India’s Tryst with Destiny

East or west, India is the best, North or south, she has the zest; Our heroes and heroines ride the crest, against the British. 1920 to 1922 = Gandhiji led the noncooperation movement against the British. 1930 to 1931 = Gandhiji also led a campaign

And in unison shall we face every test. of civil disobedience against the British. Sixty-nine memorable years! 1.2 billion 1942 = Gandhiji issued the call to the People. What a riot of colours and customs! British to ‘Quit India’. The charm never ends. Our splendid diversity 15 August 1947 = India gained is here to stay despite many predicaments. The independence from British rule. world marvels at our unique blending of races, The work of many men and women peoples, languages, cultures, traditions, dresses and various movements led ultimately to the and food habits. Aren’t we a great nation? Yes – Indian Independence Act 1947, which ended We are and we salute our motherland India! the British hegemony in India and led to the Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Netaji creation of India and Pakistan. India remained Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Rabindranath Tagore, Subramaniya Bharathi, Allama Iqbal, Josh Malihabadi, Bankim a Dominion of the Crown until 26 January 1950, when the Constitution of India came into force, establishing the Republic of India. Chandra Chattopadhyay, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Let us flash back for a while and be in Sarojini Naidu, Begum Rokeya, Jhansi Rani, 1947. Just imagine! 190 years of subjugation, Babasaheb Ambedkar and many other great oppression, distress and tales of woe for the men and women of our glorious past, have people of India. Many fought against the British worked overtime to bring freedom to every though it seemed futile in the beginning, man, woman and child of our esteemed others were imprisoned without charge, nation. It was a fight to the finish; not with guns and bayonets but with unflagging zeal, undaunted valor, non-cooperation movement and ‘Satyagraha’. Let us take a moment to flash back. Let us walk back in time to 1757 when the British began colonialism in India. The highlights of those tumultuous years are the following: 1857 - 1858 = Sepoy Mutiny, Indian Rebellion of 1857-58 (Crushed by mid-1858). 1885 = The Indian National Congress many died in the run up to the ‘quit India’ movement. Hundreds of men and women sacrificed their lives to usher in their cherished goal of freedom. They paid a great price and we are reaping the fruits of their sacrifice. Our hands are folded in gratitude to all our beloved martyrs. They gave their ‘yesterdays’ for our prosperous ‘todays and tomorrows’. We pay sincere and heartfelt obeisance to our valiant forefathers and mothers who led from the front to let the light for freedom dawn on every citizen of our sacred nation; the land of founded for educated Indians to voice their munis, sages, hermits and saints. Their saga opinions. will forever remain etched in the minds and 1905 = The British partitioned Bengal, and hearts of every patriotic citizen. so provoked the first major resistance against them. 1919 = The notorious Punjab massacre by General Dyer marked nation-wide movement Having acknowledged our predecessors and given them their due place in our epic struggle, we march onward. The country 2 / Dimapur Links: July - August 2016

has weathered every storm, gone through vicissitudes of all sorts and have now arrived on the sun-bathed shores of the 21 st century (2016). Often the going was tough and the under-currents were extremely strong; it is a fact that we have had to face many struggles, tensions, civil wars, disputes, tantalizing adversities, external aggressions and challenges of all hues. Our unparalleled determination and indomitable spirit stood the test of times. There is no doubt that we have come a long way. India has developed and progressed to a very great extent over the past seven decades, yet today we need to ask ourselves some fundamental questions: Has the benefit of progress and growth reached the doors of every Indian home? Has the leaven of knowledge reached every child and adult? Have all our children ever entered the portals of the temples of learning in the country? Are all the villages in our country electrified? Can every woman, man and child move freely around in our vast country? Have our men learned to esteem and respect our womenfolk and children? Do we revere and support the girl child? Do we earnestly promote an egalitarian society? Are we concerned about the havenots and those on the fringes of society? Do we look at women as complementary human persons? Do we hold them in high regard as mothers, sisters and daughters? What are we doing to ameliorate the sufferings of the poor and the needy? On the one hand there is an upward thrust but on the other there are serious drawbacks and regression but I am confident that we have the grit and resolve to do something about it all; for that is why we are here on this planet. Let us therefore without complaining or arguing resolve to do whatever we can to bring about changes in ourselves, in our families and in our society. It is now up to you and me to take forward the progress of our great nation. We join our PM Narendra Modi along with the growth ‘mantra’ for our nation, “Sab ka sath sab ka vikas” (Development with and for all). It is certainly a herculean task, but it is worthwhile beginning this change with oneself. We dare the mandate and forge ahead to build our own lives, our homes, villages, communities and eventually our nation. It is now up to us to make or break our destiny. The leaders of our country at all levels have to implement the noble ideals enshrined in our great Constitution. We cannot sit back and relax for we have miles to go and promises to keep. The task ahead is colossal when we look at it individually but if we get around it in unison, then we are going to succeed sooner than later.

As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of Indian Independence coupled with the great feast of the Assumption of our Bl. Mother, we pause a while to remember the 1.2 billion people of our wonderful land. We recall the great contribution of all the heroes and heroines of our amazing freedom struggle. We remember the powerless, the marginalized, the children on the streets, the prisoners, the sick in our hospitals, the bonded laborers, the jobless youth and the children of a lesser God. If we do not have a thought for them and if we do nothing for them, then what sort of an Independence Day do we glory in or celebrate? You and I have to play a proactive role in making the people stand on their own feet. You can give a man a fish a day for a couple of days. Then the time comes to help him acquire a hook and fish for himself. We need to equip every youth in our country especially the dropouts so that they will eventually be self-reliant. When we achieve that, then we are probably on the road to freedom and growth. Sare jahan se accha, Hindustan hamara. Jai Hind! - Fr. Sebastian Jose SDB

MARY

ASSUMED INTO HEAVEN Maiden pure, we greet thee through all ages praise to you be; always have we longed to share, your love that is tinged with care.

Oh! Virgin prudent and renowned above the heavenly choirs crowned; we implore thee, stand by our side, that to the end unwearied we ride. Assumed into Heaven all chaste, Lady in blue never in haste; you are our solace along the way, and words, our affection do not say. Him the Saviour you bore, Redeemed are we ever more; we exist only with Jesus near,

He cares and wipes away every tear.

Stay with us, thou beacon of heaven’s rest as we aspire perching in your nest; you are our comfort and hope, and aid us with foes to cope. We hail you loving Mother assumed into Heaven body and soul. - Fr. Sebastian Jose sdb, SC Dimapur