“With the dawn of a new
day, came a new stage,
With determined
agitation, we broke a white cage,
India rose to freedom,
when the world was asleep,
The jailor had to back
off, before our leap.”
At the dawn
of history, India started on her quest, and trackless centuries are filled with
her striving, and the grandeur of her success and her failures. Through good
and ill fortune alike, she has never lost her sight of that quest, or forgotten
the ideals, which gave her the strength. The achievement which we celebrate
today is but a step, an opening of opportunity, to the greater triumphs and
achievements that await us. Are we brave enough and wise enough to grasp this
opportunity and accept the challenge of the future? What exactly does ‘Freedom’
mean to us?
Freedom does
not merely mean breaking the bondage of the oppressor by the oppressed. But it
has a rather significant appeal to break off the internal bondages, of thought,
knowledge, customs and traditions. The greatest freedom, is the freedom from
all prejudices, preconceived notions, conditioning, ideologies, conflicting
desires, hatred & anger- until you have achieved awareness of pure
consciousness- you cannot call yourself free, you are not independent. Once you
have that awareness, you realize what freedom is…what Independence means‼ The road to freedom is not strewn
with roses. It is a path covered with thorns, but at the end of it, there is
the full blown rose of liberty, awaiting the tired pilgrim. We have gained
freedom when we had paid the full price for our right to live. Freedom is to
live one’s life, with the window of the soul open to new thoughts, new ideas,
new aspirations. In 1947, Winston Churchill laughed at the idea of India as a
Democracy. Today, it is the world’s largest‼
“As we celebrate our
success, we must know
That it has not reached
its zenith, our story must grow.
We have come a long way
but there are fears
Though my lips have
smiles, still it appears,
Many eyes are
moist…many filled with tears.”
Even as we complete the 63rd year of India becoming a republic, we still talk
about our rights, but refrain from uttering a word about our duties. Instead of
asking what the nation has done for you, you must first question yourself- What
have I done for my nation? For thousands of years, India has produced a
remarkable number of great leaders. We have a billion people to follow their
footsteps. Now, we need one to step into
their shoes. The health of democratic society may be measured by the
quality of functions performed by the private citizens. And also, we must speak
out of our duties first, and then demand for our rights. Too little freedom
brings stagnation, and too much brings chaos. Hence to lead an ideal life,
duties must be coined together with our rights. Our nation can continue its
march only if we all offer our hands and uplift the country. I can disapprove of what you say, but I will
defend to death, your right to say it. This is the essence of freedom. One
must be more aware and vigilant about his duties, than his rights.
So, let us
redeem our pledge that we would rather die on our feet, than live on our knees.
“Who dwells in our
memory with his spinning wheel?
Who reminds us
constantly and makes his appeal?
To redeem our pledge,
on this day let us ensure,
That our caravan not
falter on any score
Oh travelers, we must
yet, travel some more‼”
Jaya
Hey…Jaya Hey…Jaya Hey!!
-Ajinkya Mandhare.
What you're saying is completely true. I know that everybody must say the same thing, but I just think that you put it in a way that everyone can understand. I'm sure you'll reach so many people with what you've got to say.
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