Independence Day!
What is this Independence Day??
What actually is independence?
Independence from what??
Why celebrate this Independence Day?
How appropriate would it be today to celebrate Independence Day?
I often ponder these questions, yet the answers seem elusive. Initially, I began by contemplating the concept of independence. Technically, we define independence as sovereignty, self-governance, liberty, and freedom. But why do we need such complex terms to describe simple independence? Throughout my school and college years, the meaning of independence seemed complicated and was only considered valid if it included these specific terms. My thoughts led me to realize that my mind is not just a repository of information but an intelligent system. This sparked a question: What is every human’s ultimate goal? Isn’t it to experience freedom?
What is this freedom?
To grasp the concept of freedom, we must first comprehend its opposite, ‘restriction,’ which limits our ability to choose from endless possibilities and confines us to specific options. This confinement is a form of bondage—bondage to our own beliefs, conditioned responses, and self-imposed boundaries. These boundaries and beliefs are merely the ideas and concepts we accept as truths. When these become as unyielding and rigid as concrete, they obscure our vision, effectively becoming prison walls we inadvertently erect around ourselves.
Indeed, today, many of us have developed a strong affinity for the West, believing that it holds unparalleled knowledge and is nearly divine. This mindset has created a mental barrier, causing us to become narrow-minded and unaware of our potential. We unwittingly live in self-imposed confinement. However, this was deliberately influenced by the strategic efforts of British intellectuals.
India stands as a beacon of knowledge and wisdom, thanks to the incredible contributions of our ancestors, which have ensured our self-reliance. Westerners believed that to subjugate Indians permanently, the country’s deeply ingrained culture of wisdom was the primary obstacle.
LORD MACAULAY’S ADDRESS TO THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT – 2ND FEBRUARY, 1835 was as follows:
“I have traveled across the length and breadth of India, and I have not seen one person who is a beggar or a thief! Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, and people of such caliber that I do not think we would ever conquer this country unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore I purpose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, their native culture. They will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation.”
It’s the fact that we allowed them to execute what they planned successfully. People lost their souls and became just a bundle of nerves and conditioned responses, constantly triggered by other people and circumstances, into predictable outcomes! We need to break down the conditioned responses, go beyond self-created boundaries, and experience the boundless! And that is what FREEDOM is!
The fundamental element of freedom is the ability to observe silently. By becoming aware of our situations, choices, and interpretations, we initially gain the experience of freedom of choice. Living in a self-referred state of consciousness is essential, aligning with our inner self rather than our self-image.
Reflecting on how to restore Bharath to its former glory, I wondered what we need independence from. Freedom from what precisely? Indeed! It’s freedom from the thoughts, lifestyle, dress sense, education, and more that were never originally ours. It is clear to me that we are still not free from British influence.
To represent India’s unique identity, we find ourselves with nothing left to display! This demonstrates how we’ve lost our individuality, which is essential to claim our identity as Indians.
Our country’s independence was merely a well-executed drama! It was simply a dependency shift from British control to our leaders! We are often so complacent that we don’t attempt to grasp this reality! Nowadays, I find it difficult because many people seem to trust only Westerners and not our citizens.
Driven by a misplaced sense of patriotism, individuals often find themselves bewildered and unable to discern reality, mainly because of inadequate education. Politicians manipulated by foreign interests exacerbate this confusion and have become successors to malicious forces.
It is disheartening to witness the significant shift in our perceptions and lifestyles. We admire and adopt foreign cultures, eagerly embracing their fashion trends and products despite having similar domestic options, under the impression that they are superior. In this rush, a considerable brain drain is happening, and because of this, we bolster their economies while perpetuating the image of our country as impoverished or underdeveloped. This tendency to adopt Western ideals is not wrong, but the cost of neglecting our origins isn’t fair.
In their pursuit of wealth, people often trap themselves in forms of modern slavery. We often perceive this as a great symbol of dignity and prosperity. Why do we remain under such an illusion and fail to realize that without one to work to improve our economy and social conditions, our country cannot progress?
Then, a question pops up in my mind. Are we independent?
Have we got freedom?
The answer was ‘no!’ When my country is in such a condition, how appropriate would it be to celebrate Independence Day?
True celebration is only possible when we achieve complete freedom. Both external and internal dependencies must disappear. How can I genuinely wish our people a Happy Independence Day before this happens? The challenge lies in the fact that many of our citizens are unwilling to seek liberation due to deep-seated indoctrination. Until they resolve to break free from this mental bondage, Bharath will remain unshackled.
I’ve often prayed, hoping people understand their responsibilities and emerge from their ignorance. Eventually, I concluded that India’s independence over the past 64 years is merely an illusion, shifting dependency from the British to us.
सं गच्छध्वं सं वदध्वं सं वो मनांसि जानतां | देवा भागं यथा पूर्वे सं जानाना उपासते | समानो मन्त्र: समितिस्समानी समानं मन: सह चित्तमेषां समानं मन्त्रमभिमन्त्रयेवः: समानेन वो हविषा जुहोमि समानिव आकूति: समाना हृदयानि व: समानमस्तु वो मनो यथा व: सुसहासति ||(R.V. X -192 -2)
Unite! Speak in harmony; let your minds understand alike, just as the Gods collectively accepted their sacrifice. Share the same prayer, the same goals, and the same intentions. Let your hearts and thoughts be unified to achieve complete unity among you!
