Today is Independence day. The day some of us wait so eagerly for! The day, I as a child never missed the flag hoisting ceremony on TV. The day, I hoisted flag in my colony and distributed sweets among my neighbours. The day I never missed the afternoon film on Doordarshan. Thanks to Sankalp, the day has only become more meaningful to me. Thanks to Sankalp, that every week, I still get to chant my favourite anthem. The one song that fills my heart with pride and joy!
I am happy with the fact that we Indians are still living with our heads held high. We have started to question the system. We have started to demand quantifiable transparency, accountability and efficiency in the system, we had only blamed for 6 decades. We have started gaining our long fought dignity.
But what we have achieved is not enough. We have a long way to go. Only 60 years back, an entire generation died for it! Even today, soldiers die for this nation every now and then! We can not let their ultimate sacrifices go down the drains like this. We can not let the spirit of being an Indian fade away like this.
I offer my gratitude to the freedom fighters, the valiant jawans, officers and others belonging to the Army, Navy and the Air Force, who brought us freedom and have protected it ever since. I promise you today, that I will do my best to live upto the expectations this land has from me. In fact, all of us, wherever we may be, whatever work we may be doing, should discharge our responsibilities well. We must never allow any limb of our nation or society to become weak. We will live for the dignity of the nation we so dearly call ours. We are this nation's last hope. Let another generation go loose, unalarmed, and the hopes of building a strong, beautiful nation will be lost forever.
I dream of an India that is prosperous, strong and caring. An India, that regains a place of honour in the comity of great nations. The challenges that confront us cannot be overcome only by the men on the frontiers doing their duty.
There is a need for an organized and disciplined nation to stand behind them. We must defend our country and develop our society by keeping national interests utmost in our minds. If our economy is not strong, and if we are not self-reliant in important matters of national security, then we cannot successfully face external challenges. It is high time we stand one, as India!
I might not be fit to do anything big on this Independence day. I cannot change governments, nor can I uproot corruption from India. But there is one person I have the ultimate control over- myself. On this independence I wish for the strength within, that will make me keep my head up and walk on rough roads even when self applause, corruption and selfishness provoke me. I wish for the strength to be able to stand up and walk on, however alone and dark the path might be. I wish every single Indian, who dreams of a better and brighter India may have the strength to walk alone.
If they answer not to thy call, walk alone!
Celebrating 64 years of Independent India with a new poem!
Jai Hind!