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On 15th August, the nation celebrates Independence Day with great enthusiasm. This year marks 78 years of independence. In his first address on 15th August 1947, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had said that India is rediscovering itself. He expressed that our ultimate goal should be to wipe away tears from every eye. He called upon the nation to look towards the future and asked where we should go and what we should do so that we can bring freedom and opportunity to the common man, farmers, and workers, eradicate poverty, and build a prosperous, democratic, and progressive nation. He reminded us that no country can become great if the thinking and actions of its people remain narrow. This historic address came to be remembered as “Tryst with Destiny.”
In the 78-year journey of independence, India has achieved a lot that every citizen can take pride in. Yet, there remain many aspirations that are still unfulfilled. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has set forth an ambitious vision for the nation—to be realized by the centenary of independence—which he has described as ‘Viksit Bharat’. In this era of Amrit Kaal, every Indian must embrace and work towards a single goal: ‘Viksit Bharat’.
The Sanskrit Subhashitakar has said: “Udyamen hi siddhyanti karyani na manorathaih. Na hi suptasya sinhasya pravishanti mukhe mrigah” — goals cannot be achieved merely through aspirations and imagination; they require hard work, continuous practice, and the endurance of hardships. It was only when millions of Indians resolved to attain independence and bore immense suffering and sacrifices that, after a long struggle, we finally achieved freedom. Even today, the collective resolution of 140 crore countrymen must be ‘Viksit Bharat’. Our conduct, efforts, and aspirations should be directed towards realizing this goal. We must overcome our shortcomings and nurture our strengths. By fostering the elements that unite society, and spreading positivity through creative endeavors, we can build greater trust within the nation.
Through multi-dimensional efforts, each one of us must contribute creatively in shaping the future of India. Incorporating noble qualities into our lives and behavior will not only make us better individuals but will also be timely and essential for the progress of the nation.
Cultural Self-Respect: India is an ancient land, whose culture is all-beneficial and all-inclusive. The world witnessed this even during the Corona period, when Indian values and traditions offered hope and resilience. However, foreign historians deliberately instilled a sense of inferiority in our minds regarding our culture, history, language, and traditions. As a result, we began to undermine ourselves, often developing a misplaced sense of guilt towards our great men. India, a nation with such a rich legacy, is perhaps the only country in the world that has struggled to define its direction because of this internalized outlook. This tendency to find faults in our own heroes and to attribute greatness to invaders has led to unnecessary controversies on subjects like Shivaji versus Aurangzeb, Maharana Pratap versus Akbar, Tipu Sultan, and even the glorification of terrorists. To move forward, we must shed this burden of guilt. We must firmly establish that those who safeguarded our culture, traditions, and independence are our true ideals. It is only through cultural self-respect that we can draw inspiration to progress and build a stronger future.
Work Culture: Nations that attained independence around the same time as India, despite being poor, have advanced much further in the economic field—primarily because of their dedication and commitment. For example, Japan, through its discipline and work ethic, emerged as the world’s second-largest economy by the 1960s, making “Made in Japan” a global symbol of quality. This should give us reason to reflect. Despite our vast population, abundant natural resources, and a glorious heritage, we have not progressed to the extent we could have. Even today, poverty continues to bring tears to the eyes of many of our citizens.
We must ask ourselves honestly—how many hours do we truly work with sincerity during the stipulated working hours? Our conduct should be corruption-free, and our lives grounded in honesty and integrity. When punctuality and discipline become ingrained habits of the entire nation, a remarkable transformation will occur—enhancing both productivity and outcomes.
Health Awareness: The Hon’ble Prime Minister has, on many occasions, expressed concern over the rising problem of obesity while urging people to remain alert about their health. To address this, he has also advised citizens to reduce the intake of oily substances in food by at least 10%. Today, various surveys reveal alarming trends regarding health issues—even among children. According to a survey conducted by The Lancet on 60,000 people, nearly 20% of individuals aged 45 years and above were found to be suffering from diabetes, and of these, 40% were unaware of their condition. It must be remembered that “only a healthy person can ensure a healthy nation.” The solution lies in adopting simple yet disciplined practices: regular exercise, wholesome and digestible food, and a systematic daily routine. By making health a collective priority, we can strengthen not only ourselves but also the future of our nation.
