India is proud of its rich past. It was because of its riches that it was invaded innumerable times and its wealth, plundered . The British ruled India for almost two countries and exploited the country economically.
At the time of Independence ( August 15,1947) the economy of the country was in shambles and there was social unrest all around. However , it was time for India to write her own density and she has come a long way since. A lot of progress has been made on various fronts. There have been shortcomings in our planning as well as in its implementation . However, compared with other countries , that had achieved independence around the same time , we have fared much better .
Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy. It provides employment to over 60 percent of the country's workplace and accounts for about a quarter of India's gross domestic product. It also contributes substantially to export trade . However , expect for some pockets of developments , the agriculture scene in the rest of the country is dismal. The farming community is generally under debt. A large number of farmers in recent years have committed suicide because of mounting liabilities and other economic difficulties .
Industrial development plays a significant role in the growth process of an underdevelopment country. It helps in raising income levels and in thriving in the manufacturing sector . However , at the time of independence the industry was in bad shape . Industrial development in independent in independent India started with the Second Five Year Plan. It has passed through different phases since. Many bottlenecks and red tapism came in the way of rapid development of industry. Some of the areas of concern have been addressed in the post liberation era. The New Industrial Policy of July 1991 which is market-friendly and aims at encouraging private enterprise, has brought quite a turnaround in the economic scene.
Investment from both domestic and foreign markets for is needed for the growth of industry . With the economic liberalisation from July 1991 onwards foreign direct investment has been encouraged and it has been allowed in many sectors.
India has made its mark in the service sector . It has emerged as an important Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) destination. India, fortunately , has a large well- qualified English speaking population, which is the prerequisite in this sector.
India's population as per 1951 Census was 36 crore . In sixty years i.e., as per Census 2011 , the literacy rate has gone up to 74.04 per cent . However, even today a substantial portion of the population in our country is still illiterate. It truly a sad reflection of the state of literacy in our country .
India has made rapid strides in many spheres. The economic condition of the people or the per capita income of the country is better today than it was at the time of independence . We have made tremendous progress in science and technology . Our infrastructure is far better than what it was. A large number of universities , collages and schools have been set up. Industrialisation has taken place. Better healthcare is now available especially in urban areas . Average lifespan has increased . Infant mortality rate has come down. Better employment opportunities are available to the youth of the country. Means of transportation and communication have undergone a sea change. Print and electronic media have played a key role in creating awareness and bringing people closer. Improvement is noticeable even in provision of sports facilities .
India is the third largest English book producing country after the USA and the UK. Indo-English literature is now well-developed and internationally recognised . It is able to bag many international awards like Booker prize, Pulitzer prize, etc. Arundhati Roy , Jhumpa Lahiri, Anita Desai , Arvind Adiga , Amitav Ghosh , Chetan Bhagat, Dr. Siddhartha Mukharjee , Amish Tripathi , etvc., are some of the of importance names in this field .
Despite all this progress which is commendable , a lot needs to be done to improve the living conditions of agricultural and industrial labour and the people working in the unorganised sector . Steps should be taken and stop crime and voilence . The misguided youth of some troubled states need to be brought into the mainstream . Communalism, regionalism and fundamentalism need to be curbed with a strong hand.
In ancient India, women were held in high esteem . But today , they are not treated well. Domestic violence, dowry-related deaths , rape and female foeticide are very common in our society . The condition of women needs drastic improvement . Women empowerment is the attribute of a civilised society . Equal opportunities must be given to the girl child for her education and career development in order that she is able to lead a meaningful life.
In the India of my dreams , women will be held in high esteem and enjoy equal status with men in every walk in life. They will not be puppets in the hands of men . They will be second to none. Illiteracy and poverty will be rooted out. Self-sufficiency will be achieved in all spheres . Dependence on other countries will be a thing of the past .
The India of my dreams would be a casteless society where all would be equal. People shall have equal opportunities economically , socially , politically and culturally. India of my dreams would be a truly democratic country without any discrimination, exploitation, corruption , nepotism, casteism, communalism or terrorism. India of my dreams is a country, which all Indians are truly proud of .