By SAIF AHMED
Staff Writer
 

Oh yes! India is the "land of snake-charmers, elephants, and tigers!"

In my lifetime I have seen only one snake-charmer, who happened to be entertaining a group of foreign tourists and obviously making a "quick buck" at the same time.

The latest census lists about 5,000 elephants and 323 tigers on Indian soil.

As many know, India celebrated its 50th anniversary of independence from British rule on August 15. Amidst unparalleled scenes of patriotism, national fervour, and unity, this nation of nearly one billion people (I can't wait till we displace China!) was led to a new awakening. It is a time in history that I will cherish forever, for I was one amongst that billion.

India is a country that thrives on diversity; it is home to almost every faith known to humankind - Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism and Judaism.

There are 35 different regional Indian languages, each spoken by more than a million people. Emerging from these 35 languages are 22,000 dialects within these languages.

Hindi is India's "national language." But it is a "national language" that half the population does not understand. Even Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda does not understand this "national language."

The only language which can be expected to be understood throughout the country is English (thank the British for that). India has the world's largest English-speaking population. "Indian English" perhaps bears the closest resemblance to "British English" outside the boundaries of the United Kingdom.

Indians don't look alike. People in the northeast part of the nation have more East Asian features; those in the south are more dark-skinned; and Northerners tend to be fair, some as fair as Scandinavians (albeit with black hair).

India is a potpourri of cultures, and in India sharing a religion does not mean sharing a culture.

Indian nationalism is the nationalism of the idea of an ever-existing land that is greater than the sum of its contradictions. India is one land accommodating many differences of caste, creed, culture, cuisine, costume and customy.

Throughout its long history, India has been invaded by group after group. However, the difference between the invasion of the British, as opposed to other groups, was that the British, unlike the Aryans, Huns and Turks, were neither interested in integrating with the Indian culture or peopl. Nor were they concerned with India's own progress.

The main purpose of Britain's "Jewel in the Crown" was to provide cheap labour and raw materials for the Industrial Revolution. The Indians resented this attitude, and after a long and arduous struggle, India finally won her independence from British rule in 1947.

On that glorious day, Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, said, "At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India awakes ... to make a tryst with destiny .. to rediscover herself!" And these 50 years have indeed been a marvelous rediscovery as India has cautiously allowed diversity to settle, grow, and flourish.

India can be proud of her achievements since independence. In the past half century, India can boast such accomplishments as having the world's second highest source of technical manpower, producing more than enough food (India exports rice and wheat) to its people, doubling the literacy rate, and raising the life expectancy 50 percent.

India is also one of the few countries to have launched satellites. It's also a key participant in United Nations peace-keeping missions.

The success that some Indians cherish most is that India is the world's largest democracy, which is monolithic in its structure.

I do not deny that India has a lot of work to do before its "tryst with destiny"- the fulfillment of its potential -is possible.

One of the main challenges for India is to achieve rapid economic growth while at the same time eradicating poverty and illiteracy.

Though India is poised to become the most populated country by 2015, the population rate is currently under control and is going down. India has more than enough space for its inhabitants, but a way must be found to decongest the cities.

It must be realized that India only 50 years into her rediscovery from the seemingly hopeless state that the British left us Indians in (although I can't thank them enough for cricket.)

We have come a long way. It is up to the present generation to lead the country on to greater heights and to that "tryst with destiny."

In the words of Annie Besant (1847-1933), an Irish woman who became a staunch supporter of the Indian independence movement:

"If you know your past, you will be proud of being Indians. A nation which gave too humanity not only religion and philosophy, not only literature and drama, but the most splendid of warriors, the most deathless loyalty, the most sublime patriotism, that nation can never fade from the pages of history except for by the treachery of the children of her own womb!"

Despite all of the difficulties that existed when India gained its independence, India today celebrates its freedom, unity and democracy.

This is the India that has emerged in past few decades - my country, my motherland. A mother's greatness inspires her son at Bates.