"Happy Independence Day": LOL!

I had seriously believed in the concept of something patriotic, some feeling of brotherhood, some freshness in the air I breathe - knowing that it was the air of freedom - and what not, whenever someone wished me "Happy Independence Day".

It took me along time to realize that almost everyone was wishing me as if they were machines, as if it were a ritual, an utterance for the sake of it. Why, I myself, was more concerned about the cultural event - in school - and the fact that it was a holiday - while in college - on Independence Day.

The youth are too enthused about Valentine's Day, the elderly are too concerned about their Diwali or Ramzan and the poor Independence Day and Republic Day seems to have no takers. Everyone is happy that it is a holiday.

"All right", you may ask, "so what should one do, on independence day?".

I do not ask of you to remember Gandhi and Bose and Bhagat Singh on this day and weep for their sacrifice. If you like them, remember them. That's your choice.


What we can, at least, do is to to assess, on every independence day, if we really are free. This is an almost cliched, old argument that I am almost yawning right now, at having repeating it over and over again.

I spoke of it, at first, at a speech during my school independence day speech. No one really bothered listening. (May be, I made a bad speech, I don't exactly remember). After this, I had again talked of how really independent we actually are on numerous occasions.

The maximum those talks did were to win me a few prizes in a few oratorical competitions. However, I shall repeat it again, because I really don't think a vast section of our population is really independent.

In my book, Freedom is the ability to live your own life without unreasonable limitations.

In that regard, here are the three category of those who are not completely free:

1) Women:

For centuries, man has suppressed women, knowing full well the fact that she was mentally and intellectually tougher than him, using the only weapon he had at hand - brute force.


We can call our women free,


If our mothers can walk the roads bravely at night;


If our sisters can wear T-Shirts without worrying about whether cheap eyes will stare at them all the time;


If our wives (no pun intended) or girlfriends can travel in buses without worrying about some rascal standing behind them.

Though these lines are cliched, they are not outdated and still very relevant, which is why I choose to repeat it over and over again.

2) The Minorities:

No one faces such appalling lack of freedom after women in India as do the minorities.

Christians and especially Muslims are treated with prejudice.

Even among educated people, where Dalits are treated with sympathy, the most important commodity that they have been asking for years, "Respect" is still missing.

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are often frowned upon by other castes, because of reservations allotted to them. This is especially prevalent among young Indians which is a frightening prospect, as it only confirms another generation of hatred.

3) Children:

Of all people, I choose children as the ones with lack of freedom because I strongly believe that they are the ones who are denied freedom at many levels.

They are robbed off their freedom for fun, by ambitious parents who want to make them ready for competitive world.

They are robbed off their freedom for choice, when they are forced by their parents to pursue a doctorate or an engineering, with least consideration for the choice of their children.

While the above mentioned criteria are the problems faced by children growing in educated families, the freedom for living itself is threatened for children living in poor and below poverty level conditions.

The above mentioned categories comprise of a staggering 75% (by the most lenient of estimates) of our population. What we are going to do about it? I am clueless.

So, folks, happy Independence Day. Somehow, I just don't feel proud to say it.