(Happy) Independence Day!

Today is the 66^th birthday of independent Mother India. My heartfelt tribute goes to the then freedom fighters and firm salute goes to the jawans at the borders.

What is the day like?

Log on to Facebook and you would see a great deal of patriotism running all over. It is good to see that there are some days when you feel the sense of Indianness, however questionable it may be. But I find it most surprising when such flood of patriotism is carried by some of the NRIs who don’t even prefer to drink regular Indian water and carry mineral water bottles like mini oxygen cylinders they can’t live without even for their short stints in India.

Now, turn on the TV. Movies like Gandhi, Border, Gadar and versions of Vande Mataram from Lata’s to Rahman’s are showcased as a part of the national day tradition. Whenever I happen to see the glance of any of them, they make me feel that the time hasn’t passed since I finished my higher secondary education. Today I encountered the same thing. I happened to see the scene in the movie Gandhi - when Gandhiji reached Dandi and picked a pinch of salt saying it is the right of every Indian to claim on the salt belonging to the Indian Ocean. I proudly agreed with Gandhiji and switched to a news channel that took me from salt to onions. Even on Independence Day, onions, despite being in their uncut form, have gathered the courage to bring tears in the eyes of the Indian people and outnumbered independent-looking India’s age with their prices. Inspired by onions, even rupee is on its way to exceed mom India’s age. There is nothing wrong in remembering good times but there is certainly wrong in only remembering good times and drowning yourself in to the fictional world. Disappointing thing is that people are still happy rejoicing either when India wins a cricket match or when Sunny Deol screams with passion for India to provide cushion to their nationalism.

Ok, let's ride on to the wave of debates. I am sure that various news anchors must be preparing for their night debates on the lines of Mighty Modi versus Meek Manmohan – who struck the chord with the nation in his Independence day speech? A question as dumb and as who struck the chord between the one who fumbles in a prepared, and rehearsed speech and the one who fearlessly changes the rules of Indian politics almost every alternate day. I am not biased towards Modi but given the options he certainly looks better for now.

Reality check -

I wish a very happy Independence Day to all the Indians who believe in India’s freedom. I believe that freedom is a state of mind and has to be celebrated on a daily basis, not as an achievement but as a token of differentiation between your human-self and trapped, dumb animals. I first demand the freedom of speech and expression in this Independent state of India from the authorities who never disagree but always ready to tweak the section 66(A) of IT Act and lock up anyone they want to who might have expressed their opinions against their vested interests.

The feeling of being independent will pass in no time and we will be back to reality; in the shoddy world of corruption, scams, rapes, struggling economy, nettlesome neighbours, and falling morale along with falling rupee. And, the dolt politicians will continue to flex their muscles and flaunt their powers right after the flag-hoisting itself and we will continue to remain in a fool’s paradise if we don't decide to take on the mess.

Look, I am a realist and try hard to become an optimist whenever I can see or create hope. You can change the reality only when you accept it. I feel there is still a hope to bring about the freedom in a real sense. Some of the very basic things that need to be done are – Do your duty honestly; earn more money and help the needy when you can; do extend your service to the society when your personal and family needs are sufficiently over; stop the wrongdoing else get it stopped by whoever can; blow the whistle anonymously if you feel so, but do blow it, it will blow up the dirt; and do vote. I have been doing all in my personal capacity and when I see other educated, cribbing people not doing even such basic things they can, it hurts and beyond a point, annoys.

See, I am not being a preacher here but if you think so, so be it. It is pouring in Bangalore and my ginger tea has become cold by now. It’s just that when I calmed the fluttering curtains and slid the window open to smell the rainy breeze, I saw a small kid running with a tri-colour in his hand. During my studies I learnt that the Orange in the tri-colour indicates sacrifice, the White indicates peace, and the Green, prosperity. But it made my heart skip a beat when I made a mental analogy in today’s situation. The government is sacrificing the lives of our armed forces in order to gain an impossible peace with our neighbour and continues to prosper itself regardless of nation's progress! And it's this thought that made me express my views.

It will not make any difference if you can't stand up during the national anthem; but it will certainly make a difference if you can't stand up for the nation.