Cost of Freedom

Celebration of the anniversary of the Indian Independence is an appropriate time to reflect on the cost of freedom; how much have we paid and what have we paid to enjoy independence, which has put the world’s largest democracy into the world map? What was my share in acquiring this freedom? I might proudly hark that I was not even born when the nation gained independence, or else I would have given even my life for it. Needless to say, several selfless men and women had given their lives, fighting fierce battle with the British, to free their motherland. It is their sweat and blood that gave us this nation, which we can call truly our own.

We have a stereotyped list of freedom fighters, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, followed by a host of leaders who were instrumental in actualizing the freedom. Subhash Chandra Bose, Chittaranjan Das, Moulana Abul Kalam Azad, to name a few, were front runners in the freedom struggle. But today I think it is important that we turn our focus from these illustrious figures to the unknown freedom fighters whose names would never find place in the long list of glorious persons who gave their lives, so that we might have a better tomorrow.

The real strength of the Indian national movement or call it the fight for a free India, was not so much the big leaders who led the struggle from city to city, but the quiet foot-soldiers who fought quietly in the remote corners of this vast nation. Most often the names of these sincere and faithful children of Mother India are simply obliterated, so that the mighty and the powerful will win the glitter and the gold. They are often included in the list of the ‘unknown’ soldiers, with a barren pillar standing in the midst of rain and shine, with none to care.

Today we recall to mind the spirit of sagacity that these men and women in different parts of the country exhibited, going beyond any political or social or communitarian leanings. Their thirst for freedom has found the nation breaking free, but these small fry have been swallowed by the monstrous leaders who took hold the fate of the nation. Today it is time to call for another freedom struggle, to free the nation from the corrupt, power-hungry, immoral, selfish leaders, who know only one thing – to make the nation to fulfill their personal goals and objectives. It is time that the souls of these foot-soldiers rise from their ashes, and reclaim the nation for her people.

The cry of mother India pining for love and care for her marginalized children echoes in the skies; she wept the fate of her children even as the Prime Minister hoisted the tricolor at the ramparts of the Red Fort. The cry of a mother cannot go in vain, so they say; if that be true, then there is sure to be a resurgence, when her children will rise to bring the same pristine honor and glory that she had been enjoying for centuries. It is our turn to blow the trumpet, chime the temple bells, draw out our swords and daggers, because here begins our ‘dharmakshetra, kurukshetra’!