Freedom Struggle – A Home Story

-- Thomas Kevin Jaiby, III-C, Carmel School

Sunday, July 26, 2020

“Amma… Amma… teacher told me to write a story...” After attending teacher’s call I ran to kitchen.

“Story? What story?” Amma turned to me while chopping vegetables. Since the Covid 19 pandemic started my mom is working from home in morning shift.
“ A story about independence day..”“But I don’t know what’s Independence Day...” my voice went dull and lean.

“Don’t you remember we had celebrated Independence Day last year in Church in Kerala? The priest hoisted the flag and distributed laddus…” Amma paused for me to recollect.
“He was drowsy all the time in church…” My sister didn’t miss the opportunity to tease me.

“But you ate half of my laddu, in addition to yours. Don’t you remember that too?” My father is always in my sister’s team- I felt angry.
“Amma, tell me about Independence Day...” I brought them back to the track.

“Yes, Independence day is the day, when India got freedom after decades long struggle and sufferings.”

“From whom India got freedom?” I couldn’t control my curiosity.“From British people” My sister.
I looked at her with amazement. She knows many things…

“The British people who came to trade with India. They wanted to buy cardamom, pepper, ginger and all those spices available here. During that time the country was divided into small local kingdoms. There was fighting between the Kings in India. There was no unity among them.” Father was thoughtful for moment then my mother intervened: “Like the fight between you and your sister, they were jealous at each other.”

Father picked from there again. “So it was easy to subdue them one by one. Soon the whole Indian subcontinent was under their rule. Finally Indians united under the leadership of Gandhiji, Nehru and many other patriotic people. They suffered a lot in freedom struggle. Finally India got independence on August 15, 1947. We celebrate the day every year as Indian Independence day.” Father explained it very well and paused.

“But how do we celebrate, father?” I got the cause behind it, now I am ready to celebrate it.

“In public places, people hoist Indian flag, sing National anthem and distribute sweets.” Mother said.

“We also remember the martyrs who died for India during the freedom struggle.” Father added.

“Let me write a story..” Thoughtful and many more to ask about, I left the kitchen.

“Search in net, you will know more about Independence day!” My sister called out from behind.

“Every year, here in Kuwait, summer vacation during August. So small kids are not much aware of it.” I heard my mother saying. I am not a small kid anymore, I want to know all about Independence Day, I determined and started searching in the laptop.

Thomas Kevin Jaiby, III-C, Carmel School