India became free on 15th August, 1947 after centuries of foreign rule. Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of free India. Sixty-two years have passed since the achievement of freedom. During this period of sixty-two years the country has made great progress in different fields.
India has become self-sufficient in the matter of food grain. Our agriculture has been modernized and mechanized. We have a network of roads and railways all over the country. Almost every village has been linked to big cities through roads and railways.
We have achieved self-sufficiency in industrial field also. Today India exports heavy machines, railway engines, fans, cars, motor cycles, cycles, watches, electric goods, T.V. sets, radio sets etc. India today manufactures railway engines, tanks ships, aero-planes, railway bogies etc. Large Industrial plants have been set up at Bhilai, Rourkela, Durgapur, Chittaranjan and other places in the country.
India has made great progress in the production of electricity. Most of the villages use electricity now. There is a network of tube-wells in every village. India has made great progress in the field of education. Now there is proper arrangement of high academic, scientific, technological institutes, medical and engineering education. The number of universities and technological institutions is increasing in the country. The percentage of literacy has increased.
Our country has done a lot in the field of social reforms. The zamindari system has been abolished. Temples are now open to all. Caste system is fast losing its importance. Untouch-ability is a thing of the past. India has become a space power also. She has launched more than 45 satellites so far. Her first satellite ‘Aryabhatta’ was put into space on April 19, 1975. Her latest satellite has been put into space successfully. India is now one of the leading space research organizations in the world.
In the field of medical also India has achieved great fame and our doctors have cured many fatal diseases. India today manufactures many medicines. Our doctors have been successful in the operation of those diseases which were formerly possible in western countries only.
We are proud of our achievements but we still suffer from communal, regional and linguistic disputes. But we should not be discouraged by these difficulties. We should be optimistic about the bright future of our country.