Independence of glory or independence of shame?

Those who remember 15 August, 1947, the joy, the mood of fervor; at being an independent state after hundreds of years of barbaric slavery cannot be blamed for being profoundly sad at the same time at the abysmal performance of this so called ‘great country’ on all fronts.

Starting from the start!

What came as independence to India and Pakistan became a harbinger of misfortune for Hindustan. Partition, saw brothers sore daggers into each other’s hearts. Communalism led by the religious pundits resulted in mass abduction, robbery and genocide. By the time Nehruji was done with his ‘Tryst with Destiny’ and the Tricolor became the new Union Jack, we were already an independence. For the majority, the mood was of celebrating the advent of freedom after a millennium of serfdom. What 70% of the country ignored was that in an attempt to oust the British in an eyes blink, the stalwarts of the then ruling party agreed on the partition of Hindustan into Pakistan and India. Maybe we could have been ‘one’. Maybe all the wars between the two brother-nations would have never taken place. Maybe Jinnah and Gandhi agreed on a pact to restore harmony in Hindustan. It’s all a ‘maybe’! It’ll always be, for all generations to come.

Within two and a half years of independence, India wrote its own constitution. One, which was secular, offered fundamental rights to all. Was just! Eyed all equally!

66 years of independence, huh!

The question that I ask today- Was it worth it?

Today, India has achieved a new all-time low.  Poverty like never before, the worst sex ratio India has ever witnessed, unemployment swindling around the zenith. India hasn’t faired well. It’s been a real dismal show. The biggest democracy saw political parties playing permutation and combinations forming coalitions out of nowhere. They were hungry, not so much for development, rather it was their ulterior motive that overpowered all other national ambitions. Corruption saw its pinnacle. The brigade is led by stars like A.Raja and Suresh Kalmadi .

While everyone blames these power hungry hounds for all their miseries, I beg to differ.

Ask yourself- How did you help India develop?

Did you add to its GDP? Did you contribute to its growth? Are you becoming an engineer or a doctor or a scientist or whatever newbie courses are being offered by the universities these days, for the nation? Is the nation your top priority?

Dreams! Dreams! Dreams! For whom?

 We come, we go!

No one is going to remember how handsome you looked, or how you faired in your endsems, or perhaps, how good you were, to talk to!

What stays back is a footprint! What’ll stay back is your name. The things that you did. The things that you stood for. Remember, everyone grows old, its kind-of mandatory. Be the one who grows up, learns out of his own experiences, and marks his presence!

Do something for the nation. Do anything at all, right from acting like a responsible citizen by not dumping litter on the ground to taking it to the next level by donating blood in the name of the nation. It all counts.

You be the judge! You decide the capacity in which you intend to serve the nation….
Let the independence glorify. Do not let the blood of the freedom fighters go in vain! Live for the nation, but have the courage to die for it, a thousand times. That’s what freedom is all about.

I end by a quote I once read in an orphanage, back in my home town, Kanpur-

Do not be so engrossed in making a living that you forget to make a life for yourself.

I live for my nation. Do you?