It's India's Independence Day and most importantly, my 76th birthday. I will be remembered by all on this day. This is a significant moment of my life. I have been given a decent facelift as usual and hoisted to the erected post to which I will embrace, the only one who knows the reality about my life. Likewise every year, there will be public gatherings from all walks of life to join with others in their local community to commemorate my day. Lot of good things about me will be spoken in a way of prepared speeches creating flattered impressions of myself and the common man. In isolation at the peak, swaying in the peaceful breeze, I admire my life. I can see the smiles from the heavenly beings who know me and the things I have achieved. But as I glance down, my eyes are welled with tears and in deep sorrow watching the happenings taking place in a very inhuman way.
I’m not just a cloth or to be remembered for certain occasions. I’m more than just a national symbol but a tangible expression of the collective identity and shared values of the Indian people. I represent the unity, diversity, and resilience of India. I’m the collective efforts of the selfless souls given for the freedom struggle through their words, blood and sacrifices with a dream of independent and unified India. Leaders from all walks of life united with a single aim to attain Swaraj and it is because of them that we breathe in “free” air now. Various movements of freedom struggle helped us to escape from the clutches of the rulers.Are we really sensing the freedom in the true spirit and with all the valuable terms and conditions or doing things as per our whims? We are moving ahead with more distractions on our freedom part when it comes to dealing with varieties of things. The India of my dreams is free from corruption, casteism, communalism and all sorts of exploitation. Living the dream of an independent India seems far-fetched at the moment. There is still discrimination based on caste, religion, and gender. Even though India is democratic, the electoral means have never been just but a system filled with criminals and corruption. People fear speaking the truth because they think it might put them and their family at risk or face economic crisis.It is not enough being a constitutionally independent country. Looking back at the damages caused to human life and the environment by our cruel human nature, it is time to change our mindset. True independence would mean freedom from self-centered thinking and placing the nation above oneself. I dream of a free India strengthened economically, financially and technologically always in pursuit of maintaining moral strength and national character that can be admired by the world.
I offer my sincerest prayers to Almighty God that our country shall have inclusive growth despite diversities in many respects.
