It’s a freshly rain washed 14th August morning, a day away from celebrating our Independence day, "Desh pukare jab sabko" plays along on my iTunes, as I read through the headlines of the various newspapers on the web. I can't but help notice a general perception of distrust and disillusionment towards the establishment of the day amongst the vast cross section of people in India. Good-bad- or ugly, we are no judge or jury! It is history that judges the actions of men through the passage of time and its history alone which has taught us to stand up for what we believe in. Years ago, back in history, our forefathers were made to believe that Independence from British suzerainty was possible and it was this belief which led to people from across presidencies- princely states-towns and gaons to stand up- to root out the colonial powers of the day. However, the long struggle prolonged, resulting in which India as an entity came along, and we achieved independence, in letter and spirit. With independence came the demarcation of boundaries being drawn right down the middle, leading to the creation of West and East Pakistan. Loyalties were tested, challenged and cussed out. Friends turned to enemies and neighbours added fuel to fire. The birth of a divided nation saw the birth of dived loyalties and distrust among one and all. It was not the best of time and we were shaken down to our roots. A united nation divided at heart and the mind was lost to the divide.
The British left India shaken and stirred and it was quite easy for a divided India to be rattled down by vicious attacks mastered by the very neighbour-friend it held so close- that Pakistan, rather Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s last wish was not to be fulfilled was duly ensured by some equal amount of cajoling-holding our ground and standing up to defend what happened to come under the tricolour. Had it not so been so history would surely be poking fun at us, today!
The idea of Pakistan did pre-date Pakistan itself and had been the moot point of its genesis. But the power struggle following Jinnah’s untimely, (pre-meditated death) opened a whole new Pandora’s Box that none were able to fathom and understand. The October, 27th 1958 coup by Gen.Ayub Khan was the last straw of beginning of doom for Pakistan. In turn the Army came to stay and the saga continues, in some way or the other.
In terms of our belief, of who we wish to and want to be, continues to haunt us. The shaken and stirred India, of 1947, continues to get rattled and hassled at frequent intervals at the will of the rattler. Whatever is the perception of various regional sat-raps, political affiliations notwithstanding, the underlying dilemma of India lies with our lack of coherent policies towards our own people?
We might be a geo-political super power with a nuclear arsenal to boast of along with being right on top, in fields of medicine, science and technology and other such fields of economic growth in the region. But a country is as strong as the unity of the people and weakest at where the unity shrinks. Be it the army, civil society or populace, the country’s unity is not the way it is projected and the aggressor very well knows the weakest links, thereof.
India’s chequered history since time immemorial through independence and now is proof enough of how each time we’ve been battered, bruised, raped and murdered for centuries and the saga continues, unabated, albeit on a different level.
Through the life and times of a nation, comes a time of satisfactory level of comfort and through sheer diligence only do people realise to achieve the goals of collective hard work. It is this, the time that is, now for us to let go of the immediate past. Redeem a solemn oath of allegiance, not to any book-or god, but to each other and to our flag! But in order to prosper, we need to wear the ‘kavaach’, the shield and never ever forget the belief, of who we are.
It is important that while we strengthen our roots and stand up for one another-in the literal sense of it and in spirit. We must never give in to false fallacies of hope and peace- a bloodied nose is better than no nose!! On the eve of our 63rd Independence Day, I hope of a better year for the country, I pray and wish, Indians- would stand up for themselves as Indians.
Jai Hind!
