According to me, Swaraj means…
Poem or Essay
Answers
Literally Swaraj means self-rule. Swaraj is famous for its association with the freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who pronounced the famous slogan, ““Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.” In that context, it meant freedom from the oppressive British regime and self-rule for the Indians.
However, the term could have many more connotations. Gandhi made very good observations in this respect. He was of the view that once the Britishers left India, the wealthy Indians would come to rule over the poor. Therefore, he advocated a classless society, with emphasis on cottage industries, thereby leading to more equitable economic growth. In fact, this is what unfolded in Independent India. India is a case of stark dichotomies, with the uber rich living right next to the slum dwellers. One need only visit the Hiranandani City to experience this. So while Swaraj might have been achieved, it yet is a far away dream for many Indians. While many of us may have had the “acche din”, the slogan that Narendra Modi so effectively used during his election battle in 2014, the poor are yet to find their “acche din”.
True Swaraj shall be achieved when we can rid ourselves of our poverty. And poverty not just in the economic sense but also in the mental and the psychological sense. Do you think that someone who is rich but is suffering with mental depression experiences “self-rule”? Yoga and meditation are established practices for achieving mental strength and stability.
Only once we seek inwards into the rich Indian traditional knowledge and practices do I think that we can achieve Swaraj, in the true sense of that word.
At a very basic level, Swaraj means self-rule. The word gained impetus during India’s struggle for independence. Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s famous slogan ,’ Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.’ made Swaraj the focus of the movement. Therefore Swaraj meant the establishment of a completely Indian government, quite along the lines of the ideology enshrined in ‘Of the people, by the people, for the people’. The meaning of the word has undergone a sea change. Now that India is an independent nation, Swaraj no longer applies exclusively to the political scenario.
For me, Swaraj continues to retain its original meaning of self- rule, but in different contexts. It now relates to each and every aspect of our lives. For instance, though India is an independent nation, the government still cannot ensure self –rule. International agreements, pacts and pressures force the nation to tow a line that is not altogether desirable. Unlike Tilak’s belief, we cannot ‘have it’ because of interference from various power blocks. The nation has achieved freedom from direct foreign rule, but indirect pressures continue.
On the educational front, there is much to be desired. Our country cannot possibly achieve ‘Swaraj’ until it can be ensured at least every person working in the governmental organizations is well educated enough. There have been many cases of nepotism and favouritism. In such a case, even the official machinery cannot be said to be deserving enough to be able to handle the work on the behalf of the general public. This is a far cry from the efficiency that Tilak had sought when he fought for Swaraj.
Another obstacle in the way of us achieving true Swaraj is rampant corruption. The idea of Swaraj is threatened when a citizen needs to get some work done, but finds himself at the mercy of the officials. The work can neither be completed as per the process, nor can the individual question the attitude of the concerned officials. Therefore, when the common man is at the receiving end, it can safely be said that the nation is light years away from achieving Swaraj.
The socio-economic scenario also offers a troubled take on Swaraj. With many families living below the poverty line, it is impossible for them to get a hold of their lives. The lack of job opportunities and poor health conditions adds to their problems. A person in dire straits cannot contribute to the nation, thus bursting the bubble of Swaraj.
There are cultural factors too, that endanger Swaraj. Societal pressures include the undue expenses incurred at the time of buying a new car, a new house or at a wedding. People are not able to deal with the pressure and succumb to it. There are times when an individual is forced to spend beyond his means and then spends the rest of his life in misery.
To me, Swaraj is a state of being wherein each person finds his peace of mind and is able to lead a life without being unduly pressurized due to any reasons. That unfortunately does not look possible in the near future.