Sadhguru: As India celebrates its seventy-ninth year of independence, the meaning of sovereignty and freedom come sharply into focus. The challenges are, at present, manifold -- from fluctuating global economic weather to deepening political isolation, from domestic issues around faith, caste and regional identity to increased mental health issues among the young.

And yet, for a nation with any spine, for a leadership of gumption, challenges are never setbacks; they are fodder for growth. The vibrancy in the air is undeniable, and the optimism and growing self-assurance are palpable.

The time has come not merely to liberalize, but liberate. What we now need is a burst of free enterprise – bold, confident and adventurous. It is time to liberate education, industry, technology and infrastructure from the clutches of government control, so individual initiative can flourish, and the spirit of human ingenuity can shatter every glass ceiling – imposed and imaginary.

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If we want an energized private sector, as well as international companies to take us seriously, we urgently need to create a climate that is congenial for business and foreign investment. It is time to shrug off the colonial hangover that believed in keeping us small and shackled to mere survival-based concerns. Let people be encouraged to participate in the project of nation-building by constructing roads, bridges, universities, and all manner of public infrastructure. These measures no longer need to be the exclusive domain of the government.

When people dream big, when they seek to build their lives and build a nation, there is bound to be some disruption. Some minor regulations may be flouted, some archaic rules bent. Some creaky bureaucratic structures and outdated taxation laws may need to be overhauled. This seeming chaos is an integral ingredient of change. Let us set some basic ground rules, and trust individuals to comply. Let radical innovation not be smothered by moribund red tapism. This is the only way to create a free and vital nation.

Information Technology remains our core strength and we are fast emerging as a global player in the field of Artificial Intelligence. We cannot allow this advantage to be stamped out by any external vested interest. Since AI depends heavily on data centres that are infrastructurally strong in terms of computing hardware, storage and networking, it is important to start investing in effective power grids. We cannot rely on power allotment from the state alone. The purchase of mini nuclear stations (or small modular reactors) can help us meet the rising demand for strong power sources. This is a significant way to retain our autonomy, and build on our expertise and reputation as a global tech powerhouse.

If education does not transform human beings, it is irrelevant. If we want to reap the demographic dividend, we need to encourage youth to be innovative at an early age, before they lose their impetus and power of independent thinking. The need of the hour is a revitalized education, free of heavy-handed state interference – one that prioritizes mental agility and physical fitness.

Internationally, it is time for deepening alliances with geographically congruent nations in order to resist the strong-arm tactics of hegemonic countries. When gates between nations open, people benefit. We don’t need more walls; we need more windows.

Above all, this culture has been the crucible of extraordinary exploration in the field of consciousness. We do not run our lives by selling tickets to heaven, but by deepening our profound knowledge of the human existential mechanism. It is time to stop dividing humanity on the basis of belief. How we handle our interiority is what counts, not what belief system we subscribe to. Our USP has been that we are a culture of seekers, not believers. Our aim should not be to produce more sectarian or indoctrinated children, but more free and conscious ones.

Raising a child requires a protective system of guard rails and measures. But this is no longer a country in its infancy. It is a restless adolescent, ready to take risks, to build new ideas, new institutions, new systems. While some protectionism may have been useful in the past, we have also been subjected to a gutless socialism -- more rhetoric than real action. It is time for the over-protective parent to let go of the reins. Challenge is not impediment, but ignition. If the soul of this nation is to blossom, we must allow Indians to truly take charge of their country's destiny. The time has come not merely to liberalize, but liberate. Let us make it happen.