it chronicles the impact of various intruders and rulers, including the Mughals and the British Empire. The narrative highlights the resilience of the Indian people despite oppression, culminating in the freedom struggle led by figures like Gandhi. After gaining independence in 1947, India faced challenges like poverty and corruption but gradually progressed economically, with advancements in technology and infrastructure. The author conveys optimism about India’s growth and status as a global power, advocating for constructive criticism and citizen engagement.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- The article reflects on India’s journey from invasions to independence, emphasising historical resilience against oppression.
- It highlights key figures like Gandhi in the freedom movement and the socioeconomic challenges faced after 1947.
- India experienced significant economic growth post-liberalisation, emerging as a global power and a rapidly developing economy.
- Technological advancements include successful lunar missions and a strong military presence, marking India’s progress.
- The narrative stresses the importance of constructive criticism in a democracy, while expressing optimism about India’s future.
National flag of India
Standing in front of a 207-foot-high flag mast in an iconic park, watching a 60×90-foot national flag fluttering atop fills the beholder’s heart with pride. The national Tricolour with a deep indigo wheel in the middle evokes a deep feeling of reverence for the motherland. It is a guarantee of safety, security, and assurance to the compatriots of the nation. The flag looked stunningly beautiful against the azure sky dotted with patches of clouds. The season was pleasant after a brief shower of monsoon followed by atomised drizzle. Each microdroplet of water that fell on the body gave a unique trickling sensation. The cool easterlies were driving off patches of clouds which were playing hide and seek with the sun.
The fluttering flag seemed smiling. A deep voice reverberated; it appeared that the flag was narrating history…
Invaders
India has come a long way. From the ancient to modern, the land that is surrounded on three sides by sea and guarded by the mighty Himalayas at the top in the northern part, has been in the eye of the storm. Sailors tried to reach its shores, intruders invaded India and looted its wealth. Intruders not only invaded and looted, but they also tried to crush the spirit of the ancient culture. They desecrated the holy places of worship, destroyed and ruthlessly trampled traditions and famous seats of knowledge, consigning the invaluable books and libraries to the fire. The destruction of the ancient and renowned Nalanda University (In Bihar, India) and the burning of its rich library of knowledge by Bakhtiyaar Khilji in the 12th century testify to it. (The Indosphere)
Three centuries of Monarchy in India
The loot and destruction didn’t stop. The invaders kept infiltrating. A few came here, looted and left, but a few made a permanent station here. The Mughals invaded and established their kingdom, ruling here. They tried to change the demography and culture; they started persecution and mass proselytisation of natives. The medieval period, spanning from 1526 to 1857, witnessed the rise and fall of numerous Mughal and Afghan rulers. Some of them were kind-hearted, inclusive and benevolent, while some were bigoted and dogmatic. The former did several public welfare works, constructed roads, enforced a foolproof revenue system and took good care of their subjects. The latter let loose the reign of atrocities.
East India Company
The long spell of rule by foreign invaders and the changed social structure taught people about peaceful coexistence. People of different faiths, following different customs and modes of worship, lived peacefully together, keeping harmony in society. The Nawabs of Oudh presented an excellent example of peaceful coexistence. Nonetheless, by 1857, a new force started emerging in the form of imperialism. In the summer of 1857, a great war of independence broke out against the atrocious regime of a British trading company. Natives joined hands and fought bravely to overthrow the atrocious rule of the East India Company. After the war was suppressed, the British Crown took over the reign of India and thus the British rule started, which ended in 1947 when India became free.
Rule of British Crown
The uprising and its subsequent suppression in 1857, led to Queen Victoria’s proclamation of November 1858. It transferred power from the East India Company to the British crown. The proclamation ensured several rights to Indian people, including religious freedom and equal opportunity. The rule of the British Crown gave some fundamental liberties and opportunities to common Indian people who were still subjects of the British Crown.
Several firsts
People witnessed many firsts during the rule of the English, including the haulage of a railway train from Bombay to Thane. Similarly, the establishment of a structured postal system and the enforcement of the Indian Post Office Act 1854 was yet another landmark first. First GPO established in Calcutta (Now Kolkata) in 1774. These were but a few major things.
“TINKATHIYA” system
Despite the rule of the British Crown, the drain of wealth didn’t stop. The wealth of the country was siphoned to the foreign country. Peasants were forced to sow cash crops like indigo in their fields to feed raw materials to factories in England. Under the “Tinkathiya” system the farmers had to compulsorily lock a portion of their landholdings for indigo plantation. This was a severe drain on farmers which pushed them to poverty, hunger and severe debts. The problem was severe in Champaran of Bihar, where Gandhiji launched a massive awareness campaign and movement against it. This forced the British government to bow and constitute the “Champaran Agrarian Committee” which ultimately abolished the system.
