Happy Independence Day!

Indians prepare to celebrate the country’s 62nd Independence Day. 61 years ago on 15h August 1947, the tri colour was unfurled and India got independence from years of colonial rule. The country’s first Prime Minister Pandit JawaharLal Nehru delivered the historic “Tryst with destiny” speech from the ramparts of Red Fort as thousands of Indians stayed glued to their radio sets to listen to their leader and be a part of the dreams envisioned by them.

It has been a journey during which India has marched along and today as a powerhouse of potential and prospect. Several milestones were achieved in this journey. The Green Revolution under Dr. M. S. Swaminathan saw India become self sufficient in food grains while the White Revolution pioneered by Verghese Kurien saw co-operative societies help the common man reap the benefits of a planned effort to increase the productivity in milk.

In sports, India conquered the World Cup of cricket in 1983 beating the mighty West Indians at Lords while it took giant strides in space technology by launching its satellite into space Aryabhatta in 1975. On the entertainment front, Hindi Cinema churned out many talented individuals as actors and movie directors. The industry owing to this legacy which has been passed over the years has turned out to be one of the most vibrant and one of its kind. Several movies became world renowned and actors like Raj Kapoor become favorites in many countries while directors like Satyajit Ray captured reality in the celluloid.

But the journey has had its share of dark moments. Be it the Godhra Riots in Ahmedabad, the gruesome Bombay blasts of 1993, the anti Sikh riots of 1984 or the recent series of bomb blasts, each one left some scare in the minds. It is saddening to see that the sacrifice of the millions of Indians to get freedom for the future generations is being taken for granted. Weeds of corruption found its way into various streams of Indian bureaucratic as well as the society post Independence and this has taken its toll in various aspects pertaining to the country’s growth. But the nation has shown a great deal of resilience and fought back after each blow to prove its critics wrong who felt that it might succumb to these forces.

The country has moved from pillar to post which can be reflected in the growth of the GDP which broke the Hindu growth rate of 3%-4% to catapult to 7%-8%. Several Indian companies have made a mark for themselves on the global platform such as TCS, Wipro, Infosys and others alike. Mergers and Acquisitions like Tata Corus, Arcelor Mittal and others have not only been eye-catching but have established India’s presence on the global platform.

But this is just the beginning of the journey. Goes a saying that “Conquering the peak is not as important as staying there“. The present generation and the ones to follow have to keep in mind the toil, sweat and blood of countless Indians and value each moment of freedom which we all enjoy today. Everything comes at a cost, and so does this freedom that we enjoy. But to preserve it and pass it on to the future, we need to act and be responsible for our acts.

We at WittySparks have collected some memorable movies, wallpapers (a couple of interesting wallpapers and photographs) and songs which would appear in the next post as a mark of salute to the millions of Indians who gave their life so that we could live in a free India!

Happy Independence Day – INDIA – Mera Bharat Mahaan…..


Source: wittyspark

Still the fear factor is continuing in Kandhamal

Still the fear factor is continuing in Kandhamal


On the eve of 28th August 2008, no Dalit Christian had any idea about the brewing communal violence in their life. The people who were till yesterday their friends, ready to help & known to them for years, had turned into bitter foes. This the human mind could not comprehend. Those helping hands had suddenly turned into blood thirsty weapons.

This incident had occurred almost year ago but still had the fear been removed from their hearts? How far have we been successful to return to them their normal lives? The answer might be “NO”.

“Jai Hanuman”; this one word incites hatred into their hearts. Citing the respondents of Raikia, G Udayagiri, K Nuagaon & Baliguda blocks; that night the mob had attacked them with this very word. Even now if they hear the word, it is enough for them to send them fleeing from their homes & village; such is the fear of the word and its implications.

“The victims had no other option but return to their villages and settle with their neighbours, which fact should not be ignored in dealing cases. “ - M. M. Praharaj, Orissa Police D.G in a press conference.

The State Government knowing very well about Dalit Christians insecurity about returning to their homes still forced them to return home from the camps. As per my data in Raikia, Tikabali blocks the administration has failed to resettle them in their own village.

In the Pirigargh village of K. Nuagaon block, the Dalits are not allowed to take water from the public wells.

Assuming that everything is under control now the local administration is trying to wash its hands off the situation, but the truth is that the situation still persists in these villages and the people still suffer its aftereffects. Out of total effected population, more than 47% of the victims still live outside the villages in temporary dwellings.

The Government claims that under NREGA there will be 100 days of work to unemployed people but how far has this been materialized is a question to reckon with. How will these people (Victims) survive without any source of livelihood?

When the police refused to register their cases earlier, saying that it was false and now when the communal forces are emerging stronger than before; offenders are winning cases since no evidence is found against them and in many cases the witness are withdrawing out of fear, the dalits find themselves at the receiving end of all sorts of trouble. Due to this, the rest are loosing their faith & confidence in justices and the legal process. According to one of respondent, in the case of the raped nun, if she who was being backed by the whole congregation could not get justices till now, then how can we being ordinary people expect justices? Due to this, they have left all expectations on the justice and now focusing on re-building their lives from the bits of leftovers.

All these things are proving to be a tonic for the communal forces; they are emerging full fledged with more confidence than ever before. In view of facts, now we can’t overlook the on coming violence which may be more intense than before.

If the facts deduced by this ordinary person have mistakes or if the views have been expressed incorrectly, then it may be kindly excused. “The eye believes, what it sees”