Ashes & Diamonds

60 years after Indians’ gained independence, the Indian Railway throws crucial light (gives a close-to-truth indication) on our average progress when it comes to hygiene.

Note: The word, Indians’ has been used instead of India’s, with intent, in the title.

• Jasdeep March 10, 2010

  and what is the intent of using the word, Indians ’?
  Would you please elaborate
• shisir March 10, 2010

  I must thank you for putting that query up Jasdeep. I feel (or I felt so when I was writing the piece) independence as we say, must have happened on two different levels, one as a celebration of a geo-political space that is free. In that sense this marks what we often say as India’s independence.

  The second level of independence was the celebration of the people, of being free and of being in power to rule themselves and thus decide the destiny of their personal lives and that of the geo-political space that we call India. That in essence is what it means when I say Indians’ independence
  
  I used Indians‘ instead of India’s as I find it more appropriate. A geo-political space cannot decide its fate. India’s independence is less crucial than Indians’ independence in taking the nation where its going – be it forward, reverse or sideways. Makes sense?
• Trisha March 10, 2010

  I’m sorry but i dont know why everything has got tagged with independence. What’s that even got to do with it? Comparatively, we were handed our independence. We dont value it as much as say england who formulated benefits for the state since the magna carta. Let’s put it under ‘hygiene’ but not some parrot concept of independence.
• shisir March 10, 2010

  Trisha
  The beads linking Independence and hygiene is undoubtedly a little too long to be agreed upon, when talking facts and theories. However, I hope to get away without getting persecuted under the garb of ‘artistic license’ while deciding the title.