Many dailies are filled with laments about how I- Day is only thought of as a holiday in the country. 'It is sad to see how Independence Day remains only a holiday or this year, a long weekend for many. For many of today's 'software coolies', Independence Day remains a holiday. And for the hundreds of thousands of BPO employees, it is just another day at work with the difference that they all plan and wear ethnic wear to work', write a number of patriots in their dailies. Is that really wrong? Is it wrong that we treat Independence Day as a day to relax? I don't think so. Read on to find out why.
There is a statement that I read somewhere the other day – 'There is no use talking about patriotism to a person whose stomach is full'. The statement does not just refer to a person who has plenty to eat, it is for everyone who thinks that they are safe in their cocoon and some small harakiris that they commit to get comfortable are perfectly alright. I can think of an easier example with which most of my fellow countrymen would identify. In the recently released Rang De Basanti, the lead characters are all stunned when they read Bhagat Singh's lines. 'Iski problem kya thi yaar', Siddharth asks when he reads that Bhagat Singh had said that Freedom was his bride and he was married to the cause of India's independence. The friends drink and make merry in a public place and then coolly bribe the policemen who come there to shoo them away. They are of the same age as Bhagat Singh was when he died and yet their life is as wayward as his was purposeful. When the injustice in the society affects one amongst them, they suddenly turn righteous and are ready to die for the cause. So are we right in thinking that we are safe in our cocoons, are we right in thinking that we do not have a common cause or a common enemy to fight against?
The answer to the above questions is that we are not. We are definitely not safe and saying that we do not have a common cause to fight against is definitely like the cat closing its eyes and thinking that no one is watching it. The cause that everyone needs to fight against today is apathy. The citizens of India today prefer to turn a blind eye to whatever they think will not affect them. They do not mind shelling out the small bribes so they can get their work done that much more quickly or with that one paper missing. The people of India are immune to fines or challans today, they know that they can bribe the officer and get away with it. If there is an accident on the road, no on has time to stop and help the person(s) out. TV crews that reach accident sites before anyone else keep on saying that the ambulances did not reach in time, the officials did not reach in time etc, but do not do anything to help out the victims or the survivors.
There are umpteen other examples that I can cite, but I will stop the list there. Every citizen of India should do their bit to fight off the evils of corruption, redtape and apathy. If you have broken a traffic rule, insist on paying the fine, do not bribe the cop. If you witness an accident, use your cell phone to make one phone call for an ambulance if nothing else. Whenever and wherever possible, try and take one correct step towards a better future and then take a holiday on Independence Day. Kick off your shoes and relax at home knowing that you have done your bit to further the cause of Independent India by the tiniest bit possible. None of the freedom fighters wanted Independence for themselves, they wanted their children to grow up in an Independent India. Similarly, your efforts will not show results instantly, but it will atleast prevent your children from flying in search of greener pastures saying 'Is desh kaa kuch nahi ho sakta'.
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