August 15 - Happy Independence Day to you India
India is celebrating its 63rd independence this August 15, 2010. I wish all my fellow Indians who live here and abroad - a very very happy independence day. Since the moment of our first independence, we all have been living and hoping for India to grow and prosper. It is indeed doing that in many spheres of life. There are still certain issues to be resolved, and on this independence day I pray for the good of all.
I know many people who I met, taking independence day quite sarcastically. When you wish them, they make a smug face and instead of wishing you back, they ask you - "Are we really independent? What about the poverty and corruption? Why am I not getting the job? We were better under the Britishers - at least we could get some job there. And all blah blah blah..."
Obviously, I can not contradict them because of my own limitations. Yet, I wonder - had we been still under Britishers in the same situation - would these people be able to speak this way and abuse the constitution and government like this, without having any fear of getting their tongue ripped off the very next day by the bureaucracy? Of course I agree to the fact that we have issues, and there are no end to these issues, especially in a country like ours with such a huge population, that too with so many cultural and religious differences. Essentially, what I feel is the independence we got was basically a liberation from living in fear. The independence we enjoy today is the independence of breathing freely, without any fear of the people who rule us. We have the liberty to raise our voice, it is just that one may or may not choose to do that. We are basically enjoying the "Freedom of Making a Choice", which was absent 63 years ago.
Moreover, now we are assured that our resources are used for the development of our own country, instead of being belched outside.This can't be said for human resources though. With recent hike in H1 visas, more cream of our country is bound to go out, leaving the skimmed milk here.
Today, I salute the people who stay independent of their lure and craving to leave the country and settle elsewhere, who "choose" to use their knowledge and skills to their best for the sake of the country and incorporate their learnings from around the world for the betterment of their own country.
Below are certain facts about Indian Independence day, which I read somewhere while browsing:
1. The Indian National Congress in 1947 wanted Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to lead Independent India but he was asked by Gandhi to not to stand for the same as he wanted his protege Jawarharlal Nehru to be India's first leader.
2. Gandhi didn't approve of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's methodology because Gandhi considered his methods as "not adhering to his concept of Ahimsa". This leader thus didn't get much support from the Congress because of this attitude on Gandhi's part. Later he formed the Indian National Army and fought against the British in the Second World War.
3. Gandhi pressured Sardar Patel to give Rupees 55 Crores of Sterling balance to Pakistan after Partition.
4. Gandhi called Adolf Hitler "my beloved brother".
5. Lord Charles Cornwallis participated in the American revolution and was later a Lord-Governor of India?
6. Dadhabhai Naoroji was the first Indian to be elected to the British Parliament by a British constituency.
So, here I end up my post. I was never a fan of Gandhi jee because of many reasons. Though, I have some favorites in our country's freedom fighters. Last but not the least, here is my quote of the day-
Picks of the day:
I know many people who I met, taking independence day quite sarcastically. When you wish them, they make a smug face and instead of wishing you back, they ask you - "Are we really independent? What about the poverty and corruption? Why am I not getting the job? We were better under the Britishers - at least we could get some job there. And all blah blah blah..."
Obviously, I can not contradict them because of my own limitations. Yet, I wonder - had we been still under Britishers in the same situation - would these people be able to speak this way and abuse the constitution and government like this, without having any fear of getting their tongue ripped off the very next day by the bureaucracy? Of course I agree to the fact that we have issues, and there are no end to these issues, especially in a country like ours with such a huge population, that too with so many cultural and religious differences. Essentially, what I feel is the independence we got was basically a liberation from living in fear. The independence we enjoy today is the independence of breathing freely, without any fear of the people who rule us. We have the liberty to raise our voice, it is just that one may or may not choose to do that. We are basically enjoying the "Freedom of Making a Choice", which was absent 63 years ago.
Moreover, now we are assured that our resources are used for the development of our own country, instead of being belched outside.This can't be said for human resources though. With recent hike in H1 visas, more cream of our country is bound to go out, leaving the skimmed milk here.
Today, I salute the people who stay independent of their lure and craving to leave the country and settle elsewhere, who "choose" to use their knowledge and skills to their best for the sake of the country and incorporate their learnings from around the world for the betterment of their own country.
Below are certain facts about Indian Independence day, which I read somewhere while browsing:
1. The Indian National Congress in 1947 wanted Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to lead Independent India but he was asked by Gandhi to not to stand for the same as he wanted his protege Jawarharlal Nehru to be India's first leader.
2. Gandhi didn't approve of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's methodology because Gandhi considered his methods as "not adhering to his concept of Ahimsa". This leader thus didn't get much support from the Congress because of this attitude on Gandhi's part. Later he formed the Indian National Army and fought against the British in the Second World War.
3. Gandhi pressured Sardar Patel to give Rupees 55 Crores of Sterling balance to Pakistan after Partition.
4. Gandhi called Adolf Hitler "my beloved brother".
5. Lord Charles Cornwallis participated in the American revolution and was later a Lord-Governor of India?
6. Dadhabhai Naoroji was the first Indian to be elected to the British Parliament by a British constituency.
So, here I end up my post. I was never a fan of Gandhi jee because of many reasons. Though, I have some favorites in our country's freedom fighters. Last but not the least, here is my quote of the day-
"Respect your country as it is a part of your identity.
Then only you can expect the world to respect it and eventually you!"
Jai Hind!!!
Picks of the day:
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