Are we free?
Looking from my point of view, our freedom and the India as we see it today is three times my age!! Truly, our country is so old and yet so young.
One of the oldest civilizations originated on this land and now one of the largest democracies rules it. I deliberately chose to use the word “rules” to make you all think about the state of the people of this country.
We celebrate this day, every year as a symbol of our freedom from our rulers who controlled our lands for 200 years, approximately 10 times my age. From that point of view, we should call it the British Independence day…
As for what I see, the democratic rulers celebrate the fall of colonial rulers and may be in future we may realize that democratic way of living isnt in the best interest of our country and we might celebrate a new Independence day. But the fundamental policy has always been power resides in hands of one or a few and thats perhaps how every country in the world functions, we surely choose the rulers ourselves now and we have seen how people can cause an upset in the elections, to such an extent that all predictions fail and the rulers get changed. But at the end of the day, we all see the same game, just some new tricks every now and then. So are we free? We are bound in the face of corruption and in the hands of rulers and leaders who donot care of the well-being of the general mass. But is that important? Thats how things have been for ages and still our country was called the golden bird. What makes the difference is what the general mass thinks and does… As I see it, we are free, completely free to take the course that suits us… If we complain we have a corrupt and incompetent system, it is we who choose (mind that I am using the word “CHOOSE”) to bribe and make ourselves the victim, we can dissolve the government anytime and any citizen of India can stand to speak for himself or his rights today. The freedom to choose what we do is the independence of our course and I don’t think we should blame our choices and our inability to fight for the correct path gives us the right to complain and consider ourselves bound. We are bound but in a very different and positive way for the past 63 years….
I remember the first time I realized that we had a day called independence day, we had a group dance and we did the Indian national flag on vande matram… From that day, this day meant some kind of a competition, a parade, debate or a quiz to me. When my friend asked me to write about this day for this internet radio of his, I realized that this day meant more than patriotic songs and silly competitions and perhaps thats how its been for the rest of the country as well… We are bound by our lives to such an extent that we never get to feel the real meaning of this day. Infact, looking at the larger picture, the whole of India has been through the same phases as the child went through his school, a new competition with each passing day to make its stand in the world. We have moved from the land of snake charmers to one of the largest upcoming economies. We have learned from different cultures around the world and are now becoming such a huge market that new business rules and strategies are made specifically keeping Indians in mind. We are considered to be the gurus in computers not the ones doing the rope trick. We are known for the diversity in our language, colour, religion and in the landscape. From the eyes of the child, going to for his patriotic dance, I see the fear and excitement of this era and our capacity to take whatever comes in our way and move on to show the world that its not the boundaries or the economy that makes India, its we the people, working day and night to keep our families and our country proud of ourselves. To the people and the country which taught me and made me what I am today,”VANDE MATRAM”
