Independence Day
Published by Mysorean on Monday, August 15, 2005 at 8:30:00 pm.
"Hi, what are you doing for this weekend?"
"I have planned a trip to Munnar. It's a wonderful place you know. I booked the Club Mahindra resort long back. It's a long weekend na, that's why"
"Oh good! Enjoy! I have never been to Munnar. Hope you have a nice time"
"Thanks!"
Munnar, Kodaikannal, Pondicherry, Colombo and Singapore are the places a few people I know are going to on the long weekend of August 13, 14, 15. The more intelligent of them have applied 4 days leave and converted it into a jolly 10-day vacation. Brilliant!
Incidentally, August 15th happens to be the day we became independent from the British rule. For some strange reason, it has been made a National Holiday. I agree that it's a reason to celebrate the anniversaries of the day we were liberated. And one way of celebration the Nation thought was by making it a holiday.
The Independence day is actually a result of the effort put in by the people of that age to help us live our lives today. There were several people who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the succeeding generations. When I say sacrifice, I point not only to those who died but there were those who contributed 100% of themselves to the cause called "Independence".
Independence was not a right in those days. It was a cause to live. I don't think we understand the gravity of the paradigm shift. The cause united millions of people. The cause gave people the ability to fast for months together as a mark of opposition. The people then didn't have independence, they fought for it. The lucky ones got to enjoy the freedom. They realised the value of a free India.
The freedom fighters didn't fight for nothing. If we are right now in a state that's worse than when the British left, then they handed the Country to inefficient people like us. We can wash our hands off by saying that the Nehru family was the one that ruled us for almost half a century, they are responsible to the country's present state of affairs. But, let us take the stand that the damage has been done, but it's not beyond repair. We still have 600 million young people raring to go and make this country a developed country. We can win if each of us decides that we are going to do whatever is in our potential for India.
Independence Day should be a day when these promises are strengthened. We should remind ourselves of our commitment to this wonderful country. It's a chance to do a review of the past one year and set new goals for this year. Do a conscious analysis of the past one year and write down three things that we have done for the Country. I am sure we will not even fill up the first field.
August 15th should be the day such decisions are taken. The only problem that India faces as a country is that we lack a cause. We stand united when there's a Kargil, we stand united when there's a Latur earthquake, we stand united whenever there's a collective danger to the country. The danger to the country right now is that we will continue to remain developing if we don't make the conscious decision of reaching the rural areas and helping them develop.
There's no water in certain areas. And here I am getting to sell low cost computers to them. Is there a paradox? Actually, this is a paradox that will appear to us at every step. We can talk about this paradox sometime later. A short answer to the question is that, to provide essentials to the rural areas is the responsibility of the Government. I am willing to do my best if I am able to figure out how I can help the situation. They need to get out of certain non-core business and get into concentrating solely on the essentials. Well, these are huge topics. Lets take them up some other time.
In my humble (for sake of correct grammar, don't take it seriously!) opinion, Independence Day should not be a Holiday. It should be a working day as usual. And with a Flag hoisting ceremony made compulsory at every workplace, educational institution, etc. We don't need to have long speeches on the day. Just hoist the Flag, salute the people who sacrificed their lives for our sake, say the National Anthem with the pride of being an Indian and retain the pride for the rest of the year. Next year you can renew the ties with our Motherland with new vigour.
Jai Hind!
(This post was supposed to be posted yesterday)
Tomorrow: Bangalore
"I have planned a trip to Munnar. It's a wonderful place you know. I booked the Club Mahindra resort long back. It's a long weekend na, that's why"
"Oh good! Enjoy! I have never been to Munnar. Hope you have a nice time"
"Thanks!"
Munnar, Kodaikannal, Pondicherry, Colombo and Singapore are the places a few people I know are going to on the long weekend of August 13, 14, 15. The more intelligent of them have applied 4 days leave and converted it into a jolly 10-day vacation. Brilliant!
Incidentally, August 15th happens to be the day we became independent from the British rule. For some strange reason, it has been made a National Holiday. I agree that it's a reason to celebrate the anniversaries of the day we were liberated. And one way of celebration the Nation thought was by making it a holiday.
The Independence day is actually a result of the effort put in by the people of that age to help us live our lives today. There were several people who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the succeeding generations. When I say sacrifice, I point not only to those who died but there were those who contributed 100% of themselves to the cause called "Independence".
Independence was not a right in those days. It was a cause to live. I don't think we understand the gravity of the paradigm shift. The cause united millions of people. The cause gave people the ability to fast for months together as a mark of opposition. The people then didn't have independence, they fought for it. The lucky ones got to enjoy the freedom. They realised the value of a free India.
The freedom fighters didn't fight for nothing. If we are right now in a state that's worse than when the British left, then they handed the Country to inefficient people like us. We can wash our hands off by saying that the Nehru family was the one that ruled us for almost half a century, they are responsible to the country's present state of affairs. But, let us take the stand that the damage has been done, but it's not beyond repair. We still have 600 million young people raring to go and make this country a developed country. We can win if each of us decides that we are going to do whatever is in our potential for India.
Independence Day should be a day when these promises are strengthened. We should remind ourselves of our commitment to this wonderful country. It's a chance to do a review of the past one year and set new goals for this year. Do a conscious analysis of the past one year and write down three things that we have done for the Country. I am sure we will not even fill up the first field.
August 15th should be the day such decisions are taken. The only problem that India faces as a country is that we lack a cause. We stand united when there's a Kargil, we stand united when there's a Latur earthquake, we stand united whenever there's a collective danger to the country. The danger to the country right now is that we will continue to remain developing if we don't make the conscious decision of reaching the rural areas and helping them develop.
There's no water in certain areas. And here I am getting to sell low cost computers to them. Is there a paradox? Actually, this is a paradox that will appear to us at every step. We can talk about this paradox sometime later. A short answer to the question is that, to provide essentials to the rural areas is the responsibility of the Government. I am willing to do my best if I am able to figure out how I can help the situation. They need to get out of certain non-core business and get into concentrating solely on the essentials. Well, these are huge topics. Lets take them up some other time.
In my humble (for sake of correct grammar, don't take it seriously!) opinion, Independence Day should not be a Holiday. It should be a working day as usual. And with a Flag hoisting ceremony made compulsory at every workplace, educational institution, etc. We don't need to have long speeches on the day. Just hoist the Flag, salute the people who sacrificed their lives for our sake, say the National Anthem with the pride of being an Indian and retain the pride for the rest of the year. Next year you can renew the ties with our Motherland with new vigour.
Jai Hind!
(This post was supposed to be posted yesterday)
Tomorrow: Bangalore
