Thank you India,
and the souls who played their part in creating an Independent India
for giving me and my fellow brothers and sisters
all the freedom and opportunities
that has let us live, grow, and thrive.
On this 73rd Independence Day of India,
I humbly vow to do my bit
in ensuring that this nation
overcomes all its current obstacles,
and grows by leaps and bounds,
as it so truly deserves to.
Hello dear reader,
Wish you a very Happy 73rd Independence Day.
This day comes once every year. On most occasions, you and I may have simply considered this to be another holiday; such men and women who have the true flame of patriotism aflame in their hearts are unfortunately far and few. However, as it happens time and again, you, or I, or both of us by some coincidence find the day striking a deep chord within. Today , I feel that within and thus would like to share that with you.
Today, 15 Aug 2019, is the 73rd Independence Day of India. I feel extremely happy and relieved to be a part of an independent nation.
As a child, we are fairly independent. That is to say that our parents take care of all our needs and we have to worry for nothing more than innocent futile matters. Whereas back then worrying about homework also seemed like a big deal, today I am thankful that I was lucky to be born in a place and time where I was blessed with the worry of homework. According to a 2016 UNESCO study, 263 million children and youth are out of school globally.
Then in our growing years we came across new challenges every day. Like our subjects in school grew tougher, competition became stronger. Be it school or extra curricular activities, the notion of doing things for fun shifted to doing things to accomplish something. But once again, today I am thankful for all that. I was not one of the 142 million youths who are out of school, many of whom have to work in precarious jobs to keep their families alive. I am also not one of the 650 million women alive today who were married off as child brides. My problems pale in comparison to them.
As a young adult, well, I could have sworn I was having a bad time. What with being one of the 1 million students sitting for an entrance exam with few thousands of seats, worrying about what would happen if I do not get a college or branch of my choice, losing my sleep over what would happen if I got a college with high fee; I actually felt like life could be a lot easier under different circumstances. But I was lucky to be a part of an ecosystem that not only has but also continuously evolves its numerous education options available at every stage. There are courses, and beautiful scope in each course.
At every step in my life, the plethora of opportunities that this nation has offered to me have been innumerable. It is just that I never knew how lucky I was. What was, and is, normal for me, is a dream for millions of people around the world.
And this year I feel even more strongly about being a part of a truly independent nation, as I see several others struggle with the notion of it – a true independence. A few pieces of trending international news makes it too obvious that there is a vast difference between what some lands offer as an illusion of independence and others such as India offer as true independence.
The true independence that India has offered to me, above all, has been its ability to make me feel safe and loved. It will be foolish to ignore the fact that even in this nation, everyone does not get blessed with the same privileges that I did. But it is heartening to see that this nation is at least trying.
What differentiates one cluster (of people) from another is the intention. And the intention of majority is good in this nation. For every crime report, however sickening to its core it may be, there is one news of a kind soul who revives my faith in humanity. And I am sure that we will come across many more such wonderful people if we look around.
India is a nation of 1.34 billion.
When we started Aglasem in 2012, we had the crazy idea of touching the lives of every last person in India, to illuminate them with knowledge. It was our belief that with the right information at the right time, people can take better decisions about their career. And above all, to take education beyond brick and mortar classrooms.
You see, even in my life story, if education was taken out of the equation, then what will I be? My education has defined me. It has shaped me. How much ever we crib about the education system, we are lucky to have one that is designed with the sole intention of strengthening us.
It is not surprising to see Indians excelling at everything they touch. Whether it be sports or technology, entertainment or space travel, we are now not just at par, but ahead in many.
As I wrap up the piece, I realize that this is not a spectacularly patriotic essay. It is just bits and pieces of why I, and perhaps you, are happy to be a part of the independent India. The same me in a parallel world in any country besides India would not have had the same life trajectory as she did in this land.
Thank you India.
And a humble thanks to the souls of those who played their part in making India independent.
Happy Independence Day 2019 to you and your loved ones.
If there is one place on the face of Earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India.
Romain Rolland (Nobel Prize for Literature, 1915)
