A day prior to every Independence Day and Republic Day, there is a sudden surge in the patriotic sentiments of all Indians, and we frantically send our wishes to all our near and dear ones. With passion, vigour, and national fervour, we celebrate these days in our offices, schools, and colleges. We also remember the hard work and sacrifice of thousands who laid down their lives for earning us our precious independence and sovereignty. We had one identity then – “INDIAN”, who were those struggling to break away from the thorny clutches of the British Empire. Our freedom fighters sacrificed their lives, not for their religion, caste, or language, but to regain the identity of being an Indian. Today, while we celebrate 70 years of our independence, it’s time for serious introspection. It’s time to analyse and understand the sacrifices of our freedom fighters, who, with the motive of attaining freedom, braved the vagaries of jail life for years together in abysmal conditions and were even hanged to death. It’s high time we asked ourselves a question – “Did Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Udham Singh, and thousands like them, risk their lives for a socially divided independent India or an integrated independent India?” And certainly, each one of us has the answer to this, lurking in the deep corners of our conscience. But then, why are we getting blinded and waylaid by our parochial leaders, who, for their vested interests, spew the venom of hatred among the communities, religions and castes, threatening our Indian-ness. Can we not see the traces of the erstwhile British policy of “Divide and Rule” in their thoughts, speech and actions? If we are educated in the true sense, we must not blame our leaders alone. It is also our responsibility to not get carried away. When our freedom fighters understood the hardships of dying and embraced life imprisonment for the sake of the nation, I believe, it is the foremost duty of every educated Indian to imbibe complete Indian-ness in their hearts and actions so that no one can dare to divide them again. Only then, celebrating our independence has a meaning. Otherwise, it will innocuously pass this year too and come again next year without any tangible patriotism.

It’s time we move from divided Indian-ness to undivided Indian-ness. ‘Happy Independence Day.’