Another year and independent India turned 63 on 15th August 2010; everyone is happy and expectedly wishing each other on this important occasion. Definitely, Independence for any country means a lot and should be cherished and enjoyed.
India's freedom struggle is a well known chapter in world history and we , as Indians, know the prices we had to pay to attain India's independent statehood. Independence wasn't served to us on a plate; our freedom fighters earned it after a long, hard fought battle against the powerful British Dominion.
But sadly, as the years have progressed, the national holidays have been reduced to mere non-working days. The core essence of any national holiday is being forgotten rapidly. In this era of commercialization, the ever mushrooming shopping malls particularly select these days to increase their sales by luring people with lucrative shopping deals.
Shopping is an important activity during these national holidays.
Another activity that comes to mind is people throwing booze party on such days. Liquor flows without any limits. Surely, we want to have "king of good times".
Good time doesn't end here; we will play jarring music. Really doesn't matter if the music doesn't resemble the spirit of the actual occasion.
We should enjoy these holidays but need to be more mature and respectful towards the essence that is called "India". We shouldn't take the deeds of our national heroes for granted.
What is most thought provoking is why we become so over-zealous about our Independence and being Indian only on or during such occasions? Why this essence of Indianess can't be inculcated in our normal daily lives? Surely, its up to us and we don't need any government machinery to implement that.
When people have problems in pointing out the right sequence of the colors in our National Flag or when they can't differentiate between National Anthem and National Song, then in such circumstances national celebrations, simply out of sheer over zealousness, looks very artificial and superficial.
Are we really on the right path?
Our freedom leaders surely didn't shed their blood for such phony nationalism that is so widespread and prevalent now.
We need to understand and appreciate the actions of our National Greats are not only meant for textbooks. They have much important bearings...63 years are more than enough to realize that...
