REPUBLIC INDIA

For many of us, HISTORY is a boring subject, understanding of which gives us no benefit. But just for a change, think otherwise. History is a story of our culture, our struggles and our evolution through ages. If that real story doesn’t touch our heart, then aren’t we insensitive and ignorant in many ways? While we celebrate our National Days with pride, do we really know the difference between being Republic, Democratic & Independent?

Refresh yourself if you have forgotten the difference: REPUBLIC means Country returning to public, but with a Charter/Constitution as the supreme law of land; DEMOCRACY is the Rule of the majority chosen by public & INDEPENDENCE is the freedom from Colonial rule. The Republic Day is an occasion to cherish India's strengths, its cultural heritage and its sense of unity in diversity.

Let us gaze through one of the controversial email clips circulated far and wide, not to find out the truth or refute authenticity, but for understanding of underlying notion.

“LORD MACAULAY’S ADDRESS TO THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT 2 FEBRUARY, 1835”
“I have travelled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such calibre, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I propose that we replace the old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self esteem, their native culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation.”

CONTRAVERISAL ISSUES RUNS AS FOLLOWS:
1. Was Lord Macaulay a member of British Parliament in 1835 or member of Governing council of East India Company, during the time he is said to have addressed the Parliament, back in Britain? Internet information states that Lord Macaulay arrived in India on 10th June 1834, to serve British India Government, as the member of Supreme Council of India and returned only in 1838.

2. Is British Parliament Records an open document to public? Historians says that Lord Macaulay’s speeches, essays and minutes remain on record, to prove that he did not affect the sentiment for a literary or oratorical purpose but doesn’t mention about public access of official correspondence and minutes of meetings.

3. From where did this speech surface after 173 years? The source of clip is cited to be: “The Awakening Ray”, Vol. 4, No. 5, The Gnostic Centre, reproduced in “NITI”, a periodic publication of Bharat Vikas Parishad, Delhi in April, 2002 Issue at p. 10.

4. Is this information authentic? Hoax or real, it still remains a controversy. But what we have to think over & compare is the content & current relevance of those words.

FOOTNOTE: Before being judgemental remember the words of Francis Bacon Sr. “Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, but to weigh and consider”.

Sources: Trevelyan, Sir George Otto (1876). The Life and Letters of Lord Macaulay, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Page 235 (Reissued in 1978). http://www.languageinindia.com/april2003/macaulay.html