‘Freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living’ – Mahatma Gandhi.
Every year on 15th August, we celebrate Independence Day. Indians all around the world celebrate this day with great enthusiasm. Independence day reminds us of all the sacrifices that were made by our freedom fighters to make India free from British rule. On 15th August 1947, India was declared independent from British colonialism and became the largest democracy in the world.
Britishers have ruled India for almost 200 years. The foreigners who came as traders slowly acquired territory. Under British rule, Indians were treated as slaves and had no rights to say whatsoever to them. Indian rulers were mere puppets in the hands of British officers. Indian soldiers were treated cold-bloodedly in British camps, and farmers were dying of hunger as they could not produce yields and had to pay heavy land taxes.
Our freedom fighters struggled for India’s Independence. Famous leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru, Mangal Pandey, Dada Bhai Naoroji tussled valiantly against the Britishers. Many of them also sacrificed their lives to make India free from British rule. Their contribution and effort are remembered in India’s struggle for independence history.
When I was teaching my young cousin all about how India acquired freedom from the foreigners, she asked a query that set me thinking. Her question was that, ‘Why do we celebrate Independence Day? Surely we should be mourning for the people who lost their lives? Will it not be cruelty if we celebrate not even thinking about those poor souls?’
When I thought about this further, I understood something. Independence day generates a feeling of patriotism among people. It bonds the people and makes them feel that we are one nation with so many different languages, faiths and ethnic values. Unity in diversity is the core and forte of India.
Furthermore, I also came to the conclusion that by celebrating this day we are and were, never doing injustice to our great leaders. They had forfeited everything so that we may live in a tranquil and united India.
We celebrate so that our happiness can be perceived by them. We rejoice so that they know that their sacrifice did not go in vain. We rejoice so that they know that we remember their sacrifice. All of us are forever indebted to them. This is to all Indians around the world! Take up your flags and know the sacrifice behind it. Take pride in India, take pride in Tiranga! Thus, I conclude with the words that will ring in all Indians’ mind this day-
“Vande Mataram.”