The independence of India on 15 August 1947 was one of celebration but it was also saddened by the partition of India and Pakistan. As we progress through the years and know more about history we do realise that many thousands were killed and over a million people had their lives uprooted. In that day and age without the power of the media , this scale of suffering was known to very few.
It is in the course of reading history and as more information becomes available that the reality of the situation sinks in and leaves one wondering at the huge loss of human lives.
India’s independence struggle produced a human figure of the kind the world is unlikely to witness - Mahatma Gandhi. One can read about his life to understand his way of thinking and the values he embraced. He earned respect the world over.
As to whether Indians value any aspect of British rule for 200 years is a matter of individual judgement. Shashi Tharoor an Indian politician and a very well-versed historian is a very severe critic of the British rule for the simple reason that they looted the riches of India.
Society depends upon good judgement. We need to judge whether something is true, whether it would work, whether it fits in with our values and objectives and so on. Critical thinking is the key method we have for exercising this judgement. It would be very difficult for society work if it did not use critical thinking. But judgement is not enough. There is the need for generative, productive, constructive and creative side of thinking. How do things happen? How do things get done? Action and judgement is fine but there is to be something to judge.
Critical thinking is necessary for the functioning of our society but it is not by itself enough. There is also a need for productive thinking. Productive, constructive and creative thinking leads to quality. Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of an intelligent effort.
Since 2014 India has moved forward on the world map under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is now renowned the world over for projecting India as country that has unfilled potential which he is nurturing and ensuring that in the years to come it becomes a leading nation on many fronts. One sincerely hopes that his vision and his successor continue to build a nation that is gaining pride worldwide
Jai Hind
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