Freedom movement
With time, the resentments against foreign rule started gaining ground. To contain the resentments and to vent out the simmering indignation, a retired British Civil Servant, Allen Octavian Hume (AO Hume), founded INC (Indian National Congress) in 1885. Several notable Indian intellectuals like Dadabhai Naroji, W.C. Banerjee, and Dinshaw Wacha also supported the move. W.C. Banerjee presided over the first session of the INC in Bombay (Now Mumbai).
Emergence of Gandhi
The freedom movement was a damp squib at its start. The Congress was like a moderate political seeking for more reforms. They presented detailed petitions and memorandums for administrative reforms and a share in government. The freedom movement started gaining impetus after Gandhiji appeared in the political arena in 1915 when he returned from South Africa. During his stay in South Africa, he successfully fought against racial discrimination. His experiments with truth, non voilence, peaceful noncooperation impacted greatly. He successfully shifted the political focus from elites to the rustic poor and common people. It was an instant success, and people came behind Gandhi as a strong monolith.
India became free
A long and arduous struggle and a series of movements within the country, compounded by the events following the end of WWII, put pressure on the British to free India. After long deliberations, consultations, and burning the midnight oil, the day came when India became a free nation. Nonetheless, it paid a heavy price. Before the transfer of power, the British divided India into two dominions, India and Pakistan, keeping the demand of the Muslim League, headed by Jinnah. On 15 August 1947, India became free but divided. Jawaharlal Nehru took the oath as the first Prime Minister of India. The country was ready to redeem very substantially, the pledge it had taken long years back.
Free India
For almost all octogenarians of today, it was like a dream come true. Those who opened their eyes after independence had no chance to participate in the freedom struggle, but have an equally important role to play a constructive role in nation building. The forefathers and fathers struggled and dragged the country out from the slush of slavery, bringing a new dawn of freedom. It was now the phase of development and growth. Children at the time of freedom have now become mature adults who contribute significantly to the development of the country.
Post independence
There was a euphoria. People were happy, but at the same time, there was a mass exodus. Uprooted people from their soil were pouring in as refugees. Losing everything, including their land, property and even families, they took refuge within the confines of a line drawn artificially and arbitrarily to divide their land.
Uphill task
There were problems, but the country started afresh. With the limited resources in hand, the country started crawling, then staggeringly walking, and then trotting. The time slipped, but the pace of development was slow. With rampant poverty, malnutrition, hunger and deprivation, India was struggling to wriggle off the tag of a poor developing country. India started to establish industries, technical institutes, and construct dams, but the output was not as required. Rampant corruption and bureaucratic lethargy were the greatest impediments. Officials worked in silos. Lack of coordination, technology and inability to bring down the schemes on the ground level were seriously lacking.
Economic growth
The major parameters of a country’s growth are its economy and the happiness of its people. India faced a severe crisis after independence. Four major wars thrusted upon the country, and sporadic sponsored terrorist attacks greatly affected the economy of the country. The post-independence period can be divided into two phases. One from 1947 to 1991 and the other post-liberalisation period from 1991 to the present. The average growth rate was roughly 3.5 per cent in the pre-liberalisation period, while it became roughly 6 per cent to 7 per cent thereafter.
Fast growing economy
The overall development, use of technology in governance, investment in infrastructure development, proliferation and diversification in defence sectors are but a few areas where the work is swift. Improved roads, highways and expressways augment swift transportation. This enhances economic growth. It is these that are the contributory factors for a fast-growing economy. The current rate of economic growth is a little above 7 per cent. India is among the first four big economies of the world. India ranks 4th. Global military power.
Space missions
In space technology, India is the fourth country to have successfully landed its lunar module “Vikram Lander” on the South Pole of the moon. India is the first to land on the South Pole of the Moon. India is fast progressing in its “Gaganyaan” program to send humans to the lunar surface. Besides lunar space missions, India sent its solar satellite “Aditya L1” which is working well in its orbit.
India: as perceived by a septuagenarian
After spending seven decades or more and watching various convolutions of Indian polity, governance, technological advancements, infrastructure development and scientific fields, a septuagenarian feels thrilled. There may be some who don’t agree with it and criticise the present government, but that is all right. It is they who pinpoint the loopholes and force the authorities to mend them. India is a democratic country. Voice of decency is also important, but criticism should be creative and for the good of society. It must not be personal, abusive and on purpose of parochial gains.
Watching dispassionately, it is clear that the country is heading in the right direction. It is important. Those who scoff for the heck of it and to show their hegemony are not doing good for society and the country. The country is standing among the world powers where its voice has punch and power. It is no longer a country of snake charmers. Like an elephant, it has started moving and will attain its goal, come what may.
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Kamal Kishore Srivastava
A retired government officer turned writer and photographer, Kamal Kishore Srivastava is a regular blogger and essayist who explores life’s deeper meanings through immersive reflections on nature, impermanence, and happiness. On his blog Nature’s Narrative, he blends philosophical storytelling with practical insights. Writing 1,200–1,500 words or more regularly, Kamal is committed to refining his craft, expanding his audience, and building a sustainable space where thought and feeling intersect.
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