Independence (Day)

Surprised with the timing of the post... especially when it's already a fortnight since India celebrated its 63rd Independence Day?

But then I ask, why does it have to be only 'that' day of the year when every one of us remembers to stand in attention to the National Anthem, when we feel all "mushy" and "patriotic", when we hear Lata Mangeshkar, Mahendra Kapoor and A. R. Rahman sing melodies in tribute to our great Nation. A day when we remember the Jawans out there at the border, fighting for their lives so that we can sit in the comforts of our home and enjoy a cup of tea while watching the Independence Day parade "LIVE from Delhi" (or do we even do that these days?)

One day? Just ONE DAY?

Why, I ask, why just one day to remember everything that you stand for, everything that this Nation that shelters you is made of? One single day to honour the lives given, of the lives taken and the lives lived to provide for the safe journey from the streets of the city to our home. One single day to remember those of yesterday that made our today what it is. One single day when reporters, radio jockeys and every media person in the cities look towards the green and khaki stripes to say "Thank you for keeping us safe".

These men in uniforms regularly guard the borders of our nation. The conditions that they have to live in is shocking, but awe-inspiring, and yet, their spirit remains indomitable. When they're not risking their lives (read: times of peace) they're the most open hearted yet humble men and women on the planet. But in times of war, they're the ones who are up at the battlefront, shouting the Nation's war cry and surging ahead into the fray. They're there right from the flat lands to the most difficult battleground in the world.

Have you ever wondered what it is to be out there, at times in zero visibility, at times in sub-zero temperatures, armed with only a gun and your comrades by your side, running into the fray, knowing fully well that there are thousands of little metal spikes hurtling towards you faster than a speeding jet which can pierce your body and come out the other end before you've had time even to realise that it just did. And yet you do not stop. You keep going, praying to God not to live, but to die, and when you do, take a few enemies along for the ride.

As they say, JAI JAWAN!

This video sent goosebumps down me when I saw it.

And the nation, each year, gives them One Day. When I started writing this post, I thought I'd write something about how Independence is overrated, how we take it for granted and so on and so forth. Then, I realised, it isn't about what Independence is taken to be, but what it really is. The no-longer-recent Mumbai terrorist attacks made that very clear; they kind of evoked the patriot in me. The multitude of people participating in the Peace Rally held out in Mumbai showed me, and the common man what power the masses have; what we, the people can do if we consent to one decision. The power to take that decision and execute it, now THAT'S INDEPENDENCE.

They said they would come back, Promised that they'd return. They walked away with their heads held high, Not once did they turn. Battles raged, many fell, But they never gave in to despair, For they knew someone back home awaited With their name in prayer.

I'm proud to say the following every day, whenever I have an opportunity -

I'M PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN JAI HIND!