In Tribute of all Our Freedom Fighters..

Independence and Republic Day, both the National Festivals are very close to our heart. I also believe that these two festivals keep the highest niche in our life due to their associated significance, which these two festivals owes with it. The goosebumps, which we feel, whenever we hear our National Anthem, is simply irreplaceable. Listening of national anthem itself invigorates such an impeccable sense of pride and ecstatic feelings in us that no other excitement can match with it. The importance of these two days are colossal in every Indians life for sure.

Like other Indians, I do feel very fortunate to have been raised and brought up in an environment wherein we were taught to give the utmost respect to the Nation & all the Martyrs & freedom fighters who gave their valuable contribution or even supreme sacrifice for the sake of our nation. I still cherish those school days, when I used to go to school in complete white uniform for flag hoisting on independence & republic days with full of vigour & enthusiasm, taking & furling the national flag in my hand. It was really such an excitement which anyone can hardly experience throughout his/her life after completing the school. Listening of patriotic songs on these two days used to infuse a brazen sense of belongingness and commitment for doing somethings great for the cause of the country, whenever she need us, just like our great freedom fighters did for getting the independence. In those school days, we didn’t have an iota of feelings about religion, caste, creed, etc. due to the fact that perhaps we didn’t know even ours all these details. The patriotism & brotherhood used to be the only feelings among all us.

I feel also fortunate enough to have been raised and brought up in an environment, wherein there was no culture to make distinction among freedom fighters that who contributed the maximum and who the least in getting the independence of our country. I still believe that it’s quite unfair to compare the contribution of any martyrs/freedom fighters with any other one, as each one of them had their own ideology and methods, but purpose of all of them had been the single one viz. to achieve freedom from the rule of the British Empire. Comparing of anyone’s contribution in the freedom struggle and ranking them in terms any kind of grades and undermining someone’s contribution in this process, is just an insult of their sacrifice which they did for the country.

Today, when we find that some of our own countrymen see the contributions of our freedom fighters with different spectacles of religion, caste and creed and grade their contributions in various ranks, it really pains. It’s completely unjust and whosoever does such things, must refrain from doing so. The contributions of our freedom fighters are not such things which can be politicized for any personal or political vested interest.

We all very well understand that ‘’doing anything significant selflessly for the sake of the country or for the common goods’ is not a piece of cake, which everyone can do. It needs a lots of commitments, courage & sacrifice. But it’s now becoming trend to raise questions & belittle the achievements of others without peeping into ourselves that what we have done for the country or the society so far. In fact, we are becoming so narrow-minded that we hardy appreciate or see good things in others and have become experts in finding even the minuscule shortcomings of others, without knowing even ABC about that person.

It's true that we have freedom of speech and expression as per the fundamental rights of our constitution. But does this mean that we have become great enough to rank/undermine the contributions of any of the freedom fighters of our nation?. I don’t think anyone has the right to do so. My father was very particular in this matter too and whenever he used to hear any sort of comparison/criticism about any of the freedom fighter from anyone, he used to say to that person that first you become like him/her and then whatever you’ll tell, I’ll accept it (पहले तुम उनके जैसा बनकर दिखा दो, उसके बाद जों तुम बोलोगे मै मान लूँगा). I think , there can’t be any befitting reply from this one.

I think, we all should publicly condemn the malicious acts of building artificial barriers and differentiating freedom fighters, as at the end of the day, it was the inclusive efforts of all of them, which gave independence of our nation from the British Rule.

So, on this very 77th Independence day, let’s bow our head and pay a heartfelt tribute to all the freedom fighters & martyrs of our nation, who collectively fought and gave us the freedom, which we are enjoying with pride today. Let’s also vow at this auspicious occasion that we’ll try to become like them and will not recede to make even the supreme sacrifice for the freedom & prosperity of our beloved nation, when the country will be in need. Let’s chant with a collective voice:

ख़ुशी से मर मिटेंगे हम, अगर यह अपने वतन का आदेश है,

जिंदगी प्यारी है मगर, सबसे पहले हमारा देश है I

जय हिन्द, जय भारत I