My India – My Pride

-- Anagha Panicker, 8C, FAIPS- DPS, Ahmadi, Kuwait

Monday, August 3, 2020

If there is one place on the face of the earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home, it is in India. My country with its rich heritage and tradition is the most beautiful nation. Nowhere on earth does humanity present itself in such a myriad, creative burst of cultures, religion, races and tongues.

As an Indian, I am proud of my country because we are the largest democracy in the world. Our civilization is the oldest in the world. Our ancient books, ‘The Vedas’ are the best and oldest books in the library of the world. Einstein, the great scientist had once said, “We owe a lot to the Indians who taught us how to count, without which no scientific discovery could have been possible”. From time immemorial we have preached peace and non-violence in thought, word and deed. In our long history we have always learnt to co-exist peacefully.

Our freedom is a great gift given to us by our great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Chandra Sekhar Azad, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh and many others. Through their great sacrifices they have made themselves immortal in the history of India and they will continue to inspire us. Even today the valour of our brave soldiers who are safeguarding our country’s borders is a testimony of India’s might.
We are a vast country divided into many states, each having its unique language, culture, food, lifestyle, climatic conditions etc. still a strong bond of unity runs through all this diversity. In today’s world of selfishness, we in India still respect our elders and care for our fellow beings. We believe in the pledge, “All Indians are my brothers and sisters”.

In the 21st century, India has made great developments in Science and Technology. Chandrayaan I, India’s first moon probe pushed India’s space programme into the world map. With Mangalyaan we can also proudly claim to be the first nation to reach Mars orbit on its first attempt. We are proud of our space program, our scientists and their hard work. With Gaganyaan Mission, India is soon preparing to send astronauts into space which will be a historical achievement for India in the 21st century.

In the last few years, we have made great strides in areas such as housing, ease of doing business, bold tax reforms etc. Today our country remains one of the most open economies in the world. This is an opportunity for multi-national companies to establish their presence in India. In the words of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, “An India reforming, performing and transforming awaits us all”.

Today there is global optimism towards India. We can see our country marching forward to become self-reliant or ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’ generating employment for many and empowering people to come up with new solutions for its growth. The country is also working towards providing housing, water, sanitation and power for all. Hold your breath! It is for the first time ever that today there are more rural internet users in India than urban internet users.

Resilience and perseverance are the main principles of India’s character. In our glorious past we have faced adversity many times but that has never crushed our spirit. We have always bounced back. Today the world is amazed to see India’s fight against Covid-19. In this fight we are sure, our country will win. The number of deaths from the pandemic is much less than other developed countries. Today the number of people who recovered from the virus has crossed 10 lakhs. Before the Pandemic, not a single PPE kit was manufactured in India. Today India is the world’s second largest PPE kit manufacturer.The Pandemic has revealed that India’s pharma sector is an asset not just for our country but for entire world. Vaccines made in India are responsible for two-third of the vaccination needs of the world’s children. Our country have played a leading role in reducing the cost of medicines for the developing world. Once vaccines are found, India will surely have an important role in the production of vaccines.

With the pandemic, ‘Namaste’ has gone global as a form of greeting. Also, there is an increasing appeal for Yoga and Ayurvedic Medicine the world over. We believe in “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” – the entire world is one family. During this pandemic India is playing a leading role in global revival. India has extended medical assistance to over 150 countries. Today the world over, Indian doctors and nurses are working hard saving lives for a better tomorrow.

Today a strong India is a guarantor of peace in the Indian Subcontinent and beyond. This transformation of my country instills a sense of national pride in the heart of every Indian like me and my article on the occasion of India’s 74th Independence Day is a modest attempt to keep its flame alive. Jai Hind!

Anagha Panicker ,Class 8C ,FAIPS- DPS, Ahmadi, Kuwait