Are we really Independent ?

I woke up today to a pretty sunny day and there it was my calendar read 15^th August 2007. Just the look of the date (as if without even reading it) was so synonymous with me that I knew it’s the Independence Day. It’s like I have seen the date written at so many places in so many different fonts that just the look of it was enough. (Its not as if I didn’t know day before yesterday that tomorrow is Independence Day it’s just that I m just trying to describe my usual morning scene.:D).

So here it was India completing its 60 years of Independence. On my way to College in the bus very obscure thoughts crossed my mind and really now that I am writing it down I don’t really think it was that obscure. So 60 years down the line. With British Raj gone do I really think my country is actually Independent?? Are we really? I mean seriously. Are we??

Aren’t we ruled by another set of rulers now? May be the definition of a ruler has changed isn’t the resonance is still the same?

We keep hearing that how British had a huge impact on our culture. How they plundered National Heritage et all. But what are we doing now. Is there anyone out there preserving Indian Heritage??. The culture??

And Yes they (British Raj) lived by Divide and Rule Policy. Aren’t the modern day politicians (They always have been so Modern day) lived by the same principles. What have we done to remove them ??.And for that matter who do we remove ?? Which party in India is truly secular . So who do we vote at the end of it all ?.

Yes we are independent if we talk about minimum criteria of the “definition” of Independence. But is that Independence?. Who deserves to be called Independent?? Is America really Independent?. They are dependent on Middle East for their Crude Oil which is causing huge problems in their lives. Same is the case with India. So when do we call India Independent??.

The good part is Today’s India is changing itself. We are one of the most formidable countries in the world. The reasons to celebrate are many from economic prosperity, accelerating growth to our moment in the sun on the world stage and, of course, the world's biggest youthful population determined to take success to new heights. We have proved to be the best in the world individually. Now is the time to show the same collectively as well. I sincerely believe that now is the time to be in India and leave the “Chalta hai” attitude at bay.

On a lighter note I started remembering my days back in school when I used to make a flag early morning not just because everyone was required to wear it in morning assembly but I kinda loved it. Those were the days, Sometimes forgetting to put a chakra(wheel) in the middle sometimes not counting the 24 spokes . And then sing the national anthem sometime forgetting the lyrics but still humming along and the n used to my favourite Song and still is…..

saare jahaan se achcha hindustan hamaraa

hum bulbulein hai is ke, ye gulsitan hamaraa

gurbat mein hon agar ham, rahta hai dil watan mein(I relate most to this one now.See the translation)
samjho vahin hame bhi, dil hain jahan hamara

parbat vo sabse unchaa hum saaya aasma kaa
vo santaree hamaraa(I used to love the High pitch here), vo paasbaan hamaraa

godee mein khel tee hain is kee hazaaron nadiya
gulshan hai jinke dum se, rashke janna hamaraa

aye aab, aye raud, aye ganga, wo din he yaad tujhko
utaraa tere kinaare, jab kaarvan hamaara

mazhab nahee sikhataa apas mein bayr rakhnaa
hindee hai hum, vatan hai hindostaan hamaraa

yunan misr romaa, sab mit gaye jahan se
ab tak magar he baaki, namo nishan hamaara

kuchh baat he ki hasti, mitati nahi hamaari
sadiyon raha he dushman, daure jahan hamaara

iqbal koi marhoom, apna nahi jahan main
maloom kya kisi ko, darde niha hamaara

Translation

Better than the entire world, is our India
We are its nightingales and this is our garden

Though in foreign lands we may reside, with our motherland our hearts abide
Our spirit remains with thee, where our hearts exist

That mountain most high; neighbor to the skies
It is our sentinel; it is our protector

A thousand rivers play in its lap,
Gardens they sustain, the envy of the heavens is ours

O water of the mighty flow of the Ganga, do you remember the day
When on your banks, our caravan had landed

Faith does not teach us to harbour grudges between us
We are all Indians and India is our homeland

Ancient Greece, Egypt and Rome are lost, now only memories
But our civilization remains; it has stood the test of time

Something is in us, that preserves us, that keeps us ever-smiling
Though the fates and chances of the world have ever tried to break us

Iqbal! Is there no soul that could
Understand the pain in thy heart?

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Phew….All this in a 10 minute bus ride. And then they ask which wanders faster mind or eyes ?. U tell …..