Independence Day 2010

“Where the mind is without fear, and the head is held high, into that heaven of Freedom, my Father, let my country awake” - so quoth the Bard of Bengal, the ultimate visionary!

The dreams in his eyes were no doubt those of a united socialist secular independent nation, where every citizen would breathe the intoxicating air of freedom.


Impassioned, lyrical compositions of motivated poets, fiery speeches by dedicated patriots and the strength of unity in every Indian’s heart, were probably the magical mix in the smoldering cauldron of those unstable times, which ultimately brought us, as a people, out from the claustrophobic colonialism and servitude that had been thrust upon us by the weak rulers of that era. Their combined efforts and prayers along with the steely determination in every heart to stand up and be counted, gifted us our very own Pied Piper- a little man with a huge vision and immeasurable strength of purpose. Where Gandhiji led, people followed, pinning their dreams in his leadership.


Independence was anticipated, dreamt of, planned strategically for, and ultimately won, with his inimitable weapons of ahimsa and satyagrah. While the world slept, a nation bowed low on its knees under the weight of servitude of nearly two centuries, awoke at the stroke of midnight to freedom, on 15th of August 1947. The magnanimity of the evolution of a humbled people, who rose as one and attained the impossible, was a feat unparalleled in the history of the world.

Today, as we salute a nation and its people on this 64th year of its rebirth, there are problems of a magnitude of 9.9 on the Richter scale ahead. There is no doubt that India has made its rightful place as an economic power in the world. The rupee has won its place in the currencies of the so-called developed world, by incorporating an international symbol for it. Our business houses, exports, fashion houses, agricultural products, industrialization and ever-rising economy are worth appreciation. But is our mind truly without fear? And is our head really held high?

Incorporating patriotism with a gun held to our collective heads, or expecting it to bloom within us with the carrot of unreal targets dangled in front of our eyes, is hardly conducive to true progress. Be it the taint of deeply- entrenched corruption, or lack of pride and mistaken identities of who we really are and where we wish to reach, the end-results are dismaying! Trivialization of vital issues, degradation of civic and moral values, and also the firm grip on our so-called “culture” by the self-appointed caretakers of society- form the rot within our systems that will slowly but surely lead to decay of a glorious nation.

Advertisements aired all over the world of an Incredible India, fall flat in the face of calamities, when we, assisted by an ever-willing media, expose our callous and selfish self-centered attitudes. News of airlines raising their fares in the wake of natural disasters, alleged hoarding of essential commodities in times of dire need and even the washing of our dirty linen in public by indiscriminate use of the freedom of the press vis-à-vis the potholes in the paths leading to the Commonwealth Games- haven’t all of these taken away and decimated a vital part of the aura that we, the people of India were famous for? The mantra “Atithi Devo Bhava” gets buried under the debris of our short-sighted gains, desires and habits. None of the alleged festering mosquito larvae abounding in the CWG stadia, heaped construction materials or leaking roofs can dim the luster off the face of this great nation as much as can our own desecrating criticism of it.

On this 64th Independence Day, it is surely time to sit up and take stock of our position atop our self-glorified pedestal. It is time to combine freedom with responsibility, questions with logical answers. It is time to leave off the inane and insane, to stop wasting our energies on naming and re-naming of roads, towns and buildings and building monumental monstrosities dedicated to the true patriots. It is time to define our goals and set our targets on reasonable means of reaching there. Let us all take a solemn pledge this historic day, rewrite the constitution within our souls, and lead India to its rightful place among the stars. Today, let each Indian stand erect, take all of 52 seconds off from his visions and dreams, and sing aloud the greatest of the Bard’s compositions - our National Anthem!

Jaya he, Jaya he, Jaya he… Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya he…


 
 
[This was published in the Delhi Times supplement by Time of India, on the 15th of August, 2010.]