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Being a Proud Indian

It is just past 5 am on 15th August, 2011. Heaven and Hell both know I am not an early riser. And no, I haven't risen up to listen to Mr. Manmohan Singh speak from the Red Fort on the 64th Independence Day of India. I also don't work for an organization which would want to see me working on a National Holiday. Like most Indians, I would rather skip our soft spoken PM's speech and enjoy the extended weekend, but I clearly am not doing so. It is a simple question and a profound one that bugs me and takes my sleep away.

Jinhe Naaz Hai Hind Par Woh Kahaan Hain?

It means - Where are those people who are proud of India? A beautiful song from singer Rabbi Shergill asks the same question, many a times. Where are those people? Are they the ones like me who enjoy sleeping on their nation's Independence Day which, just to remind myself and them - was won after a hard fought battle of about a 100 years? I don't think so. They definitely don't fit. Are they the ones who are writing blogs, posting updates, changing their display pics? Ummm, it would be unfair to count them as being proud of India. Are they those who suffer daily in some form or the other - laxness of law and order, bad roads, overcrowded trains, corrupt governements, mud slinging politicians and sadhus, self proclaimed Gandhians fighting for common people - and are too scared or simply cowards to speak up? They sure can be Indians but proud ones at that, not really.


They are simply those who are dead. Dead because they tried to fight. Dead because we all together can't stand up together next to them. I am one of those as I am scared too - scared for myself and my family. This beautiful song names a few of those proud Indians - all dead. And if it stirs you a bit and you want to know more about those people - you can save your self the trouble of Googling it by checking out here.

Oh, Happy Independence Day by the way.

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Comments

  1. vinny15 August, 2011

    lump in throat...tears in eyes...

    what kind of independence is this?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Manpreet Bedi15 August, 2011

    very beautifully written. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. kalyan15 August, 2011

    just wondering what those families are doing today ! celebrating ? or remembering ? agony or betrayed ?

    Seriously some times Ignorance is bliss ! but after reading and knowing about them cant be at peace!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Himanshu Bhagat15 August, 2011

    @Oldfox004 - exactly, answering that question is the toughest thing to do.

    @Manpreet - Thanks!

    @kalyan - yep, that is what kept me awake for a while. how do people whose families have been betrayed celebrate festivals of the very nation whose machinery has betrayed them.

    ReplyDelete
  5. brands13 September, 2011

    nice post on indians really like it very much thanks for the info provided

    ReplyDelete
  6. Himanshu Bhagat13 September, 2011

    @brands - thanks.

    ReplyDelete

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