PM’S SPEECH ON THE INDEPENCENCE DAY AND RISING INTOLERANCE

PM’S SPEECH ON THE INDEPENCENCE DAY AND RISING INTOLERANCE

For some obvious reasons, though the values of independence has since been shaped differently, the Independence day, the 15th August is still carrying a dignified nostalgia to me. The childhood celebration of I-Day in our own residence under the aegis of our parent and the celebration in school are indelible memory till today. I wonder how the day was celebrated first in the big courtyard of our small house in the remote village, where the tricolour was unfolded either by our father or by mother or even in rotation by all of our brothers and sister. Speech were prepared and delivered by our brothers. Some of the neighbors too joined in the morning celebration of chanting of choral of Jana Gana Mana… . The celebration was fast as we had to rush to our respective schools for other celebration.
Besides our morning celebration, the speech of the Prime Minister from Red fort , Delhi, broadcast at Radio, was also somewhat of a compulsory exercise directly or indirectly imposed by our father. The radio was kept in the courtyard and we all were to listen to the Prime Minister.
The habit is still on in me, now, of course, the speech with the parade. Courtesy, television and electronic media. Even a routine affair, it always sounds, to me, like a general assessment of the balance sheet of strengths and weaknesses of the Nation in the air by the CEO of the country, the Prime Minister.
But besides the normal yearly review and accounts of the Nation, the Prime Minister Dr Monomohon Singh’s speech of this I-Day was really a thought provoking one with his serious concern over the rapid rise of falling standard of the debate and increase in tasteless arguments. From the rampart of Lal Killa he helplessly shared this with the citizen in his address to the Nation. He said “I would also like to say something which is related to our glorious cultural traditions. The use of harsh and unpleasant words in our political discourse has increased in recent days. This is against our traditions of generosity, humility and tolerance. Criticism has a place of its own in a democracy and in a progressive society. However, criticism should not be undignified. We should have the capacity to reconcile opposite points of view on important issues through debate and discussion.”
Most unfortunately, this state of affairs is simply not pertaining to the ‘political discourses’ only . After long 63rd years of independence we now-a days independently enjoy using our such liberty in all the fields of political, social , literary world where we are simply full independent with almost in zero tolerance.
Let our society be independent from such ‘independence’!
Thank you, Mr Prime Minister.