It's a holiday: 15.08. xxxx

In three week's time we'll be celebrating our 64th Independence Day with great fervour! All around the town, there will be gaiety and festivity. The loudspeakers will be pouring forth all patriotic songs: from 'Jana Gana Mana' to 'Vande Matram' and Lata's 'Mere Waton ke Logon...'! The tri-colour will be on sale every nook and corner and all cars and rickshaws will be decorated by one! But the real question is what are we celebrating? Independence. What is independence? The public during live interviews for radio and television channels makes tall claims but the reality is something different. Does being independent mean that we spit and throw garbage on the road and use the road as a urinal? (becoz its public space - belongs by right to the public to do anything and everything) Does being independent mean that we ignore traffic rules and drive as if we were driving on the highway without any care and concern? Does being independent mean that we follow rules only if the people to implement the rules are present? For example, the traffic coming from Gandhi Maidan towards Rajapur Pul has to make a detour after Golghar but if the traffic constable is absent no one bothers to change the route.
we seriously need to think about this. Is it enough to remember Gandhi, Nehru and the others on 15th August and 26th January? What do we really do for the country? In Kanpur, a group of teachers of English (both from schools and colleges) have organized a month-long workshop to teach the English language to the marginalized. A philanthropic act indeed! in Patna, there are small units doing similar activities but the number is small in the country. we really need to unite and sensitize ourselves and others to issues around us to realize the true meaning of 'Independence.' Till then 15th August every year will just be another holiday!

Comments

Professor Shanker Dutt said…
We shall stand with the traffic constables and sing.... can't clitty-clat the lyrics on Facebook. Professors are not supposed to behave that way.
July 24, 2010 at 11:07 AM
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