What is Independence…??

The nation is celebrating its 61st Independence Day today. India’s struggle for it is a story of hundreds and thousands of men, women and even children who laid down their lives for attaining this. Many of them never got a chance to see this Independent country. Many of them went unsung and no one knows or remembers them. But as years passed, the sentiments attached with this day are gone. Its now just a holiday which combined with weekend gives a chance to visit home and take rest. Even in schools  children are not interested in being there for flag hoisting ceremony.

What is independence for this generation, is it freedom to work anywhere in country (which again is becoming a problem), freedom to express one’s view (that again is getting restricted to news anchors only), freedom to wear whatever one likes, eat whatever one wants, study whatever he or she wants or anything like that. We get emotional when India plays a match with Pakistan, a temporary emotional when a Kargil war happens and a little feeling of pride when Kalpana Chawla goes for a space mission(who rarely visited India).

Every one grabs the first chance they get to migrate to US, UK or Australia. I will not blame them also, not everyone is ready to give away the quality of life which is being offered by these countries. See what we who opted to stay here are getting. Poor infrastructure in terms of pathetic roads, poor electric supply , non existing or very poor public transport. After so may years of Independence a bill for free primary education is accepted in parliament whereas people who migrate abroad are enjoying all these for so many years. I wonder why these politicians need so big bunglows and so may free telephone calls when they are elected to server the nation. Why can’t the government have an apartment with all the ministers staying in separate flats in it. It will save lots of efforts and money in terms of providing infrastructure and security. A common vehicle can ferry them from their residence to parliament (if they want or opt to attend the parliament sessions). Providing security will be also less stressful for security personal. Any one who has visited Delhi must have crossed the area captured for these politicians.

APJ Abdul Kalam has mentioned in his book ’Wings of Fire’ that “never think of the scope, work hard to create that scope.” Kalam rejected several offers from abroad and stayed in this country and contributed to making India a super power. He stayed in just one room of Rastrapati Bhavan when he was serving the nation as President. Do we really think alike ??

I remember a statement given by one of our visiting lecturer “Indian is not a poor country, its just a poorly managed country” . So its we all who are responsible for making this a perfectly managed country. We as an individual should contribute to the betterment of our country by helping in keeping it clean, by paying taxes in time and in full, keep a watch on how is our money being spent by authorities and cross question them if required (we have RTI act, isn’t it), utilising resources responsibly, pooling cars while commuting to office everyday, treating everyone same irrespective of their caste and creed, through improved work ethics and environmental behaviour.

Let us love our country for what it is and let us work together to make it the best so that the coming generations will thank us for preserving our India as “Incredible India”

This will be a real tribute to the all the unsung heroes of freedom and for all of those we know who laid their lives so that we can live free in this free India.