Celebration of the country's independence, in course of what seems to be a reasonably long journey of 45 years, is now more than the narrative of a war won, lives lost, economy ruined and the many accompanying tales of sorrow and joy. Often, it is the past that holds its grip so tight that the memories of loss and ravages of war take things rather too far to allow space to ponder on what independence means to an average citizen of the country, and what it has brought him or her in practical terms as an individual and as a member of society at large. Identity of the nation as an independent entity is extraordinary - try as one might to see it as less than highly distinctive. And now when one counts on the journey of the nation as an independent one as against that under the Pakistani rule, one finds that the former has outlived the latter by more than good ten years. Isn't it time the nation took stock of how it navigated in reaching where it is now - despite the cynicism of some inveterate sceptics? The country had had its ride held up by conflicting ideals impeding its democratic journey time and again, but one has to come to terms with the reality that it has advanced commendably on many fronts. To mention some of the basics: the country is now well poised to feed a population more than double the pre-liberation size; private sector has demonstrated a laudable growth in manufacturing, exports and services; mass literacy, especially in case of women, has surged at rates higher than most developing countries; forex reserve has gone way beyond expectations thanks to the stupendous growth of garment exports and workers' remittance from abroad. As a result of the cumulative progress, per capita income has moved up considerably as a measure of economic gains reaching the citizens. There are on-going mega development projects, and once completed, these - mostly in communication and power sectors -- are expected to bring a sea change in the overall as well as sector-specific areas of the economy. While much of the achievements should be attributed to the private sector, investment, especially foreign direct investment, is far from what is required at a juncture when employment generation and productivity are at a crossroads to push the country further forward. Another key driver of development -- institution building -- is, sadly, miles away to experience any headway. What often worries experts and observers is that unless institutions operate efficiently and independently with skilled human resource and fresh vision, things that look rosy at the moment may not sustain in the long run. All said, it would be rather simplistic to count too heavily on the things as they are, including the growth. Democracy, the hallmark of nationhood that the country's independence promised to ensure is a chronicle of dispirited, at times dismayed experiences. If growth and democratic practices are not well integrated or get loosely tangled, the lurking fear of shortsightedness can be a threat to sustenance in all forms and shades. Observance of the Independence Day may awaken all to the reality.
