When did I realize the importance of independence?

When things are going well, all of us are busy managing wealth! Planning for the next trip. Finding faults with others. Becoming restless if the work assigned is delayed by the vendor or the team. We think of growing the business or pushing the kids to do more and more!

Come a day, when we are sick; within 24 hours of falling ill, our focus changes by 360 degrees. We will think of God. We will say that nothing is required; health is wealth, and once I recover will do this and not do that.

Is it not the same thing that applies to a country? We are happy-go-easy citizens when our country is safe; we have a list of 100 items that require the attention of the administrators/government. Garbage to foreign policy, we have a difference of opinions and we feel we are right and others are wrong.

Look at the present geopolitical situation in the rest of the world. If you just watch a couple of videos and read a few write-ups of troubled nations, I guarantee, you will stop complaining about the things in India. Like health, at least we are independent and safe!

I experienced the meaning of independence when I went abroad around 20 years back. In one of the tourist destinations, they denied an entry because I was not carrying my passport (I left it in the hotel room). Back in my country, I needn’t prove my identity, I needn’t carry a passport, I can speak my language, we are ruled by our people (party A or B is immaterial), and we needn’t report to outsiders. We are by ourselves.

When I think of independence and its importance, (which we rarely count as a blessing) I get goosebumps!

On this 75^th year of independence, my salute to all our forefathers who made this happen.  I am proud to be an Indian and I cherish our independence.

Jai Hind.

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