An Independent India: We stand on the shoulders of giants
As India celebrates 75 years of independence, I want to take a short (and it is SHORT) walk down memory lane. What did a free India look like, through the lens of 4 generations?
THE FIRST GENERATION.
Born in an India governed by the British, my grandfather fought for Indian Independence; he walked alongside other freedom fighters to get our country free from the British Raj. He also became one of the first generations to live a free life. But the British had severely impoverished India, and many were left penniless, without a great infrastructure to build a new life.
THE SECOND GENERATION
My father grew up in the 1960s, a little over a decade after the independence, in a home that had 3 solid walls, and a 4th wall & roof made from sheet metal. It was one small room shared between 2 parents and 6 children. When it rained, buckets had to be put under the holes in the ceiling, to hold water. And in the peak of summer, the metal heated up the room like a furnace. Most nights, they would sleep outdoors, under the stars.
THE THIRD GENERATION
A few decades later, my early years in the 1990s were in a township – a small 1 bedroom apartment. My dad worked hard, overtime on most days to make ends meet; he used to bike to work to save money on gas. When my sister was born, we moved into a much bigger, 2-bedroom house in the suburbs, all of 650 square feet. I got to sit on my first plane ride in 2003. And even years later, planes were a luxury my parents gave to me & my sister, while they themselves traveled in trains.
领英推荐
THE FOURTH GENERATION
Today, as we celebrate 75 years, I can be a proud expat, sitting in New York, watching the country bloom from afar. I have lived in 3 countries and 15 cities around the world. My sister and I both have fairly successful careers. My kids will live lives of luxury that my grandfather had never even dreamt of. I wish he was alive to see what his struggles brought for us, and how amazing life turned out, just 2 generations later. Alas, he will never know.
------
This is not just my story, but the story of many, many Indians. We stand on the shoulders of these giants who have enabled us to grow exponentially, generation after generation.
On this 75th year of Indian independence, let us acknowledge the struggles of our forefathers (and mothers) that have shaped our future into what it is today and feel a deep sense of gratitude. Today, we can run businesses, change careers every few years, have the freedom to travel the world, live in homes that our ancestors never even imagined, and more importantly be free in our own country and equals to others around the world. And all because they fought to release us from slavery in our own nation, and generation after generation, built it from the ground up. We can dare to dream and live a life beyond our forefathers’ wildest imaginations.
75 years is a very short time – time to be grateful for all we have accomplished. And excited for what’s to come. Let us build even better lives for the generations to come. Happy 75th, India!
Co-founder of Eduvitz Technologies (a unit of EDZ Informatics)
2 年Isha, you have nicely provided the personal reference to the exceptional progress made by India. The colonial oppression in political, economic, education and cultural field is giving way to our self determination. Though the 'English' language helped us in no small measure.. And we should be grateful to our freedom leaders like your grandfather who sacrificed for the generation next.