While India appears to be rising by leaps and bounds on many fronts, some of its freedom fighters regret the hollowness of todays society and its politicians.
By Kestur G Vasuki
Bangalore, Sept.8 : While India appears to be rising by leaps and bounds on many fronts, some of its freedom fighters regret the hollowness of today's society and its politicians.
Bet it the ungrouped youth, the state of politics, corruption, or their own personal helplessness to bring a change due to old age, these are some of the things that leaves some of the freedom fighters flabbergasted about today's India.
Eighty five-year-old Dinesh Kapali is one such freedom fighter. He claims to have been arrested at Brahminbaria (now in Bangladesh) in 1942 during Mahatma Gandhi-led "Quit India" movement. Later, he along with others were sent to the Comilla Jail and had to spend about three years behind bars. .
When the India was declared "free", everyone rejoiced and heaved a a sigh of relief over the end of British dominiation. Besides getting a regular pension from the Central Government, it was the high respect for their contrbution to the country that these individuals cherished the most.
Kapali says: "Everyone was disappointed to learn about partition of Hindustan into India and Pakistan. There were many who believed it was a wrong decision. But, later, it was believed that Mahatma Gandhi must have felt that the centuries old brotherhood between Hindus and Muslims would reunite them again later."
He says: "Today, it looks really disappointing to notice how much misrule is prevalent in a country that we fought for, sacrificing everything we had for our own families. Militancy was not so much prevalent as it is in today's India."
During 1942 movement, the CPM did not participate, maintaining that Netaji (Subash Chandra Bose) would bring a foreign power into India again. Later on, in 1996, Jyoti Basu said that Netaji was a great freedom fighter and their earlier version about him was incorrect.
"We had to bear all hardship, go to jail to get independence, but today, they (militants) are tellingll baseless things, demanding they are fighting for independence, killing people. Can't the government control them (militants), it can, but it won't. "
"It really hurts me that to see that people are being killed for selfish motives but the government is doing nothing against them, they (government) are not utilizing their total power against the militants. There are vested political intensions behind the growing militancy.
Huge money is being given for development purpose to the block offices but all in vain, so what is the Manik Sarkar's government doing? The Opposition (in the State Assembly) is also silent.
If India wants to develop and become a power we have to follow the path of Mahatma Gandhi, non-violence is the noble policy. But today, it is very unfortunate and we find only violence everywhere.
Kapali says: It hurts on being incapacitated to make a major contribution to root out the prevalent menace in the country. Old age has crippled us to live as mere silent spectators. Had that strength been there like in our youth, we would have shown how a transformation was still possible followng Gandhian philosophy.
Most of the freedom fighters have accepted the sad reality of today as their fate.
He says : " The earlier Congress Chief Minister Sudhir Mazumder used to recognize our contribution for the country. But the current government is least bothered about our welfare. However, we are invited on the Independence Day, but we boycotted it, as we are not given due respect."
Kapali finds it sad to notice that the present day youth are not united, as they once used to be during the freedom movement.
He says: "Youth should get united to fight the evil. If youths get united the ministers have to hear them and do what they (youths) want. But it's unfortunate that they never get united; there are politics and other reasons."
Today, Kapali's life is limited to visiting the nearby market and to chatting with men of his age group. At noon, he returns to his home and again at 3 p.m he visits the same place but returns before it becomes dark.
Kapila says: "I often cry when remember our past days of fighting for Independence. Those who fought and sacrificed their lives for the independence of India are now living in pathetic conditions."
ANI