Imbibing the Virtues of Independent India
-- Ann Mary Santhosh, XII-A, Carmel School
Thursday, July 30, 2020
“At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will wake to life and freedom.” These were the words which were spoken by our nation’s first prime minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on 14th August, 1947 in his famous speech ‘Tryst with Destiny’. This powerful sentence had, and still continues to be, etched in the hearts of millions of people who beam with joy and pride in being an Indian.
‘INDEPENDENCE’ – It is not a word used by us in routine conservations, but when reminded of, it evokes a strong sense of allegiance and patriotism to our motherland. To every Indian, ‘independence’ paints a reminiscent picture of Mahatma Gandhi, clad in soft white and leading the nation in the forefront as it marched forward to achieve Poorna Swaraj. What made the freedom struggle in India noteworthy was the adoption of non-violent measures that set the final nail on the coffin of the historic British Raj. We were able to trudge along the path of Ahimsa and attain independence through Satyagraha, following the footsteps of the freedom fighters and their exemplary leadership. Moreover, unity was the cord that tied together the various strata of society to fight for the common cause of freedom. It has played a strategic role in helping the nation to develop, prosper and keep pace with the modern world. Most importantly, it is this unification that is binding the nation even now as we battle together against the recent COVID-19 outbreak. It was the independence that we fought for earlier which brought our nation. The independence that we relish now will keep us united even more.
From being enslaved as a British colony to becoming the world’s largest democracy, the feats of achievement attained by our nation as an integrated whole and by persons individually are simply stupendous. India has come a long way to embrace and win over all obstacles that have proved to be detrimental to the developing country’s progress. As proud Indians, we can say that our country has made great strides in the field of education, science and technology, infrastructure, sports, cinema, etc. It is quite difficult to imagine the world without the historic Taj Mahal, sun kissed beaches of Goa, lofty Himalayan peaks, Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Sachin Tendulkar….and the list goes on endlessly. We have even managed to transform our economy which had been sluggish post independence to the fifth largest trillion dollar economy in the world.
Independence Day is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor all throughout the land. Both children and adults take part in flag hoisting ceremonies, various cultural events and the singing of the national anthem. Indians have learned to cherish this day, as they reflect upon the noble sacrifices made by the brave martyrs and valiant freedom fighters. But the most important moment which every Indian looks forward to is when the Tricolour – our Tiranga is hoisted up and unfurled by the Prime Minister on the ramparts of the Red Fort to honor the historical event of 15th August 1947. It is not only the flag that gets hoisted up; it is the jubilance and delight of the people as well. From those who use their hands to plough the soil to those who use it to sign documents, every Indian teems with exuberance and patriotism when this day arrives. The bustling of children carrying the Indian flag, the coruscant melody of the national anthem being sung together and the joyous exchange of Independence Day wishes make it quite difficult to believe that the freedom we experience every second now had been garnered with years of ordeals, torture and dolor. Indeed, the very seed of hope and national devotion planted by our freedom fighters has grown strong and tall to become the tree that shelters the ideals of secularism, socialism and democracy. The awareness of the legacy of our Independence should sensitize us to understand what it means to be a part of Independent India – citizens who have the freedom to raise their voice against injustice, to stand up for the rights of the marginalized, and most importantly , to vote. This independence day, let us learn to value and treasure the ideals of the past, which have moulded the present and will shape the future.
JAI HIND!
|
Ann Mary Santhosh, XII-A, Carmel School |
Disclaimer: Statements and opinions expressed in the article are those of the authors and written by them; the author is solely responsible for the content in this article. IndiansinKuwait.com does not hold any responsibility for them.