‘Rejuvenate Our Being’
Bijo A
Thomas
Republic day
greetings to all of you
It is a
moment of pride for all Indians as we are celebrating the 64th
Republic Day of India. It has been a journey of 63 years since; India became a
Republic Day by adopting a constitution of its own which upholds equality of
all citizens before law. The constitution which comprise of 397 articles
provides for the rights of all Indians to vote for and elect the
representatives. This makes India the world’s largest democracy.
Each
Republic Day celebrations begin by remembering and saluting the life of all
Jawans who sacrificed their life for the nation. Therefore when we celebrate
the freedom we must always acknowledge that it is the fruit of selfless
sacrifice and dedication of many people.
On January
26th, 1950 India declared its sovereignty and autonomy from the
clutches of colonial imperialism. It was indeed liberative as well as a
restorative moment for the nation as a whole. In Exodus 20, we see that the
people of God were eager in receiving God’s commands. It was a proclamation of
their nationhood and liberation from the imperial bondage of the Egyptians and
they were being restored to the position of the people of the Lord.
The Sinai
covenant which redeemed and ordered the life of the Israelites were solely
based on relationship and love with God and with each other. In a way, the
Israelites were ‘Rejuvenated in their Being’ by thus covenant and it is a calling
and invitation to a new social order. This calling should enable us to
proactively respond to the social evils that exploit and make people slaves. It
is when life is affirmed and protected that the laws become relevant and
meaningful.
However, the
shocking news that we hear and see in the media today that we hear and see
contradict the very basis of Indian republic. The nationhood of the state is
challenged by the ruthless incidents that shook the foundations of our nation.
In the
Indian culture it is said that, ‘where women are respected there gods are
worshipped.’In the modern day India, we see that the women body is treated as a
product which is used to satisfy men’s lust and sexual greed. The Delhi rape
case pose a great challenge to all those who believe in democracy to react
effectively. Moreover, barriers are created in the name of religion, caste,
colour, and gender etc which discriminate people from their basic human rights.
The ‘Un-Godly’
factors are becoming powerful in power, military, law and economic system. The problem
of displacement is highly going up as people are uprooted from their own lands
in the name of dams and airports.
In this
context of injustice and corruption that we should realize the power of the
youth of India, whom we ourselves represent. This Republic Day worship should
lead us to strong convictions which would result in active actions. When we
abide fully to the law of the land, we are not only safeguarding ourselves but also
the interest of others. Let us hope and dream for a new India where there’s no
poverty, inequality, caste system, classless and no gender inequality. This
spirit of nationhood and nationalism should help us to be partakers of freedom
and sovereignty of this great nation.