IN DEPENDANCE

IN DEPENDANCE

Fascinating isn’t it, the way we can look at this word. When read as two different words it conveys a meaning as being in “the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else”. On the contrary we all know the meaning if we combine both the words. 

Today on this patriotic occasion, I feel quite happy for the 1.2 billion people around the nation and salute the martyrs who made this day possible. 

But apart from all the celebrations around do you feel any guilt inside you? Yes, I am talking to you. Do you feel any guilt?

Let me clarify, I give you a set of examples 

1. Do you feel sad when you see any poor child around your neighbourhood?
2. Do you feel sad when you see children younger than your age working at Dhabas or as a street hawker?
3. Do you get disturbed when any disabled comes to you for any financial help(begging for alms) in trains or bus stands or even outside big temples?
4. Do you feel bad about the farmers committing suicide due to starvation?

I think these many examples are enough to invoke the idea inside your mind. And believe me, though it has and will be repeated a billion times in the future, ‘this was not the INDIA which the freedom fighters had dreamt for us. On a lighter note, “These are dark times there is no denying”. 

So, are we slaves? I think we are. We are slaves to corruption, poverty, female homicide, scandals and inflation. But more than any of these we are slaves to ourselves. Luckily, we don’t need a national movement to change ourselves. But we need a bigger force on our side, our own willpower, with a pinch of inspiration and a touch of enthusiasm.

As Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple spoke in one of his famous speeches at Stanford University on June 12, 2005 for the graduation commencement.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

And believe me we can make a change in the ever changing world. Speak what you think is right, express your thoughts. Let’s not make it freedom for the ‘free-dumb’. Learn to be free and make everyone aware. And soon you would be free from every guilt inside your heart and that day every day of your life will be celebrated as “INDEPENDENCE DAY”. 

I leave you with these eternal words of wisdom by beloved BAPU.