CityBeat - Te Waha Nui Online

by Michel Sam Mathew

Patriotism swells up across the Indian subcontinent when Independence Day looms into view every year.

On August 15, thousands of tricolours, with its saffron, white and green hues, flutter from rooftops and office buildings across the country.

Hundreds of miles away from home and with nothing around to rekindle my patriotic zeal, I was surprised when Time magazine came out with a cover story on India’s 60th year of Independence.

The story with a cover picture of a painted Asian elephant and a headline which screams ‘India Charges Ahead’ forced me to shell out $6 on the spot for the Aug 13th issue.

But it was a good bargain, and the story about India through Western eyes locked me in with its collage of pictures, columns and graphics. What did it for me was the heart-rending tale of a nation’s transition through the eyes of three generations of the Malhotra clan.

The Malhotras had migrated to New Delhi from present day Pakistan during the riots and turmoil of 1947, and almost 60 years later, the new generation of the family are basking in the rhythm of a new found energy and looking forward to a much more secure future.

This was a crucial element which has been missing all along during India’s journey from a decolonised society to a socialist republic, and finally to its present economic miracle status.

Time’s writers do admit that poverty is still the dominant problem in India, but a liberalised economy is opening up unheard of opportunities for millions across the region.

The resurgent economy with its liberalisation mantra has opened a new India far removed from its pauper image across the globe. India is now a nation which is bustling ahead with its baggage of software companies, steel magnates, cricketing icons, Bollywood stars and its poverty-stricken millions.

And in the middle of all this cacophony is the country’s unique brand of democracy which every few years have punished and redeemed politicians of all shapes and colour.

A democracy which might be appalling to many with its criminal politicians who rule from behind prison walls, yet instantly appealing to others with its crop of forward looking leaders.

But despite all the colour and facts in the magazine about India’s coming of age, the nation’s leaders will have to do a lot more to truly live up to the dreams of 1947.