From Independence to Freedom....

It's that time of the year again...when some of us, at least, are brought face to face with our nationality and whether or not it means anything beyond a stamp on your passport (and now racist attacks in Oz...) And when, for even fewer of us, the words Jai Hind have a poignant note to them. Or may be there I'm being obscenely hopeful considering i now realise that an unfortunate number of us don't even remember the lyrics of our national anthem let's not even spare a though for the author of it...!! (jusy for reference it's that song they played before they started the movie you went to watch.)

But then again what's the point of knowing all that? It's not like it's of any practical importance in today's world....

And I know it’s probably a cliché to write a post about independence on I-Day, but hey, we’re all allowed to be a little stereotypical! After all, 62 years ago today India claimed independence for itself and its people and at least then it was something to celebrate about. Freedom, however, was another matter....

I think it was Bhagat Singh who’d said the words I’d read as a young kid in school that very poignantly said (pls try a little to get this cos the words pretty much lose their effect in any language apart from hindi):

“Shaheedon ki chitaon par lagenge har baras mele,

Watan par mar mit walon ka yahi baaki nishan hoga....”

It was true then and it is true today. Brave, I would say is the man who chooses to die for his country despite knowing this.

But today, as very often before, I wonder, what is the meaning of patriotism in this age of independence? (Annual Independence Day quiz!!) Today it is the honour or otherwise of the select few we call the security forces to die for our country. And that can hardly be presumed to mean that we all sign up for it! So what do I have to do today to show my love for my motherland? Or may be it’s a question of who I have to be....?

But today.... I find myself choosing not to wonder....today i want to be a cliche. I only want to step back and salute the Brave and be devoutly thankful to those who died so that I may get the chance to live this day. Today, irrespective of what it means to be one, I want to be proud to be an Indian. And today, my hopes, dreams and prayers for India resound in Tagore’s words...

“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high,

Into that heaven of freedom, my father, let my country awake....”