Are We Worth This Freedom?

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"Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country", the golden words of American President John F. Kennedy enunciated in his inaugural address January 20, 1961 still hold their significance especially for the race of present day Indians who are lost in their own world since gaining freedom from the British.

Most of us keep listening to such thoughtful words every year but not many of us care to even notice if such things are being pointed towards usor someone else living in the neighborhood. It was just another Independence Day for majority of people, hence, no change in anyone's attitude towards realizing its significance even on its 61st anniversary.

India gained its freedom in August 15, 1947. The ultimate day of grand celebration and triumph arrived uncountable number of people sacrificed their lives after suffering extreme torture for the national cause. It was a passion for the youngsters and the elderly across the country to strengthen the freedom struggle, which was being carried out despite loss of so many lives at the hands of the British Army.

But can anything be more saddening for our martyrs if they were to learn the freedom they earned after so much endurance has lost its very purpose. Their brothers and sisters across the country today live for themselves and give a damn to even celebrating the Independence or Republic day.

The people, whom the freedom fighters expected to carry forward the spirit of nationalism and brotherhood beyond religious and regional identities, and social class barriers as a team, have defeated the big purpose of being free. For, today most of us take pride about ourselves despite afflicted by 'me and my family' syndrome.

Can anything be more regrettable than remembering that India in its last 61 years of gaining freedom has produced crores of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Scheduled castes and backward classes but a very few Bhartiya, the individuals who take pride in India despite all odds.

While enjoying the freedom to live, work or challenge any injustice done to us by the government agency, we forget it is courtesy those who are no more with us. The ones who sacrificed their lives for the freedom, and thereafter, making it more meaningful would today be termed 'lunatics' by many without hesitation or shame.Is it because they cared for the nation and not their own families? Were Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar and Rajguru, the three popular patriots, and thousands of other unsung heroes 'lunatics'?

Of course they were 'mad'. But they were mad about regaining their lost freedom for the country, not just their families. They wanted to watch a free India from the clutches of British Raj. They wanted their next generation to ensure reasons at national and international level to earn laurels for the country by making a difference despite all odds.

But sadly, most of us have limited ourselves to 'me and my world 'theory. The suggestion making compulsory for all to spend a year or two of youth in military service for the nation sounds justifiable considering such an attitude of the present day youth.

It is a pity we have a growing number of people among us who indirectly would not value such individuals more than that.But they chose to devote their mind and spirit to a bigger cause that affected the rest of the country.

Before cherishing this freedom and be worth of questioning this nation, we must think which place or country is flawless on this planet? Which country's politicians are not corrupt? Which system is impeccable?But still not all are so ungrateful like us. Since we have freedom for 61 years, none of us bothers to even talk about the people or circumstances that made a free world possible for us.