August 15th, 2018 marked India's 71st Independence Day. As an Indian American, I show equal patriotism for both of my homes, but that doesn't mean I don't criticize them either. India holds a special place in my heart as my own birthplace, the place where my parents were born and raised, and the land of my extended family and ancestors. The food and flavors are always a source of comfort and memories, the culture and traditions are rich in stories and values, and its long history provides a strong base for many advancements in science, mathematics, literature, etc.
Despite that, I find myself wishing for India to be better and a true representation of its diversity, not just for me and my family, but to the rest of the world as well. Many times, I find myself getting angry and disappointed when reading about their state of affairs and when I experience it myself during summer visits. Home to the world's second largest population and the world's largest democracy, the relatively young and free country still has much to improve in various areas to be a better nation for its people and a stronger player in world affairs.
These are the problems it needs to solve most:
1. Cleanliness
Although Clean India has been one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's most famous acts in office, there's still a long road ahead with plenty of old habits needing to be reversed. Trash crowds the roads and rivers, and even the air is left impure as some of the world's most polluted cities are located in India.
2. Health and hygiene
Due to a variety of factors such as unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation, child malnutrition, unequipped hospitals and facilities, etc., in the smaller cities and villages, preventable diseases including malaria and tuberculosis are still present in high numbers. The polluted air leads to a high percentage of chronic respiratory diseases and cancers, and poor care and education surrounding sexually transmitted infections give rise to those as well.
3. Sexual violence
It is very unfortunate that more often than not, a new case of sexual violence makes the headlines on the news in India. Affecting women and girls of all ages who are told not to walk alone at night or wear clothing deemed too revealing. For a country that worships multiple goddesses and have had women in high positions of political power from very early on, it's shameful that their female citizens fail to receive the respect and security they deserve.
4. Acceptance and tolerance
India is an incredibly diverse country with 29 states, 22 languages with over 700 dialects, and at least nine recognized religions. Because of this, it would be easy to think that everyone is treated with the same love and respect. However, to this day, there are still conflicts between groups of different religions, socioeconomic status, etc. Those with disabilities are given below par treatment as well, which go beyond rude stares and ignorant comments. For a nation with a population of 1.3 billion people coming from all different backgrounds, acceptance of one another should be an inherent quality.
Despite what I have written thus far about India's much-needed improvements, it's still a beautiful country and a place I can call home. It's a part of almost everything I do and every aspect of my life. Ranging from food to cultural practices to family traditions, it all stems from a place of magnificent creation. I can only wish that in the coming future, that India as a whole can live up to its full potential in order to really showcase all that it has to offer.
