The significance of 15th August: just some thoughts

2010-08-15T23:44:00.000+05:30

On this day, the 15th of August, when everybody ( and I mean 'everybody' , from insurance companies to makers of soap to matrimonial websites) is trying to milk a) our freedom, OR b) the fact it has been 63 years since we got it, I try my best to block any feelings of foolish fervour or a 'one day patriotism' that borders on jingoism.

I hate any kind of chest thumping at the cost of ignoring the realities of the day.Or even at the cost of ignoring my own lack of contribution to the nation, apart from paying taxes and voting.

But that too, has its downturn, with my taxes subsidizing the corrupt acts of a corrupt polity and my vote contributing towards bringing in, at the best, a right candidate, but a wrong party into power and compounding my own misery!

But then I realize..today is also the only day when I might really remember the people who made it possible for me to savour the fruits of their sacrifices..Today is the only day they might cross my mind .

And so, on this day, I try to feel what it must've been like for a young man of 23 and of course countless other brave, young martyrs to have sacrificed their pleasures for a common cause.

I try to feel what it must have been, for a brave gujarati barrister and his ardent follower to have forsaken the joys of being privileged to set in motion a freedom urge..an opression purge..a movement..A movement based on something as laughably simple as non violence but yet profound enough to attract millions.

{And on a different note, Gandhi bashing has become such a cool fad today, with youngsters sipping Coke (nope,I am not aganst sipping it), ready to denounce him at the drop of their pants and morals, without even remotely trying to grasp his essence. But thts another story, another debate, reserved for another day perhaps}

Today, I also try to feel and think of the unsung, the ones who did not make it to our history books but still changed the course of our history in their own unassuming manner.

And then I realize, perhaps today is the only day I will remember any of them, or even feel a sliver of what they went through. Before I get back to wallowing in my cocooned selfishness and silly armchair pontifications.

And so, I wear my patriotism and don't question it..at least for today. I will anyways get back to the forgetfulness and materialistic slime in a day's time!

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The significance of 15th August: just some thoughts