Yes, I chose the internet to put my views before you all. Not ( only) because I have a blog here but because of the pessimists I see on the internet these days! The views that arise from these minds is a matter of grave concern! I see India being compared to Cuba, Pakistan and Bangladesh when it comes to Petrol Prices.( that they being dictatorial countries is tactfully neglected!) I see a photo shop technique being employed to portray Gandhi kissing a lady, a smoking Jawaharlal Nehru is displayed and his patriotism is questioned ( Smoking and patriotism? Maybe, Winston Churchill was also not a patriot then!) I see messages targeting our political leaders without acknowledging a single good deed that they have done for this country so far! I see people claiming that this country has no developed even a bit in the past 66 years of its independent existence.
Yeah! These people have the Indian National Flag as their profile picture every 15th August and 26th January. ( Sorry not to acknowledge your patriotism guys!)
But what has made these people such pessimists? Have they not acknowledged the fact that every country around India has failed to implement Democracy since the end of British imperialism? Have they forgotten the fact that barring a few ( by no means insignificant) instances, Indian Democracy has sailed a great journey? Don't they know that from a stage where for India it was impossible to feed its own people, it has now achieved complete self-sufficiency? Or maybe they don't see the telecom revolution which has connected every corner of the country with telephones. Maybe for them India's ability to defend its own people goes unnoticed. These people are unaware of the fact that from a point in history where it was thought that India ( with its 5000 years history of monarchy and hierarchy) will ultimately be a failed state, it has in fact made a stride to become the largest democracy of the world! India's views are taken rather seriously in World Affairs and it is soon to be a key ( or maybe it already is) player in the United Nations! I firmly believe that India's economic policies, foreign policies, defense diplomacy have made it a key player in World Affairs - the roots of which lie in her own people, imbibed through a supremely drafted constitution! So who were the people who made these things possible? I firmly believe it was the first cabinet ministry of Independent India who brought such a sweeping change in the minds of we Indians. I won't say that we were not fit for a democratic government! But modern democracy was a new phenomenon for us! We Indians owe a lot to these people for rooting the spirit and values of democracy in the common Indian mind.
Jawaharlal Nehru - Prime Minister, External Affairs, Scientific Research, Commonwealth Relations
Vallabhabhai Patel - Home, Information and Broadcasting, States
Dr. B. R Ambedkar - Law
Dr. Rajendra Prasad - President, Food and Agriculture
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad - Education
Sardar Baldev Singh - Defense
Babu Jagjivan Ram - Labour
John Mathai - Railways and Transport
N. V Gadgil - Works, Mines and Power
Syama Prasad Mukherjee - Industries and Supplies
R. K Shanmukham Chetty - Finance
Rafi Ahmed Kidwai - Communication
Rajkumari Amrit Kaur - Health
Cooverji Hormusji Bhabha - Commerce
( Source - Wikipedia)
The special features of this cabinet were:
1. Babasaheb Ambedkar, R. K Shanmukham Chetty, Syama Prasad Mukherjee, Bhabha, Baldev Singh, John Mathai, were not from the Congress party. Still they formed a part of this ministry as party priorities were not a part of this cabinet - a sign of true democracy!
2. Influential ministries were held by non- Congress ministers - Defense, Law, Finance. Again a sign of a healthy spirit of exchange of thoughts setting aside party differences! All these leaders were ready to work for a common cause - India.
3. Syama Prasad Mukherjee was from a party that opposed Congress tooth and nail. This party later became the Bhartiya Janata Party ( BJP). Sardar Baldev Singh was closely linked to Akali Dal which again opposed and again is in opposition to the Congress party. Ambedkar was a known critique of the Congress. Still they were given key ministries as their merit was respected, not their ideological background! Will such a thing happen today?
4. Gandhi and Ambedkar had different approaches towards life. Their difference of opinion was profound and known all over. Still he asked Nehru to invite Dr. Ambedkar to head the Law cabinet. It seems democracy in its truest sense was understood by these people. Will such a thing happen today?
5. This cabinet latter was influential in framing the constitution which was adopted in 1950. One wonders how many debates and discussions would have taken place in this process? But this was the cabinet that made way to what India is today - its character, its nature, its achievements, its glory, its democracy and also its shortcomings. But these visionary leaders anticipated these shortcomings and hence made a provision to amend the constitution from time to time!
Opinions will start to form when ( rather if) people will read this article. Some of you might say that it was only Patel who was responsible for a united India and criticize Nehru. Some of you might argue that is was only Ambedkar who changed the face of the nation and there was no other who did it. Some of you might feel it was only Mukherjee who was a true nationalist. Democracy has given you a freedom to launch your own thoughts. But for them I would say one thing:
No matter how bright two flint-stones appear, their friction against each other results in sparks which eventually generates lights! :) Clash of thoughts is essential for a healthy democracy! Be proud of your independence but acknowledge the base built for your country by these great men.
