Where Do We As A Nation Stand Today!

Aafreen Manzoor

On August 15, 2024 India celebrated 77 years of Independence. As a country, India is set to become world’s 3rd largest economy by 2027 or 2030. India is called World’s largest democracy being world’s most populous country. India is a progressive country that is on the road map of development since independence.

According to rating agency MOODY’S report, India’s GDP growth projection FY2025 to 7.2% in 2024 from 6.8% previously and 6.6% growth in 2025 against earlier estimate of 6.4% in July. Therefore, all such details present us with the information that India is a progressive country. But are we progressive in real sense? Are we progressing as a society as whole?

Having an eye on the Indian society, I can witness a few loopholes and the evils- THE SOCIAL EVILS that have their stake, share and hold in the society. From poverty, unemployment, drug addiction, domestic violence, gender disparity, child abuse and what not. The list could get accessed in a long form; such has been the case with India in recent times. It seems as if the country is growing in the face of the economy not progressing. India is witnessing growth which is not transcending into development. Such is the case with the mindsets of people; they are in their old traditional zones only; they haven’t changed their mindsets and behavior patterns yet. A Mumbai based Research Organization -INDIRA GANDHI INSTITUTE FOR DEVELOPMENT published a report- India Development Report (2008) and this report talked precisely about HOW INDIA IS GROWING BUT INDIA IS LACKING BEHIND. What comes to your mind thinking about this report, what do you think about the same and what about the present condition of the society you live in. Yes, indeed, it’s true that we face a lot of problems in the current scenario and the only way to reconcile is progressive education for progressive mind.

If education is not able to shape you rather let’s say if the conduction of education is not able to create a change in you than what’s the fun and usage of such education and education system that is not able to shape you, develop and shape your ideas if that goal has not been achieved than what’s the fun of education and educating you. Education should create consciousness among people and change with changing times.

Now, when we talk about the Gender Disparity and treatment with Women in India that is the next level. Recently, there were elections to the Legislative Assembly of JK, where in the news was doing rounds that WOMEN FOLK is turning out to be the deciding factor in the elections. That’s good that women are coming out of their homes and casting votes and are supposed to choose their representative’s. Such case was seen in this year’s parliamentary elections as well where political parties were trying to get women by their side by doing women vote bank politics. In the recent, Legislative Assembly elections of Madhya Pradesh, what has been the point to be highlighted is that Shivraj Singh Chuahan’s LADLI BEHNA YOJANA was supposedly called the game changer for BJP’S win in MP.

On 28th Oct, 2024 Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said that AAP’S next mission in Punjab is to provide Rs 1100/- every month to the women. He was referring to AAP’S poll promise before the 2022 assembly poll.

Currently, there is a lot of hue and cry in Maharashtra as Legislative Assembly polls are upcoming. I recently came across there manifesto wherein they declared that they will provide Rs 3000/- to women every month if congress comes to power. I am not able to comprehend what sort of welfarism is being practiced in our beloved country India where Women which constitutes to be 50% of the population is still being addressed in the marginalized section and there are no avenues to let her called as EQUAL. Yes, constitutionally and in public services its true but what about the changes and progression mandated in society. What about societal norms and customs? Aren’t they supposed to change? I believe yes! Our societal structure needs a lot of upgradation and progress in its structure and practice.

There is another very not required quality of people in our society. Let’s name the quality and that is Prejudice and Prestige that comes in correlation with Judgements.

There is a lot of this unusual habit in our society that we believe our preconceived notions whether that’s true or false whether that’s right or wrong that does not matter to us what we believe we believe in and we don’t want to change our thoughts for anyone. We are very quick to pass judgements without examining facts. We believe what we see. Rather, we believe what we want to! That’s the reason to call the society we live in rigid and inflexible and it lets us to conclude on a note with a question mark, Is India progressing? And is the progress that one has his/her eyes relying on?

The writer can be reached at afreenmanzoor121@gmail.com