A comparison of Pt. Nehru’s to Mr. Singh’s address to the nation on the Independence Day in the year 1947 and 2011 respectively, is a clear reflection of the deterioration in the standard of a country who’s history is long, rich and colored with the hues of celebration and devastation. By stating this I don’t mean to take a shot at Mr. Singh’s character. I believe he is a very learned and scholarly man. Nor do I do I intend to compare him to Pt. Nehru because that wouldn’t help anyone’s cause. What I mean is Mr. Singh’s lack of presence. His ability, or rather inability, to draw attention and command respect, are the least of which one would expect from a man who represents a Nation as large as ours. His timidness and lack of confidence in the words he utters only add to the already ailing image of the Congress and our great country.
The Prime Minister’s address to the Nation on the Independence Day is probably the most significant speech of their entire career, nay their life! It is one that could make you go down in history! But Mr. Singh chose to keep his make over a hundred school children sit in the rain while he droned for half an hour about how “his government” in the past has accomplished so and so tasks and about the bills that “his government” will bring out in the future for the betterment of the people. What makes it worse is that it actually sounded like a press statement of a government after being struck by a calamity. If you will, a means of letting out his frustrations of FINALLY being able to talk after being tight-lipped while the media kept throwing questions at him. I’m sorry Mr. Prime Minister, but that was a justification of “your government’s” work, not an Independence Day address.
I’ve always envisioned the address to be THE ONE that can move and inspire the people who hear it. Something that is repeated for years to come! One that applauds the Nation and her people for the accomplishments. One that mourns the losses suffered. But also one that enables the people to envision a future that is bright. One which people aspire to live up to or endeavor to achieve. One that instills and emboldens the confidence of the people in the person that they chose to lead them. One that is a celebration of the Nation and all that she represents. One that is the cause of envy for every Prime Minister gone by and something to outshine for future aspirants of the coveted position. I believe it is the best platform and opportunity for one to remind the people of who they are and where they belong while instilling in them pride and love for their country.
In this context, for anyone who takes pride in being an Indian, it is indeed a shame to see that Mr. Singh is how we represent ourselves to the world. This is how the World sees us, as a timid Nation with nothing but defense and justification for everything that’s thrown our way. It makes you think, if the government truly is “Of the people and by the people” then isn’t this WHO we are?
