After 61 years of independence are we truly free?

It isn't very liberating, the thought that even after 61 years of independence we still live in a society of taboos and discrimination, hunger and disease, injustice and fear. why does August 15th lack the pomp and show of the Republic day? Perhaps because it is just the day we got political freedom, the task of winning freedom for the people is yet incomplete.
As the clock struck twelve to mark the fifteenth of August 1947 Jawaharlal Nehru reminded us that "before the birth of freedom we have endured all the pains of labour and our hearts are heavy with the memory of this sorrow". Now after enduring so much struggle we are represented by incompetent and corrupt leaders, who are criminal in both mind and thought. They enter politics to augment their interests and, not to forget, their bank accounts. They are under-qualified for the posts they hold and abuse their positions by favouring bribery, corruption and nepotism all the while sacrificing the growth of the country.
Discrimination and tyranny based on caste, creed, religion and gender are the chains which bind us from truly being free. Burning brides and dowry, an institution that has survived roach-like for generations, has not yet been vetoed from comman lives. And what could be more melo-dramatic than the time-worn image of a girl child asked to forgo dinner for the sake of her brother, who is seen as the family investment. To be fair, women have a right to ownership of property. But just the fact that we can't get them a third of the parliamentary seats is a disgrace.
Education and healthcare are among the other aspects that are plaguing our complete independence. That more than 40% of the children do not go to school only goes to prove the failure of the government. The high infant mortality rates and inadequate hospitals and medical staff are evidence to our poor healthcare system.
Violence, curfews and riots act as oil to burn our country's internal peace and security. Caste, creed,regionalism and religion have become like walls dividing us from within. A country at 61 may be as confused as an adolescent. More so now because of the dizzying changes around us and within us.
Our soi-disant leaders have conflicting ideas which only hainder the growth and progress of the country. So if we do not inculcate in us, the values, care, concern and discipline, India, 61 years later will still be the India today.