Let this Real Independence Movement Be the Last One

Every person loves and strives to preserve his freedom. The first struggle for Indian Independence in 1857 is a landmark in Indian history. Rumours of cartridges being coated with fat of beef and pork added fire to the movement. However, even as the hope of the nation was being kindled, the freedom movement was thwarted.

Freedom Movement lead by Gandhi

Later, until Mahatma Gandhi consolidated the thoughts and endeavour of our freedom movement, there were sporadic struggles, resistances, fights and killings. People did not have a mental model of a free country with sound framework. Mahatma Gandhi gave a model for free India, which strengthened and consolidated the dreams and ambitions of Indians from diverse walks of life. Farmer, industrialist, artist, journalist, and common man, all realised that their sincere and dedicated work also complemented the freedom struggle. At last, we won independence on 15 August 1947.

With this joy came disillusion too. Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi dreamt of a Ramarajya with agriculture, cattle farms, and handicraft flourishing in its villages, and the villagers being self sufficient and independent. He conceived of individuality for our people without mimicking outsiders. Though his concepts were sound and practical, they remained a bare dream.

Partition of India occurred with independence and major portion of our fertile land became part of Pakistan. Formation of Bangladesh out of East Pakistan rubbed off some suffering and instability to our country. In addition, the crisis created by periodic floods and draughts in parts of the country in those years forced us to look for short-term and immediate solutions.

At that moment of crisis, we found hope in imported technology and processes. We adopted tractors to plough and tillers to harvest. We sowed hybrid seeds, fed the plants with inorganic fertilisers, and protected them with chemical insecticides. Irrigating with water from huge dams, we cultivated 3 crops a year. Focus shifted to crops that would sell in market, leading to conversion of food growing farm lands to gardens of cash-crops. Dependence on loan increased. Oxen and old cows were transported to slaughter houses. Jersey and H.F. cows replaced Indian breeds in most households. In a few years green revolution and white revolution stole the limelight and focus shifted from quality to quantity.

Industrial advancements and information technology came along subsequently. All these changes attracted people from our villages to cities. The cities provided lucrative opportunities to the young with new jobs with emerging professions. Today’s generation prepares to send its child to a city from the time it is born. This generation does not care about village, farming, cattle, a home in the village, and even for the parents. If people can get all their essentials in the market, why concern about the source? When you get milk in sachet, why care for cows?

We wonder if adopting imported farming methods has caused the harm, the farmer is trapped. The land is losing its essence and he is dependent on multi-national companies for seeds, fertilisers, and farming equipment. He is also crumbling with unbearable debts. If the farmer finds no solutions for these, death is his destination.

The cities are not luckier either. Due to unplanned and uncontrolled migration of people to the cities, infrastructure is inadequate, suffocating the citizens. Over dependency on salaried jobs is frustrating. Both, cities and villages are eagerly waiting for solutions from outside.

During the independence struggle, Mahatma Gandhi weaved the whole country into a single fabric with his spinning wheel as a symbol. But, we could not get real freedom. Let our current struggle for independence be the last one.

In this real struggle for independence, the divine cow will lead us. The cow which feeds milk even to our own mothers is our beacon of hope. The cow will spread the message of integration through ‘Vishwa Mangala Gou Grama Yathra’ throughout the country. We are glad that cow lovers have united for this cause.