We have heard about the greatness and prosperity of India. She was once the Guru of the world. People from all over the world came here to study and acquire knowledge. India was then the golden sparrow which attracted TRADERS from all parts of the world. India, however, fell on evil days, and became a slave country, first under the Mughals and then under the Britishers. It was in 1947 that India became free. It was hoped that India would prosper under Swadeshi rule. India has now been free for over four decades. But what do we see? She has made wonderful progress in industries and technology. Indian Scientists have earned a name for themselves. A brave son of India went into the space even with Russian cosmonauts3 and returned to the earth safe. India today, however, is beset with difficulties. There is discontent among the people. Prices are rising at an alarming rate. The purchasing value of a rupee has gone down to 16 paise a rupee. Industries are producing goods but most of them are exported in order to earn foreign exchange. Even COMMODITIES of common use are exported so mat the government might balance its budget. India today is self-sufficient in food. Hundreds of crores rupees are being spent to tap the petroleum resources of India. New wells, in the country and on the high seas, are being sunk in order to produce more petrol and gas and save valuable foreign exchange. If, however, we cast our glance at the people, we are tilled with dismay. The people are corrupt, self-centred, backward and politically ignorant. They are dishonest. There is a crisis of character. Everybody wants to become rich by hook or by crook. The rich are thus becoming richer and 60 per cent of the population is living below the poverty line. Our society today is torn with internal strife's. There is no communal harmony. Everyone is ready to murder another on the slightest pretext. Murders and widespread violence and terrorism, this is the order of the day. The political situation is probably the worst Political leaders are not true to the electorate. They seek the votes of the people in order to grind their own axe. They have no principles and they change sides by throwing all their political ideologies to the wind. They are unprincipled, corrupt and self-seeking. On the economic front too, all is not well. There is shortage of power which means decline in industrial production. There is inflation and the people are made to suffer. The situation though bleak is not beyond repair. The youth of die country should come forward, safeguard India's integrity® and work for national integration. The country is surrounded by enemies. There is external danger too, and the army should be kept in readiness to protect our borders.