India celebrated its 69th Independence Day on August 15, Saturday. Our freedom is a rich legacy left behind by our fore parents where they fought for our freedom and it's something we need to uphold and constantly strive for. Freedom is something we should never take for granted and always strive to uphold when things goes wrong. It's our identity as Indians. Listen to what our blogger and FB friends have to say.
Image credit: Google India.
Freedom means:
Garima Shrivastava Nag
Freedom to me is to be able to think, express, move, work & live freely. Freedom means that my action is not dictated by anyone, person or system. I'm free to make my life choices as long as I don't step on anyone's space. Freedom is to live without fear & bondage. Freedom is much than just being physically. Mental freedom scores much higher. A free mind worth more than just a free body.
Surbhi Thukral:
Freedom is the empowerment to create a society conducive to social welfare. It is the liberty to raise your voice against wrong without fear.
Megha Chauhan:
Freedom to me is about making free and independent choices, about leading a fearless life with complete liberty and about spreading humanism.
Maniparna Sengupta:
I think independence is a state of mind, a way to appreciate the celebration called life. Liberation from all the shackles that produces hatred toward human kind. Independence means to live in one's own terms and letting others to do the same.
Independence Day is also the time for us to seek joy and happiness by showing our Indian-ness being decked in the colors of the tricolor. My friend, Ananya Kiran (ananyatales.com), tells you how to make our Independence Day special and hope the video helps you for the next Republic Day in January and next August 15 when we turn 70.
Happy Independence Day and may we be free from the shackles of society in our thoughts and strive for our freedom. I am penning a short story, imaginative but very much a reality among so many of us, embedded in our thoughts about India. Hope you like it.
India
It's a sunny Saturday morning at Red Fort when the Indian tricolor fluttered high in the sky and mammoth crowd proudly sang, Jana Gana Mana, and bowed to Mother India. It was difficult to wriggle one's way out after the Prime Minister's convoy's left the venue.
Two young man finally made the way out, sweating profusely and ordered cutting chai at the tapdi and sharing a cigarette. He seemed very irritated looking at the crowd dispersing while his companion looked with pride at the number of Indians, braving the heat to stand at Red Fort.
"What's there to be proud, watching the national flag unfurl?", Kuch nahin hoga was fuming.
Desh badlega looked at him and couldn't believe what his best friend whom he has known since childhood just blurted out
The pessimist lets out, "I am telling you. Nothing will change in this country. We are proud for a day and then forget about every thing. You name it, you get it, corruption, morons breaking traffic signals, poverty, dirt, homelessness, jumping the queues, no respect for women and elders, rape. The list is endless. Nothing is right in this country and nothing will ever change."
Desh badlega decided to teach his friend a lesson and will not let him win the argument today, not on Independence Day. He didn't flinch, "Obviously, with pessimists like you who keep harping and criticizing the country and will not make the slightest effort to be the change. You never do anything to be the change. It's the sad reality of cynics today."
Kuch Nahin Hoga was taken aback, "What are you talking about? If I start doing all these, what has Modi, Rahul or Kejriwal been elected for?"
Desh Badlega said, "This is the problem. If everyone start thinking like that, nothing will happen. Keep criticizing the effort of people who are trying to make small changes in society despite the fact that things are wrong. Look at yourself: You throw wrappers on the street, you look with disdain at the homeless child yet you will never buy a banana or pack of milk for the innocent life. I've seen you the last time when those bastards were teasing a girl. You laughed and walked as if nothing happened."
Kuch nahin hoga didn't know what to say. "Buddy, chill! There is always a risk of cops getting me into trouble at the police station or those guys taking a revenge against me. What would you do?"
Desh Badlega said, "Well! I called the cops and alerted some people on the streets. The thugs were arrested. I believe that small things that can make a difference. I don't need to be in politics to make small changes happen. I teach homeless children because empowerment and education is the only way for progress and a better India. When someone throws a wrapper on the street, I pick it up and put in the bin. I volunteer with some people to clean not just the backyard but the colony where I stay. I blog against injustice. As a citizen. it's not just my right but duty to free India from such shackles of evil forces.I contribute in signing petitions and share stuffs to create awareness, unlike some cynics who keep criticizing. I value what our ancestors have given to the nation. I value my country."
It was like a blow to Kuch Nahin Hoga who was at a loss of words and blurted, "To each its own." These words dug a nail to the coffin words, "Well! Don't complain then," Desh Badlega said and patted his back, "Let's go now and appreciate our freedom that we enjoying today."
Today, India celebrates its 65th anniversary and its 66th Independence Day. One night, August 15, 1947 we were granted freedom from the shackles of the British rule. We were oppressed by the British power and as we set to attain an Economic Growth of 7 per cent in 2012, it seems that we are set to become of the mightiest economic power in the world.
