Aazadi
Dr. Satish K. Shukla
We salute our nation on its 70th anniversary and independence from BRITISH RAJ. We are free people in free INDIA now ruled by our own people elected democratically. People fought freedom battle one and together under various leaders from the beginning but gathered momentum from 1857 onwards. This year is marked as an year when whole country from north to south stood together against the British atrocities though resulted in mass genocide and temporarily relief to British Government. Britishers learnt first lesson of unity of people and its determination of freedom. Further ruled with wisdom of divide and rule the people in different groups of religion, caste, language and wealth of money and land. Jalianwala bag massacre and many other such genocides made people strong mentally to come together under great leaders like Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi. They stood for people welfare and united the country understanding their feelings and became a part of them, lived their life, and eat what they eat. Gandhi became Mahatma as people recognised him as one of them who understoods them to solve their plight and freedom from poverty and associated miseries. 70 years on we are still talking of poverty and measures to relive them. Has any leader after Mahatma Gandhi was able to allign with people and became a part to know their feelings and act to help them, possibly No? Where is our AZADI? Still in words of leaders only. Phenomenal progress INDIA has made in many spheres but lacking in HUMAN parameter of equality and resources. Let last Man sleep with satisfaction of two meals a day, good education to their children and reasonable medical care to see light of the day with smiling face. Azadi will come and INDIA will be a great nation only when these three basic needs come on the ground truthfully. High achievements are on papers to applaud at times as large people are away from it still waiting for AZADI.
Britishers ruled on dividing people and divided this country leaving seed of hatread flourishing to destroy people’s life not in this continent but all over the world on the name of terrorism. It is not a development of a decade or two but of century’s rule of few Eurpoean Nations all over the world. Similarly modern history following 2nd World WAR has seen battles in many Asian and Middle East Nations of proving superiority on the name of democracy not allowing and helping people to solve their problem and be a facilitator only. Is world AZAD? All of us individually or as a Nation are under pressure of some kind of survival or long leap to progress cluthing our selves with limited wisdom of people in general. We are afraid to talk the truth and hail our selves as massiah of people. We are not AZAD from our own thinking.
History makes us learn to imrove and act to benefit all. But alas – NO LESSON LEARNT, IGNORED PAST, AND FIGHT FOR EGO’S have become the norms now. But TIME has not let such people or nation survive. Time and again Leaders have come forward who have no self motive but for people to come behind them and given them freedom from atrocities or bad Ruler. But AZADI remains alluded. Democracy is not Azadi if we have people still fighting for religion and caste ignoriny apathy of a common people. This is because WE have no leader who stands by them. Can Mahatma Gandhi rebirth at this juncture help us or any one following his preaching and living with people help us to give AZADI? Such many questions to answer. But no clear answer.
Let us celeberate 70th Independence day with glory of past,rejoice with friends and colleagues and pray GOD to do something for the nation to be proud of.Let us be truthful to our selves and nation to see bright days. Do not wait for some one to give you Azadi. It is in your self. Each one of us can do a good sincere act for the people and nation and build it a strong with satisfied people loving each other.
God Bless you all. Enjoy Azadi and let others enjoy it also.