“Happy independence day” “proud to be an Indian” “ jai hind..jai bharat” salute to the sacrifices of the jawaans who laid their lives for the nation..
Don’t get me wrong guys, these are not the sentences from my side; but the most popular status msgs and the forwaded text msgs that kept buzzing whole day..and sorry for being so rude-but it irritated me..
I am not being unpatriotic- neither do I deny the endless respect we all should have for the soldiers who put their lives at stake for serving the nation---but this manner in which we all show our love towards nation seems hypocrisy to me.
I have no other manner to express my anger or irritation-so I use my freedom of speech here;and you are free to read further or leave it incomplete, if you think the mindset I am about to present is too much for you to handle.
When all others are free to copy and paste the patriotic msgs without feeling them-the ever complaining ones being free to openly criticize the corruption or unemployment or poverty or illiteracy or any other sin and clearly blame the incompetent government and bureaucracy…when the morally uplifted people are free to boast about the developments and global contributions the country is making, and feel proud to be an Indian..I am free to tell why this Independence Day is not happy for me.
Because I donot feel free---though I can easily move wherever, whenever and however I want-though I can do anything that I wish for, though in my daily life the so called corruption, unemployment illiteracy etc etc donot effect me..i am educated- employed- never had to deal with corrupt people- nor lost someone dear in a terrorist attack or during wars.i live a safe stable and happy life..and avail all the facilities my fellow countrymen have..and sometimes I even think that had I been living the same life in any country other than India—it would have been just the same..So that’s my story and would like to ask you--are u really proud to be an Indian?? Or are you really in a position to blame someone for the country’s pitfalls??
Whether the country is doing good or bad..do you really have any contribution in it..or does it really matter to you..
Maybe the honest answer is “no”
We are free…but are we independent?
I don’t hesitate to say “no”.
Sometimes I can’t do what I feel like doing—because I fear what people will say…so my actions are dependant on the mindset of the people .i worry about gossips and rumors..
Sometimes when I go to the college canteen and am asked to pay 5 bucks extra for a chilled coke—I prefer not to agrue—partly for the fear of being called a miser..and partly because of the desperate need of coke..i am dependant on these luxuries and my taste buds..and have to ignore the unfair moneymaking by others.
When I go shopping and cannot find a straight fit jeans and the shopkeeper suggests to get a narrow fit; which is in fashion—I have no other option but to follow his advise..i am dependant on the fashion trends..and have to ignore my personal choice.
When the teacher asks me to do some personal favor; I cannot deny him; fearing a negative impact on the internal marks. I am dependant on the impressions on teachers for getting good scores.
When I see the incidences of eve teasing-I cannot do anything. So I prefer avoiding the unsafe roads.
When I see a young girl working as a servant- I can give a good lecture against child labour..but am speechless when the girl tells about her poor financial condition.
When baba Ramdev misuses the public’s trust for his own interest..i feel helpless..yet i get forwarded msgs to join his mission.
When media presents nonsense as breaking news and silently ignores the genuine but less profitable issues—I feel helpless and still see whatever is available, or switch off the TV.
There are times when I feel helpless , when I choose not to react, when I sense wrong being done , yet can’t do anything about it.
I live a free life—but am bounded by many forces—some of them have been made by people like you and me..some dictated by social factors, others by personal interests.
Talking about big things like corruption, poverty etc etc is very easy—but what are we doing about it? Shameful thing is that we do not work towards independance even in small daily issues, where we can contribute..so the big issues are better off in the parliaments..
Just forwarding the patriotic msgs on a single day, marked as a national holiday is not my definition of patriotism, nor do I feel proud to be Indian on just one day.
I have no right to be proud…coz I do not have any contribution in its development..nor do I have any right to complain about anything—because I am not doing my bit to improve the conditions..
I shall be truly happy and feel independant when I am in a position to feel free from within my heart- when I do my share towards betterment of the nation; which maynot be a big jump..but a small step that will be for my country’s good..
And when each one of us realizes this..that very day we shall be free and independent.
Together we can, and we will make a difference..