Self-Reliance: Today, many countries across the world are facing concerns over their declining economies. The arbitrary tariffs imposed by America on India stand as an example of such challenges. To safeguard our economic interests, we must reduce our dependence on economic imperialist powers by embracing the mantra of Swadeshi and self-reliance. Our focus should be on achieving excellence in production, promoting employment-oriented startups, and encouraging the use of Swadeshi products in daily life. The very mantra of Swadeshi that once became the foundation of our struggle for independence can once again serve as the guiding force to make India self-reliant and resilient.
Language: Language is not merely a tool of communication—it is a medium of expression and carries within it an entire world of emotions. Every language of India is deeply interconnected; the idioms, proverbs, and sayings used across them may differ in pronunciation, yet their essence and sentiment remain the same. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore once said, “Language is not only a medium of speaking; it is the carrier of the consciousness and culture of the nation.” Unfortunately, even today, disputes arise in some parts of our country in the name of language. At times, language is misused as a political tool to secure votes. Our excessive inclination towards foreign languages has also created a sense of distance from our own mother tongues, placing many of our regional languages at risk. To overcome this, we should make a sincere effort to learn and respect each other’s languages, and wherever possible, use them in daily life. Let us strive to make language a bridge that connects hearts, not a wall that divides them. By nurturing respect for our own languages, we strengthen both our cultural identity and national unity.
Environment: Our consumerist lifestyle has today created a grave crisis for the environment. The very essentials of life—food, water, and air—have become increasingly polluted and harmful. It is for this reason that Mahatma Gandhi had reminded us: “Nature can fulfill our needs, but not our greed.” To safeguard the future, we must adopt a simple and sustainable lifestyle. We should take a solemn pledge to protect trees, plants, animals, and other gifts of nature, many of which are on the verge of extinction. Organic farming, water conservation, environmental protection, and cleanliness should not remain occasional campaigns, but must become an integral part of our daily lives. Our ancestors practiced these values naturally in their everyday conduct, living in harmony with nature. It is now our duty to revive and follow these practices, ensuring that we pass on a cleaner, greener, and healthier planet to future generations.
Harmony and Unity: The vastness of our country is reflected in its rich diversity—in colour, food, language, gender, caste, methods of worship, social customs, and traditions. Unfortunately, due to ignorance, some perceive this diversity as a cause for discrimination and division. But in truth, we are all children of Mother India. Our joys and sorrows, our friends and foes, are shared. By realizing this eternal truth, we can remain united and strong. We must learn to discover the formula of unity in diversity and work consciously to strengthen it. Only through such harmonious conduct and mutual respect can our nation remain everlasting and immortal in spirit.
Civic Duties: The development of any nation is not achieved by governments alone, but by the collective efforts of cultured, dutiful, and awakened citizens standing alongside them. To build such a society, each of us must embrace a strong sense of responsibility. It is our foremost duty to participate fully in the democratic process by ensuring 100% voting for the nation’s progress. We must rise above the sense of entitlement that “I am special (VIP)” and instead fulfill our responsibilities with a spirit of service and humility. This includes the conservation of national resources, making limited and mindful use of energy, water, and other essentials, and contributing to a safe and secure environment. Equally, it is our duty to remain vigilant by identifying and helping to defeat anti-national activities, to educate the illiterate, and to spread awareness about the importance of technology and modern education while ourselves acquiring technical knowledge. In our personal lives too, service to the elderly, strengthening of the family system, and authenticity in conduct should become part of our daily behavior. Only when citizens live by these duties will the dream of a strong and prosperous India truly be realized.
{The writer is BJP National Jt. General Secretary (Organisation)}