Dignity Beyond Independence: India's Independence Day and the Fight for Human Dignity

Penned by Raheeba Muhasin, Junior Research Associate, Kiwi Research

79th Independence Day

As we observe August 15th, we honour a profound human struggle and the sacrifices made by India's freedom fighters were never about creating boundaries; in fact, they were about breaking them, fighting for universal principles of human dignity and justice that resonate globally. 

The Universal Nature of Their Silence

When Gandhi developed Satyagraha, a non-violent resistance, he wasn't creating a uniquely Indian concept. He was articulating a universal method for confronting injustice that later inspired Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and countless others worldwide. 

Bhagat Singh, who sacrificed his life at 23, wrote from prison: "Revolution is the inalienable right of mankind." This wasn't about nationalism; it was about the fundamental human right to dignity that every person deserves, regardless of nationality. 

The price of freedom was measured in profound personal sacrifices. When revolutionaries chose resistance, they sacrificed their families' security, their children's futures, often condemning loved ones to poverty and persecution. Women faced colonial brutality and social ostracism for stepping outside traditional roles. Entire communities chose economic hardship over collaboration with injustice. 

The Global Vision

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, while drafting India's Constitution, drew inspiration from constitutions worldwide, recognising that justice and equality are fundamental to all humanity. The freedom fighters understood their struggle was part of a global movement against oppression, corresponding with liberation movements across Asia and Africa. 

The Continuing Struggle

Modern research shows that the same basic rights our freedom fighters died for remain out of reach for millions today. Wealth inequality has actually worsened, gender discrimination persists despite constitutional guarantees, and marginalised communities still can't access justice. The issues that drove people to revolution in the 1940s, economic exploitation, social discrimination, and denial of basic rights, are still making headlines in 2025. 

Here's how we can justly honour the sacrifices they made: by treating human rights as universal, not national. When we support fair wages for workers anywhere in the world, stand against discrimination regardless of where it happens, or fight for educational equality globally, we're continuing the revolution they began. Their sacrifice teaches us that freedom isn't something you win for your country; it's something you fight for humanity. Every choice we make to support justice anywhere honours the principles they died for everywhere. 

A Legacy for Humanity

The freedom fighters' ultimate sacrifice was not for a nation-state, but for the idea that all human beings deserve dignity, justice, and freedom. Their legacy belongs to humanity, and their methods of peaceful resistance and vision of inclusive democracy remain relevant tools for anyone working toward equity. 

Today, as global citizens, we honour their memory by continuing their work, not for any single nation, but for universal human values. The revolution they began with their sacrifice continues in our choices, our voices, and our commitment to making their dream of universal human dignity a reality for all people, everywhere.