On 15 Auh 2007, India celebrated Sixty years of its existence as a free nation. How well has the country done in this time? And to what extent has it fulfilled the ideals set out in its constitution? That India is still united, and that it is still democratic are achievements that we might justly be proud of. Many foreign observers had felt that India could not survive as a single country that it would break up into many parts with each region or linguistic group seeking to form nation of its own. Others believed that it would come under military rule. However as many as thirteen general elections have been held since independence, as well as hundreds of state and local elections there is a free press as well as an independent judiciary finally the fact that people speak different languages or practise different faiths has not come in the way of national unity. On the other hand deep divisons persist bespite constitutional guarrrantees the untouchables or as they are now referred to the balits face violence and discrimination. In many parts of rural India they are not allowed access to water sources temples parks and other public pla ces. And despite the secular ideals enshrined in the constitution, there have been clashes between different religious groups in many states above all as many observers.