For some, the thoughts come easily, dripping with patriotism or pure venom. For others, it needs hours of conversation for the words and feelings, usually buried deep or hardly ever considered, to surface. INDIA TODAY presents frank, unguarded thoughts of some of the best known -- and some totally unknown -- people across the nation who make up the fabric of India. After 50 years of Independence, this is the voice of India, a reflection of who we are. It shows how far we have come. And how far we need to go.
Interview by KALLI PURIE Photograph by BANDEEP SINGH
PRADEEP LAL, Businessman, wheelchair-tennis player I believe in the maximum use of minimum resources. It is what I have to do in my situation. There are no provisions made for us in this country. Most of the disabled people who, like me, don't have cars, don't come out. They sit in their houses, worrying about how they will go out. As a result, the leaders are totally insensitive to us. Disabled people are irrelevant to politicians because their votes don't count, since most of them can't make it to the polling booths. Abroad, the facilities are fantastic. You can do all the normal things. While I was in Japan, I felt like throwing away my passport and keep on staying in Japan. But you can't stay anywhere for long. In the West, they can give you everything materially, but there are no ties, no bond.
For some, the thoughts come easily, dripping with patriotism or pure venom. For others, it needs hours of conversation for the words and feelings, usually buried deep or hardly ever considered, to surface. INDIA TODAY presents frank, unguarded thoughts of some of the best known -- and some totally unknown -- people across the nation who make up the fabric of India. After 50 years of Independence, this is the voice of India, a reflection of who we are. It shows how far we have come. And how far we need to go. 
PRADEEP LAL, Businessman, wheelchair-tennis player
