Today, everyone is busy forwarding the messages stating, ‘Happy Independence Day’,
‘स्वतंत्रता दिवस की बहुत-बहुत शुभकामनाएँ’, etc etc. I am in no way saying that it is wrong, it is good, we should cherish our independence. But the question is, are we really independent? For me, I don’t think so. We are still dependent. We are still dependent on the short driven pleasures which control our lives. We are still dependent on others to issue our paychecks so that we can run our lives. We are still dependent on external factors to make us fell free. Criminals are still free. Women are still dependent on men to protect them. Unreserved’s are still dependent on the government to lenient their reservation part. We are still dreaming that someone will come and free our country from corruption (as if it’s a magic). And what not. We are totally dependent on those brave soldiers to protect our nation. Why? I am not saying that everyone should go at the border and fight. NO. Not everyone has that courage to sacrifice their lives selflessly for the sake of our nation. We can in no way cover those loses which the freedom fighter’s families has faced. But as a citizen, what we are doing to make our nation grow? What we are contributing to our nation? How we are making our nation feel pride?
Today we are showing a huge respect for our nation, and tomorrow our national flag will be found dumped in the garbage. And even for most of the people, I can guarantee that, this day is just a holiday when they would chill at their home sitting in front of TV and having snacks. Harsh but true. So are we really trying to respect our nation? God knows better than anyone. Respect is not just a one day feeling. If we really want to make our nation grow and develop, we should, at our levels try to grow, learn new skills, earn knowledge, develop ourselves. Because, if each person starts to grow then the nation will definitely grow. As said, बूँद-बूँद से घड़ा भरता है, in the same way, at our personal level we should try to improve ourselves, make ourselves better each day, try to remove our impurities, purify our soul, train our mind and make our lives better.
For the part of government, it should try to make laws which are in favor of every citizen, not just a single segment of the society. It should encourage the citizens to develop themselves. It should give efficient training programmes for people which every citizen can assess and develop themselves. It should try to create a united and knowledgeable society which does not take any words for guaranteed, untill and unless they have a proper knowledge and information on that issue.
And for the part of society, it should stop getting jealous of someone’s success, it should stop obstructing people from getting ahead, it should not distract the minds of people through useless issues (eg – discussing politics, caste, religion, and what not). Let’s make a society where people will not have think twice that, लोग क्या कहेंगे, लोग क्या सोचेंगे, समाज में क्या प्रतिष्ठा होगी, हम समाज में अपना चेहरा नहीं दिखा पाएंगे, etc, etc. And let’s not forget that the society is made by us people only, so for changing the society we should at first change ourselves and our mentality.
If we are able to make this kind of country to live in, then one day definitely we would be proudly able to say, ‘YES! we are really independent’. That would be the day when our nation would be truly independent. And will be again that सोने की चिड़िया which every freedom fighter had dreamt of.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL!
KEEP READING, KEEP GROWING!
