Amrit Kaal: Towards the centenary of India's Independence

Any strategy for the next 25 years must be ready for both positive and negative episodes

The prime minister in his Independence Day speech spoke about the priorities for the next 25 years leading up to the centenary of independence.  He focussed on five things — an India that becomes a developed country, that is free of a colonial mindset, that is proud of its heritage, that is united and integrated and whose citizens place duty above rights.

Out of the five priorities, at least two are about transforming our cultural future. The only reference to our political future is the emphasis on citizen’s duties rather than rights. What is disturbing is the absence of any reference