Democracy check

Nehru's speech on the first midnight of independent India always gives goosebumps. The words are less heavy and more penetrative. "Long years ago, we made a tryst with destiny... At the stroke of the midnight when the world sleeps, India will wake to life and freedom..." Even now when I am typing, a wave passed through me. 'Life and freedom' he said. Was India dead before? What is freedom? After more than 7 decades, sometimes we wonder how much life and freedom do we enjoy collectively. Have we seen inclusive development among all classes? Does caste still matter? What about the top 5% richly class which owns more than half of India's national income? What about those who still discharge outside because of the lack of proper sanitation? Before 2014, this number was more than 50%. What about the world's one-third hungry population that lives in India? There are so many questions and a lesser number of answers. We saled through all these years as if we were numb. Independence is neither a tag nor a diamond, possession of which will trigger a happy life. Pre & post-independence the exploitation of the lower class and caste is taking place more or less at the same pace. A video becomes viral in which an MP is beating the MLA with his chappal in full media presence. The altercation came because of the missing MP's name from the nameplate at one place. And within days he is being appreciated during one election rally, using adjectives of Godly nature, as if nothing happened. What kind of immunity do these people enjoy? Truth is that today you could not run for election without being a millionaire. There are not enough choices with the public. Use of draconian laws of sedition and Official Secrets Act are touted with utmost daring. The democracy has been hijacked by the political class. Just before one of the world's biggest event, the loksabha election in the world's largest democracy is due to occur next month but the tragedy is that a group of economists from international forums are writing to the government to not suppress data! Ironic times indeed.