Dear Bharat Mata,

On the eve of your 76th Republic Day, I want to wish you heartfelt congratulations on this significant occasion. As a democracy, you are as old as my Grand Maa, who was born in 1948. You reincarnated as a democracy in 1950, and writing to you feels like writing to one of my grandparents. I never had the chance to write a letter to my Grand Maa, but here I am, writing to you, hoping to do something meaningful instead of spending my time on Instagram reels.

Jawaharlal Nehru, one of your beloved sons and your Pratham Sevak, wrote in The Discovery of India while explaining to the people, “Who is Bharat Mata?” He said:

"The mountains and the rivers of India, and the forests and the broad fields, which gave us food, were all dear to us, but what counted ultimately were the people of India, people like them and me, who were spread out all over this vast land. Bharat Mata, Mother India, was essentially these millions of people, and victory to her meant victory to these people."

These lines have stayed with me whenever I think of you.

On television, I often hear that Bharat is on the brink of becoming a developed nation. But what does development really mean? Does having nukes make a nation developed? Does building highways and bridges define development? Have they really seen how the people of India live?

Leaders often claim they have electrified all the villages in India, and then the next year, they release a list of villages they’ve electrified that year. But I look around at the slums in every city, where a significant portion of the population lives. These leaders seem to care little about these people. It makes me question their patriotism. If they truly cared, they would focus on the lives of these people—the heartbeat of Bharat Mata—rather than just ticking off milestones and numbers.

These same leaders love offering freebies—cash, subsidies, and services—but they don't tell us the whole story. Economists warn that such freebies often create dependence instead of real progress. These measures may seem helpful in the short term, but they don't uplift people or truly lift them out of poverty. It's easy to promise freebies, but what's needed is support that helps people stand on their own feet, not just more handouts.

If they had been so cautious about welfareism, they would have worked to improve public healthcare and education instead. They could have made quality healthcare and education free for all, ensuring equal access to everyone. If they had done this, there would have been no need for private hospitals and schools to fill the gaps—they wouldn’t have existed in the first place.

All resources are concentrated within a very thin layer at the top, and those in this privileged position often remain blind to the struggles of others. They attribute their success solely to hard work, merit, or even divine blessings, failing to acknowledge the privilege that gave them a head start. They perpetuate the narrative that reservations for equality aren’t needed, and that the poor just need to work harder or excel in studies to escape poverty. But that’s far from the whole truth.

A significant part of our population still lacks access to resources, basic information, and equal opportunities for education. And then there’s the deep-rooted barrier of caste. Pretending caste doesn’t exist is sheer ignorance—yes, it exists, and it discriminates profoundly. If you’re a Dalit in this country, chances are you live in a separate colony, likely with poor electricity and water access. Your parents might not have high levels of education, nor the money or land to provide for a better future. Adivasis face the same struggles, enduring generations of systemic neglect and exploitation.

And what do our leaders do? Instead of addressing these divides, they exploit them. Be it caste, religion, or sects, leaders rise to power claiming to 'protect' one group from another, urging people to vote for their so-called saviors. They don’t extinguish the fires of hatred—they fan them. Just look at Manipur, Maa; the flames of hatred there still burn, a stark reminder of what happens when divisions are allowed to deepen unchecked.

Sometimes, these thoughts leave me feeling helpless. Tomorrow, the Republic Day celebrations will bring joy and pride, and there are indeed things worth celebrating. But after the festivities, I hope you’ll take a moment to consider my worries. I promise to keep writing to you and doing my best to make you better every day. Life is absurd in many ways, but I’ll rebel against that absurdity, striving to create some sense and meaning as long as I live (Yeah, that's what Camus said).

With love and hope,

Your concerned son and a part of you.

A Letter To My 75-Year Old Democratic Republic Bharat Mata

Reflections on Inequality, Leadership, and Hope