Be proud of being an Indian !!

If one wants to understand one’s country better, one should come out of his/her country. It’s from my experience. For example, I knew India is one of the biggest democracies and achieved freedom in 15th August’1947. I have read that in my school. But I didn’t much understand the significance of being a democracy and a free India. Today I understand them by its true sprit.
Freedom- The true empowerment of the people lies in their freedom. Freedom to speak! Freedom to criticize!! We don’t understand that when “freedom” is given to us. We could understand better, when it is denied for us. With the relocation from a democratic society to a Kingdom, now I understand what the meaning of freedom is.

Let us look at some examples. When India voted against Iran on IAEA, the All India Muslim Forum (AIMF) blasted the government on India’s Anti-Iran Vote and describing that act as”Betrayal of Muslims in India” (Courtesy: Arab News, 7 Feb’2006). I don’t understand what Iran has done for Indian Muslims. Let us not get into whether the government’s decision is right or wrong. But look at the fact that they are empowered to question the Government’s decision. We can criticize India, still not be considered as “Anti-Indian.”

There are a lot of Islamic countries who voted against Iran and never questioned by its people. Because, they don’t have democratic system, they lack freedom to question. People could express their opinions. But only cautiously!! They are not empowered to criticize their highest institutions. The highest institutions of the societies without democracy are above questioning. Over a period, people develop the habit of not questioning anything. A kind of conditioning!!
Let us take another example. Recently the investigative journalism brought out the mockery of democracy by catching the parliamentarian red-handed for asking bribes for asking questions in Parliament. It’s real mockery of Democracy. There is no doubt on that. But, look at that event. There is a free media to bring out the clandestine practices of the highest institution of the country, which we can’t imagine without democracy.

The strength democracy lies in its system. It’s robust, self-critical, pluralistic, resilient and free in thoughts. The weakness of democracy is, it allows the people to use the freedom without responsibility.

I am proud of being an Indian. To understand India better come out of India.