At the Stroke of the Midnight Hour… Questions on my Mind

by Wilma Rodrigues

I have spent a good part of last week critically evaluating my contribution to the country as one its citizens.  Two generations before me, a large part of our population came together and fought relentlessly to give me a free country and hand over a legacy which I now cherish and value as a proud citizen.

As I look to prepare my own report card through a process of self-evaluation, I am faced with some critical questions   which I would like to share herewith so as to find answers through a dialogue.           

• What should I do to mitigate the negative impact of climate change across India? How should I ensure that my voice is heard and my actions motivate an entire population to move towards a development agenda that does not comes at the cost of environment?
• How can I contribute towards India becoming a more equitable society so fair wages are paid to all and families across India can afford, at the least, nutritious meals and basic housing?    
• Can I consume less so that the Indian economy will grow substantially but also shift towards producing goods and services that will improve the lives of 100% (instead of 10%) of our population?   
• How can I be an instrument of peace so that having fought together for our independence, all communities can now live and work together for a better India?
• Will I be able to hand over to the next generation the same rich legacy which I inherited from our founding fathers?

This Independence Day, I hope and pray that my generation as also all other future generations will work together to bring alive the Idea of India.