A place for the heroes

As we prepare to celebrate the 80th Independence Day of our country, a deep sense of regret weighs heavily upon us: even after nearly eight decades of Independence, India still does not have a comprehensive and integrated national museum where the complete history of its great freedom movement, the sacrifices of countless known and unknown freedom fighters, and the long and arduous journey towards independence can be preserved and presented in one place.

India’s freedom struggle is a unique chapter in world history. It produced countless brave men and women who sacrificed their lives, youth, dreams, families and everything they possessed for the freedom of their country. It is through their sacrifice, courage and patriotism that we inherited a free India.

Yet, Independence was not the end of the journey. The task of uniting a newly independent India was another immense historical responsibility. The leaders of post-Independence India devoted themselves to the monumental task of bringing together a nation of extraordinary diversity in languages, cultures, religions, communities and traditions, while building a modern, democratic and sovereign state. In the long span of history, such an achievement — binding so vast and diverse a land into a common national identity — is truly rare.

Sadly, however, many chapters of this glorious history are gradually fading from our collective memory. For many among the younger generation, the lives and sacrifices of countless freedom fighters, revolutionaries, social reformers and nation-builders are becoming increasingly unfamiliar. Their contributions cannot be adequately preserved merely through a few chapters in textbooks or ceremonial remembrance on national occasions.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose — along with countless other leaders and freedom fighters who played important roles in India’s struggle for independence alongside Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and many other compatriots — endured imprisonment, persecution and immense hardships and dedicated their lives to the nation. Their contributions deserve to be preserved and presented in a much broader and deeper historical context.

This is not about glorifying any particular individual or political ideology. Rather, it is about the honest, impartial and dignified preservation of India’s collective history. The freedom struggle was not the story of any one individual, political party, ideology or region. It was a collective struggle involving many movements, countless people, different regions and diverse viewpoints. Preserving and presenting this multifaceted history in its entirety for future generations is our national responsibility.

Many countries around the world have established world-class museums and research institutions to preserve their national histories. Institutions such as the National Museum of American History in Washington DC, present a nation’s history to younger generations through documents, artefacts, personal memories, technology and educational exhibitions. India, too, deserves an institution of international stature dedicated to such a vast, diverse and historically significant chapter as its freedom struggle.

This brings us to an important question: If we cannot properly preserve the memory of the struggle and sacrifices of those who gave their lives for our freedom, then what is the deeper meaning of celebrating Independence Day?

Where did we go wrong? Therefore, on the eve of the 80th Independence Day, I appeal to the Government of India and all State Governments to take the initiative to establish a National Museum of India’s Freedom Movement. Alongside it, every State could establish dedicated museums, memorial galleries or research centres highlighting its own regional freedom struggles and the lives and contributions of its heroes.

Such a national museum could preserve original documents, letters, newspapers, rare photographs, personal belongings of revolutionaries, prison records, historical artefacts, oral histories, memoirs of freedom fighters, and the life stories of both celebrated and lesser-known heroes from different parts of India. With the help of modern technology, it could also feature digital archives, interactive exhibitions, audio-visual presentations and special educational programmes for students.

Such a museum would not merely be a structure of bricks and mortar. It would become a living testament to India’s freedom — a permanent memorial to the courage, sacrifice, indomitable spirit and unwavering struggle of our forefathers for the cause of independence.

A nation that preserves its history with respect, honesty and dedication is a nation capable of building its future on strong foundations. By remembering and preserving the sacrifices, struggles and achievements of the past, society can inspire its younger generation and continue its onward journey towards progress and development.

Sasti Brata Kabiraj,

Durgapur, West Bengal

The border with China

On India’s 80th Independence Day, I find it deeply unsettling that one of the most important questions before the country — the situation along India’s border with China — is again surrounded by silence, ambiguity and competing claims.

The recent report that the Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) has sent a team to Taksing in Upper Subansiri to assess the situation following allegations of Chinese activity is another jolt to the strong image that the government has carefully projected for itself. The report says the students’ body intends to prepare a ground assessment and submit it to the Central and State governments. It also refers to local accounts about an Indian Army patrol point that residents say has not been returned to since 2023.

It is unfortunate that in a sovereign country such as India, with a robust military presence along the frontier, a student organisation has to send its members to check the situation on the ground and draw attention to what is happening there. If the allegations are incorrect, the government should simply say so with facts. If they have substance, the public deserves to know what has happened. Silence cannot be the answer to a question concerning India’s territorial security.

In 2020, the Prime Minister said that no one had entered Indian territory. That statement subsequently became one of the most fiercely contested aspects of the national debate over the India-China border. Today, when fresh allegations have emerged from Arunachal Pradesh, the striking feature is again the absence of a clear and convincing public communication. A government cannot demand unquestioning faith in its handling of the border while refusing to provide answers about what is happening there.

The government’s image is high on rhetoric, but foreign policy increasingly appears to have become limited to hugging, handshaking and photo-ops, with different predetermined poses. Diplomacy is obviously much more than photographs, handshakes and public appearances; ultimately, its success must be measured by what happens to India’s strategic interests on the ground.

And this brings me to Parliament. The monsoon session has itself become another casualty of political confrontation, while the reported absence of the Prime Minister and Home Minister from the proceedings has raised questions about accountability. The Home Minister’s statement towards the end of the session that he was ready for a debate only makes the situation more perplexing. If the government is ready for a debate, why should the country have to wait until the last days of a disrupted session?

I do not believe that criticising the government on foreign policy makes anyone less patriotic. On the contrary, asking the government to explain what is happening on India’s borders is itself an act of patriotism. The armed forces guard our frontiers; the government owes the country transparency about the situation they are guarding.

We will celebrate Independence Day with speeches about sovereignty, sacrifice, national pride and a strong India. But independence must also mean that citizens are free to ask their government difficult questions — including questions about territory, borders and national security — without being treated as if asking those questions itself is somehow anti-national.

The image of strength is not created by rhetoric. Real strength is the ability to face questions, acknowledge difficulties and still stand firmly before the people.

Aditya Das,

Bhowali, Uttarakhand

The politics of language

The politicisation of English is deeply regrettable. Depriving millions of Indians of access to a language that serves as a major medium of modern technology and global communication may do more harm than good. Promoting Indian languages need not come at the expense of English; the two can develop simultaneously. India’s linguistic diversity has historically demonstrated its capacity to accommodate multiple languages and cultural influences. Therefore, political impediments to language learning, particularly when driven by narrow notions of nationalism, warrant serious introspection.

Laxmipriya Sahoo,

Rengali, Angul, Odisha