Reflections on India’s journey since Independence

Pal Singh Gill, born on January 10, 1947, and a resident of Aladinpur village, recalls the early years following India’s independence with a sense of satisfaction regarding the nation’s progress across various fields. Reflecting on his youth, he notes that access to higher education was limited, with institutions like Khalsa College in Amritsar being among the few options available for talented students. He mentioned that there were very few schools at that time. One of his close relatives, who belonged to a village near Rayya (about 35 kilometers from here), had to come to Tarn Taran to study up to the 11th standard. He was admitted to the hostel of the local SGAD Senior Secondary School, which was a higher secondary institution back then.

Pal Singh, who retired as a manager from an agricultural bank in 2005, recalled that even at the time of his retirement, most villagers lived in kutcha (non-permanent) houses. Only a few people had managed to build pucca (permanent) houses, often relying on loans to do so. He expressed contentment with the country’s development since then, particularly in areas like infrastructure, education and healthcare.

However, he expressed his resentment over the lack of diversification in agriculture. While farming was once a profitable and diverse occupation, it has now largely been reduced to a wheat-paddy cycle.

On the other hand, Balbir Singh, also a resident of Aladinpur and born on July 13, 1947, offers a more critical perspective. A practicing lawyer, he reflects on the devastating impact of Partition, which left people across all communities grappling with loss — of both property and lives. He recalls how many became dependent on manual labour due to acute financial hardships.

Balbir Singh challenges the idea that infrastructure development alone, such as pucca roads and buildings, constitutes true progress. According to him, the real golden period of India’s development was from 1970 to 1982. During this time, agriculture was labour-intensive and jobs were relatively accessible, enabling broader employment across society. However, with increasing mechanisation, he argues, much of that labour demand has disappeared, leading to rising unemployment in rural areas.

He is especially critical of the growing influence of corporate interests in sectors like education and healthcare. In his view, the shift toward privatization and market-driven systems is making essential services less accessible to the common man. Balbir Singh warns that if this trend continues, the future may become even more challenging for the rural and working-class populations.