Seventy years ago, independence meant, freedom from the British Raj. Prior to that all efforts were in favour of freedom from the oppressive Mughals.
However today, although we celebrate Independence Day, the question remains, are we really independent or in-dependence?
What does Independence Day really mean to the younger generation who haven’t been witness to the struggles of our fore fathers? Speaking to two such dynamic young boys gave me further insight into their perspective of our glorious Independence Day.
An excerpt of our talk is as follows
What does Independence Day mean to the youth?
“The right to have your own vision for the future of your country and to work towards it is what Independence really means.”
I think, the relevance of this idea is more profound now than ever. The present government with its initiatives like “Mann ki Baat”, “Swatch Bharat” and others, presents the youth with an empowering position to help work towards the betterment of their country.
Does the youth still feel connected to the struggles of our freedom fighters and how?
“Yes absolutely, the similarity being that they toiled towards freedom from the British and the youth today wants the country to be free from corruption, poverty, global warming etc.”
Being enslaved by the British and then ushering India into freedom is what our great freedom fighters were made of. Being enslaved by the toxic side effects of corruption and hence poverty and other problems, and working towards eradicating these is what makes our youth, the modern freedom fighters.
How can the youth today contribute towards freedom from corruption, terrorism etc?
“By getting good education, pioneering innovations and volunteering for various social causes, the youth can spear head the Quit corruption movement which is the root cause of all other evils.”
Education is the key to many socio-economic problems faced by our country. It is imperative that parents and society at large contributes towards education for all and by doing so, the youth will become greatest benefactors of a truly free India.
Does the Youth think that India is truly Independent as compared to other countries?
“In the urban setting, it appears so, but in poorer rural settings development and better infrastructure are needed for the people at large to have full experience of freedom. Independence does not mean just free from slavery by people, but freedom in all respects to increase their standard of living.”
What is the image of a free India?
“To the youth, the free India has a high literacy rate, less pollution, freedom from poverty, corruption and terrorism.”
Independence in India when compared to other developed countries seems like a misnomer, but what makes India truly Independent is the tenacity of its people. No other country can claim such a prowess. Our country’s spiritual wealth surpasses all others and because of which, no matter what adversity strikes us, we are able to endure and still remain happy. India as of today may not be free from the perils of corruption, terrorism and poverty, but what makes India Independent is its trustful dependence on its able governance that is leaving no stone unturned to uplift its citizens.
So, yes, even though we celebrate Independence Day, while being truly indebted to our freedom fighters, our soldiers (who continually protect us) and our government for its efforts, the youth understands that the baton of independence lies on them and they will do all that it takes to make India reach newer heights.