P.S : Facebook ( and other social media sites) pessimists - No one is gonna stop you from posting baseless, cheap and headless articles. For India is a democracy and will always be! ;) :)
Yeah! These people have the Indian National Flag as their profile picture every 15th August and 26th January. ( Sorry not to acknowledge your patriotism guys!)
But what has made these people such pessimists? Have they not acknowledged the fact that every country around India has failed to implement Democracy since the end of British imperialism? Have they forgotten the fact that barring a few ( by no means insignificant) instances, Indian Democracy has sailed a great journey? Don't they know that from a stage where for India it was impossible to feed its own people, it has now achieved complete self-sufficiency? Or maybe they don't see the telecom revolution which has connected every corner of the country with telephones. Maybe for them India's ability to defend its own people goes unnoticed. These people are unaware of the fact that from a point in history where it was thought that India ( with its 5000 years history of monarchy and hierarchy) will ultimately be a failed state, it has in fact made a stride to become the largest democracy of the world! India's views are taken rather seriously in World Affairs and it is soon to be a key ( or maybe it already is) player in the United Nations! I firmly believe that India's economic policies, foreign policies, defense diplomacy have made it a key player in World Affairs - the roots of which lie in her own people, imbibed through a supremely drafted constitution! So who were the people who made these things possible? I firmly believe it was the first cabinet ministry of Independent India who brought such a sweeping change in the minds of we Indians. I won't say that we were not fit for a democratic government! But modern democracy was a new phenomenon for us! We Indians owe a lot to these people for rooting the spirit and values of democracy in the common Indian mind.
Jawaharlal Nehru - Prime Minister, External Affairs, Scientific Research, Commonwealth Relations
Vallabhabhai Patel - Home, Information and Broadcasting, States
Dr. B. R Ambedkar - Law
Dr. Rajendra Prasad - President, Food and Agriculture
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad - Education
Sardar Baldev Singh - Defense
Babu Jagjivan Ram - Labour
John Mathai - Railways and Transport
N. V Gadgil - Works, Mines and Power
Syama Prasad Mukherjee - Industries and Supplies
R. K Shanmukham Chetty - Finance
Rafi Ahmed Kidwai - Communication
Rajkumari Amrit Kaur - Health
Cooverji Hormusji Bhabha - Commerce
( Source - Wikipedia)
The special features of this cabinet were:
1. Babasaheb Ambedkar, R. K Shanmukham Chetty, Syama Prasad Mukherjee, Bhabha, Baldev Singh, John Mathai, were not from the Congress party. Still they formed a part of this ministry as party priorities were not a part of this cabinet - a sign of true democracy!
2. Influential ministries were held by non- Congress ministers - Defense, Law, Finance. Again a sign of a healthy spirit of exchange of thoughts setting aside party differences! All these leaders were ready to work for a common cause - India.
3. Syama Prasad Mukherjee was from a party that opposed Congress tooth and nail. This party later became the Bhartiya Janata Party ( BJP). Sardar Baldev Singh was closely linked to Akali Dal which again opposed and again is in opposition to the Congress party. Ambedkar was a known critique of the Congress. Still they were given key ministries as their merit was respected, not their ideological background! Will such a thing happen today?
4. Gandhi and Ambedkar had different approaches towards life. Their difference of opinion was profound and known all over. Still he asked Nehru to invite Dr. Ambedkar to head the Law cabinet. It seems democracy in its truest sense was understood by these people. Will such a thing happen today?
5. This cabinet latter was influential in framing the constitution which was adopted in 1950. One wonders how many debates and discussions would have taken place in this process? But this was the cabinet that made way to what India is today - its character, its nature, its achievements, its glory, its democracy and also its shortcomings. But these visionary leaders anticipated these shortcomings and hence made a provision to amend the constitution from time to time!
Opinions will start to form when ( rather if) people will read this article. Some of you might say that it was only Patel who was responsible for a united India and criticize Nehru. Some of you might argue that is was only Ambedkar who changed the face of the nation and there was no other who did it. Some of you might feel it was only Mukherjee who was a true nationalist. Democracy has given you a freedom to launch your own thoughts. But for them I would say one thing:
No matter how bright two flint-stones appear, their friction against each other results in sparks which eventually generates lights! :) Clash of thoughts is essential for a healthy democracy! Be proud of your independence but acknowledge the base built for your country by these great men.
P.S : Facebook ( and other social media sites) pessimists - No one is gonna stop you from posting baseless, cheap and headless articles. For India is a democracy and will always be! ;) :)
Best line was PS! :)
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