Men and Women laid their lives and shed blood that the present generation and future generation can breathe free and that freedom of speech is ensured. Today, there are several challenges that India faces and first and foremost is to combat corruption and ensure that no poor man or women is discriminated against. Secondly, is our combat against terrorism which is a source of constant worry for us. Thirdly, and perhaps the most important one and in which I strongly believe is the divide between rural and urban India. For a country that aims to become the super economic power, we cannot afford to neglect rural areas and there is a need to empower the poor. The solution is: Education, education and education. There is a dire need to give them resources that is at par with big cities and this will lead to their economic empowerment. Let's all join hands to combat poverty through this tool called education.
What does freedom means for me as a young Indian? It means a lot and it's the sacrifice made by my forefathers so that I can breathe freely. I am at Indian at root and there is nothing on earth that can make me forget where I can truly belong, no matter where I am in this world. Whenever, I see an Indian shines be it the cricket world champion and our heroes at the Olympic game, it gives me immense pride. Whenever I hear the national anthem, Jnana Gana Mana..tears roll down my cheek and remind me how fortunate I am to have Indian root.
Who says Indians want to leave the country and settle somewhere else? Even if I am not in India, I want to come back and serve the country. Today, many Indians settled abroad or the generation that were born in the country where their forefathers and parents have settled want to come back to their true and original motherland. It is a country rich in legacy and vibrant. Gals and guyzz, we are not called the biggest democracy for nothing.
There is something that I didnt know and I thought of sharing with you. It educated me on our power as a vibrant nation and I hope it educate you also. No one, I may add,
travels thousands of miles to conquer a poor country. Statistics
published by contemporary international scholars are proof for sceptics.
In 1750, seven years before the fateful battle of Plassey, India had
24.5% of World Manufacturing Output while United Kingdom had only 1.9%.
In other words, one in every four goods on the world market was
manufactured in India. By 1900, India had been left with only 1.7% of
World Manufacturing Output and Britain had risen to 18.5%. The western
industrial revolution was in its incipient stages in the 18th century,
but even in this regard India slipped from 7 to 1 in per capita
industrialisation in that period, while Britain vaulted from 10 to 100.
Between 1900 and 1947 India's economic growth was an annual average of
1%. This shows that India was not a poor country when it was under colonial power but the Britishers used the theory of rule and divide. They used Indian labour and took them to countries such as Fiji, Trinidad and Mauritius and made them work for peanuts. The Indians have settled in these countries but many have forgotten their roots as well but some have upheld their culture and the Indian dignity. Long Live the Republic of India Jai Hind Happyy Independence Day
Freedom at Midnight. Aug 15 turns as we bask on past glory, success and future challenges on our Independence Day. As Indians, we take great pride in our national flag and anthem. I do not oppose this view as I belong to the school of thought that believes that our Jnana Gana Mana is the most beautiful and emotional anthem in the world.
This I-Day should have been so special for us. We won the world Cup in an almost dramatic way, Anna Hazara led our young nation in demand what is rightfully ours: acountability. As a nation we have suffered for long at what I call the apathy of our corrupt netas.We also lost our Elvis Presley, the endearing,lovable and flamboyant Shammi Kapoor. We pressed for the Lokpal Bill and if it bears completion it shall be a great victory to our young nation. However, it looks like a distant dream as a result of the apathy of our political rulers.Are we in a state of reboot?Is the right to Information Act a case of restart our machine? Well, these questions need to be adressed urgently.
The terror attack in Mumbai has put into question our freedom and pride as Indians. As we utter Not Again in Mumbai we are compelled to question the assurance given by corrupt babus and netas? Are we really free as a nation? Do we just sit and take pride in Jnana Mana on August 15? No considering that immature decisions are being imposed upon us as we watch speechless and defenceless? Case in point:Raising the drinking age to 25?
Sorry to say India is not free as a nation.There is still the huge divide between Bharat and India where millions in rural India are still denied access to quality education. Well, more emphasis should be laid on Education if we want to catch up with China. Poor infrastructure make us prone to terror attack and water logging during monsoon. There is a feeling of inequality among different ethnnic group. We are intolerant to homosexuals, free sex and live-in religion. Secularism is a lost word.
True India is booming in terms of the economy and the youth have better jobs with attractive with pay packages and we don't need to move to foreign shores in quest of better jobs and associated perks.Yes, we are intolerant as a nation. Someone like MF Hussein was compelled to leave his own country and die a sad and tragic death. Very sad.
As a young Indian, my take is that I am proud to be Indian and will always be. But, but I wish we were more tolerant to everything and please we should break away from the shackles of morality and extreme religious views. We should feel protected and secure in India and let's erase the evils of corruption. Learn to understand each other's culture and win the war against corruption. Dream wish: We want Lokpal Bill to be turned into reality.
Happy Independence Day
Proud To Be Indian.
Once an Indian always an Indian.
Jai Hind
