India, celebrating her 80th Independence Day yesterday, has come a long way since 1947. From being just another country on the world map, like many others, to becoming one of the most remarkable examples of a democratic and economic powerhouse.
From widespread extreme poverty to the severe food crisis of the early '60s; from the haunting days of the Emergency and political upheavals to the '91 economic crisis; from the long-drawn wars of '60s '71, and '99 to a clutch of terrifying terrorist attacks; and from episodes of bloody internal turmoil, mostly arising from communal animosities, to testing times for Indian diplomacy & periods of global isolation, including during Operation Smiling Buddha.
Notwithstanding the herculean challenges across fields, the world's largest democracy, an epitome of unity in diversity, has never let her spirit fade or her foundations weaken. The ruling dispensation, the flourishing judiciary, the competent steel frame, the able opposition, the strong institutions, the zealous civil society, and the spirited common people, like you and me, have all, in their respective capacities, made every possible effort for their motherland to achieve the glories of excellence and not falter under pressure, no matter how formidable.
With hostile global and border equations, scathing wars, extreme climatic conditions, infamous technological advancements, dwindling world economies, rising intolerance among communities, and growing discontent in local youth, for India, challenges galore.
Nonetheless, New Delhi, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led government, stands resolute and high-spirited in its pursuit of the aspirational goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047, further reinforcing its dominant place in the global arena.
The strides the country has made over the last eight decades, significantly since 2014, in the fields of defence capabilities, space exploration, infrastructure expansion, intelligence networks, sporting excellence, educational standards, economic resilience, environmental stewardship, R&D ecosystems, technological development, communal camaraderie, and socio-economic indicators, are a firm testament to the country's potential and the ability of over 1.4 billion Indians to move mountains, no matter how gigantic.
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To all those valiant freedom fighters and revolutionaries who sacrificed everything to make India stand tall and divinely beautiful today, the country will remain forever indebted.