Our Leader in August 15, 2023 Digital Edition
Venkat Raman
Auckland, August 15, 2023
More than 1.4 billion Indians, including people tracing their roots to India, will have cause to be proud of their Nation today- August 15, 2023, as they mark the 77th Independence Day, paying tributes to freedom fighters and leaders and common people who have sacrificed their belongings and lives in the birth of a new Nation on August 15, 1947.
Pride of the World
India has reason to be proud of its record at home as a country with the fastest-growing economy in the world, soon to establish itself as a leader in Asia and as a major global power. People of Indian origin today hold top positions in major multinational companies and mega institutions such as the World Bank, enhancing the dignity and honour of their Motherland. World leaders perceive India and its leadership with a new-found respect and veneration. The Nation has been praised for its skilful management of the Covid-19 management and for reaching out to many countries with the export of medical supplies and financial aid in times of need.
Most important of all, the world praises India for its remarkable resilience and steadfast belief in democracy, which has remained at the core of its polity, overcoming challenges- some of them serious and formidable. The country and its people have marched along giving vent to the adage of unity in diversity, despite attempts (external and internal) to undermine its sovereignty and integrity. Since its liberation from the shackles of socialism and the launch of market reforms, the Indian economy has continued to grow and over the past ten years, it has established itself as a major manufacturing centre, achieving self-sufficiency in most areas and growing in stature as a supplier of goods and services. With its youthful population, India is seen as a major resource of human capital, competent to engine the growth of the world economy.
Celebrations at Red Fort, Delhi
As always, New Delhi and State capitals will showcase to the world the best of human endeavour at parades and festivities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the Nation in celebrating the 77th Independence Day from the iconic Red Fort in Delhi. He will hoist the National Flag and address his people from the ramparts of Red Fort. This year’s Independence Day will culminate in the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, which he launched from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on March 12, 2021.
People across the Continents will witness several new initiatives taken this year as the world’s largest democracy celebrates its Independence Day this year. More than 1800 special guests from different professions and their spouses have been invited from all over India. This initiative, taken in line with the government’s vision of Jan Bhagidari (Partnership in Governance), will see about 400 Sarpanches (decision-makers) from 660 vibrant villages at the Red Fort. The ceremony will also include 250 representatives of the Farmer Producer Organisations scheme, 50 each of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana and 50 Shram Yogis of the Central Vista Project. Seventy-five couples from each State and Union Territory will also be present in their traditional attire.
The G20 Presidency
India’s rising prominence on the world stage has been underscored by its current presidency of G20, a premier forum of international cooperation by a group of 20 countries. The Leaders’ Summit, which is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on September 9 and 10 is expected to usher in a new era of hope and goodwill, orchestrated by closer economic and industrial cooperation. The Summit will be a culmination of all the G20 processes and meetings held throughout the year among ministers, senior officials, and civil societies. A G20 Leaders’ Declaration will be adopted at the conclusion of the New Delhi Summit, stating Leaders’ commitment towards the priorities discussed and agreed upon during the respective ministerial and working group meetings.
The Indian government has chosen Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) as the theme, with its associated environmentally sustainable and responsible choices, both at the level of individual lifestyles as well as national development, leading to globally transformative actions resulting in a cleaner, greener and bluer future.
The G-20 Logo (featured on the front page of this issue) and the theme convey a powerful message of India’s G20 Presidency, which is of striving for just and equitable growth for all in the world, as it navigates through these turbulent times, in a sustainable, holistic, responsible, and inclusive manner. They represent a uniquely Indian approach to the G20 Presidency, of living in harmony with the surrounding ecosystem.
For India, the G20 Presidency also marks the beginning of ‘Amritkaal,’ the 25-year period beginning from the 75th anniversary of its independence on 15 August 2022, leading up to the centenary of its independence, towards a futuristic, prosperous, inclusive and developed society, distinguished by a human-centric approach at its core.
In a widely-read article, Manish Chand, Chief Executive and Editor-in-Chief of India Writes Network has succinctly expressed the diplomatic excellence of India in recent years.
“The recalibration of India’s foreign policy in tune with the emerging world order has led to increasing recognition of its indispensability to addressing diverse cross-cutting challenges, ranging from combating terrorism, global warming, piracy and pandemics to the reshaping of global governance architecture. India has proactively set the global agenda and played a constructive role in key multilateral platforms such as the UN, the G20 and the COP 26.”
Fighting forces of division
Such is the passion for individual liberty that for 76 years, India and its people have constantly battled forces of division and derision, intransigence, indifference, violence, and vituperation.
They have done so with such scorn and contempt that people from other parts of the world (including those of Indian origin) are often baffled at the paradox and irony that form a part of the Indian psyche.
India has been a subject of debate and discussion since August 15, 1947, when the country gained freedom, for good and not-so-good reasons, for better or worse and in good faith and mistaken notion.
And in each of these debates and discussions, the ‘Indian element’ would be invariably conspicuous by its absence.
For, the Indian thought and action process is often an enigma to the outside world.
To a country of billion plus people, the day on which their leaders brought political freedom from alien rule, we say, “Congratulations! You richly deserved it.”
We have always believed that to be an Indian is unique and to be a New Zealander Indian is a privilege that is accorded to a chosen few.
