A historic day – September 8, 2022
A mere coincidence or a Daivik Shakti (Divine Power) marking September 8, 2022, with an unprecedented history. I saw the news of Queen Elizabeth’s ill health on CNN and then turned to the broadcast of Modi’s speech while opening the Central Vista in New Delhi. Strikingly, Buckingham Palace never issued any statement about Her Majesty’s health until today signaling the inevitable. Almost in parallel, India’s Kingsway during the British Raj, the Raj Marg after independence, and finally the Kartavya Marg today marked the historic ending of the slavery of Raj onto the path of “duty” (Kartavya)[1].
As those events were unfolding, I wrote on social media, “The naming of Kartavya Path and the opening of the Vista. Awesome ceremony very well deserved by the future Hindu Rashtra with Neta Ji getting due recognition for freedom struggle. As we know, Modi is a master at using the most appropriate words in uplifting the human spirit through his speech. On another note, as Modi is reminding us to get rid of British Raj memories, the Queen may be on her last legs because of deteriorating health.”
Little did I know that Her Majesty, the longest reigning Monarch, will take her last breath so soon. Now the Britishers and the rest of the world must transition to “His Majesty” after 70 years, not heard by the large population in their lifetime. I am saddened and express condolences for the passing of Her Majesty only as any other human being. May Hindu Gods and Goddesses bless her soul and pardon her deeds and those of colonizing ancestors. Born in independent India, I have no allegiance to the Majesty- His or Her.
Changing Raj Marg to Kartavya Marg?
I never thought of “Raj” being so deeply ingrained in our psyche as the symbol of colonialism. Unfortunately, it continued even in the post-independence Brown Raj (Nehru-Gandhi era). I surmise that 1947 was just a transition and transfer of power from the white-skinned to brown-skinned people with the same philosophy and mindset. During both periods, the plundering of India’s wealth for personal gains continued without the spirit of nationalism and the development of the nation. The “Raj” continuum in the hands of British educated Nehru family dynasty, fully backed by Gandhi, divided India not only once but many times.
Even today, the street protests and agitations inspired by India’s opposition political leaders are clear indicators that the quest of “Todo Hindustan (break India)” continues. Another coincidence of the day is the struggling Congress started a symbolic journey dubbed “Jodo Hindustan (unite India.)” What an irony and an effort in futility to distract well-meaning people of India from the path of Saath, Vikas, Vishwas, Prayas, and finally Kartavya. I am confident that new India’s electorate is way too smart to be fooled by Congress and others who can’t even unite for a viable candidate to challenge Modi in 2024.
Who is Neta Ji?
The truth is “I know little,” because all I studied was that he fled the country and a few tales about him as a freedom fighter. In the later years, I watched a movie, and read a lot more in the last 7-8 years as the political climate in India changed for the better. Neta Ji files were finally made public, the story of Benami Baba as Neta Ji was in the media, and more. I am of the strong opinion that Neta Ji was the true architect of India’s freedom struggle which Gandhi vehemently opposed in the name of “non-violence,” which no doubt contributed to India’s freedom.
I am convinced more than ever before that Gandhi and by extension, Nehru was in cahoots with the British Raj in getting Neta Ji under house arrest. They wanted him out of public light fearing that he will otherwise tarnish their image of being the stooges of the British Raj. What an irony of historic proportions that the Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty never let Neta Ji’s life history see the light of the day. What were they hiding for so long who were they protecting? It is my informed opinion that Neta Ji was regarded not only as an archenemy of the British Raj with Nehru-Gandhi as complicit but also that the same mindset continued during the Brown Raj.
The truth always prevails and history has its own way to unfold the mysteries and facts. The unveiling and dedication of Neta Ji’s statue on the Kartavya Path to replace the statue of King George V from the Rajpath, for good at last, are true symbols of freedom what Modi appropriately called as a “symbol of slavery.[1]”
India’s independence in 1947 was merely a transfer of power from one Raj to another but September 8 is the dawn of New India being free from the Raj. The passing of Her Majesty in itself is the end of an era that I characterize as the “sunset” of Raj and the “onset” of refreshing air for every freedom-loving Indian to breathe, rejoice, and celebrate.
What may seem a coincidence and confluence of events (on September 8), I surmise it is for a reason what I already called a Daivik Shakti. Her Majesty passed away just in time not to have to hear Modi’s words, “a symbol of slavery has been erased forever.” She came too close to appointing a proud Hindu as British Prime Minister. I wonder what was going through her mind as Britain was debating the tight electoral fight between a white-skinned woman and a brown-skinned Hindu man. With her failing health, did she know that India just gained the 5th spot moving the U.K. to the 6th among the world’s economies? Signs of the changing times and changing history!
With the changing of guards from Her Majesty to His Majesty, I hope the new, strong, and emerging India will seek reparations for the plunders during the British Raj that rightfully belongs to the people of India. An apology for the atrocities of about 250 years of British Raj followed by 60-plus years of Brown (Congress) Raj will be equally welcome.
The majestic stretch from India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Kartavya Path, will forever be a reminder of the new beginnings for us and the generations to come. We must engage in our Kartavya toward building a healthy, happy, safe, secure, free, prosperous, developed, self-reliant, and united Bharat. Let our New Education Policy not ever forget the proud Indians of the sacrifices of so many Statesmen (no gender distinction meant) like Neta Ji.
Let our Karma and Kartavya realize the dream of a developed India, a vision by India’s late President Abdul Kalam in 1998[2]. It is only to be renewed by the visionary Prime Minister Modi calling the next 25 years (until 2047), a period of Amrit Mahotsav. I will call it a wonderful period of resolve, renaissance, and revival to never look back again.
Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
Reference:
[1] Rajpath, a symbol of slavery, erased: PM Modi – Sep 08, 2022, The Hindu
[2] India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium Paperback – Aug 13, 2014, Amazon.in
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Formerly, a researcher in Italy, Japan, and France, he has widely travelled and came to the US in 1978. He was a faculty and academic administrator in several different universities in PA, TX, NJ, MN, WI, and NY, and an Executive Fellow in the White House S&T Policy during the Clinton administration.
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