Sunday, August 15, 2010

64th Independence Day: India and the MTV Generation!

“You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.” - Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

We are celebrating the 64th Independence Day today. But unlike the past, the youth of today look back with cynical eyes wondering what Independence Day is all about.



A s a survey carried out in various cities of India has revealed that today’s youths have forgotten its history and have no idea about what happened in the year 1857. For some, it signifies a car’s number plate; while for others, it’s a year when riots took place.



Independence is the freedom of the soul, a perception of the mind and a feeling understood by the heart. This freedom, perception and more importantly, this feeling is that of liberation, patriotism, self-dependence and other such things.



When all such terms are put together and imposed upon the majority, it is a big responsibility on the youth of that nation and on those who create it. That nation is India.



So when India celebrates its 64th Independence Day, what does it mean to its people and the MTV generation at large? The sad part is that today, a majority of masses get enthusiastic about Independence Day/Republic Day as it has been declared as national holiday by the government. Gone are the days when people were very eager to attend Independence Day functions and were proud of being the part of the celebration.



When Breaking News Online asked a youth about the importance of freedom to him, quick came the reply, “India is a great country! Maoists and terrorists are also enjoying freedom in this great country.



Maoists are free to derail any train at any time and in any route. Terrorists are free to plant bombs anywhere in this country. There is no bar on Ministers regarding quantum of corruption. We need an overhaul.”



As the tri-color unfurls in its full splendor on the 15th day of this August, let’s introspect on to how we can together make a positive difference for the nation - whether through eco-friendly practices, energy-efficient measures, community service participation, financial contribution, fighting corruption or cost-effective innovation.



P.S.: On a lighter note, we are mentioning names of few good patriotic movies: ‘Lakshya’, ‘Rang De Basanti’ and ‘Border’. Happy Independence Day!

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