An old one. Though I found this time to be an appropriate one to publish this.
It has
been a long time—into the 64th year,
Days
spent for rejuvenation or days passed in fear?
Freedom
was earned, for pride and laurels…
Not for
people to tremble, on the stroke of gun barrels!
This
nation has seen it all, everything that a country must,
From 2nd
April’s glory to 16th December’s disgust!
The
largest democracy and the largest agricultural producing nation,
But only
for being arrested for your ‘freedom of speech’, and for a farmer’s self-annihilation.
The impeccable
military strength—Agnee, Sagarika and Dhanush,
Only for
a sister’s 21 year longing, and 4 years of feast for the mastermind of the
nation’s biggest ambush!
‘Z-
Class ’of course, after all, they are the leaders of the country…
But
nothing to counter ‘the sword of death’ hanging over the ‘only’ leader of ‘Aam
Aadmi’!
The
Longewala heroics and the Kargil glories…
Were
surely not for the death of our brothers from the east, and terror ‘courtesy’
some fake SMS stories.
Back are
the feathers of wealth and luxury—The Golden Bird, as they said…
Only at
the cost of half the population starving for a piece of bread!
Five
star luncheons or dinners, just a matter of choice,
Where a
majority thinks twice before buying a kilogram of rice.
Administrative
officers, surely helping for the achievement of the ultimate goal…
At the
cost of a few equally deserving ones still hanging around on a subordinate
post.
Mc
Donald’s or Dominos, just a matter of their mood,
Where a
stressed disheartened man struggles to give his family another day’s food!
The LOC
warriors would silently drop a tear—for bloodshed on their own land…
Because
God dwells inside us, not in a temple or a mosque.
Our
walls unbreakable-our ‘Men’ strong and alert…
But
nothing to defend the Damini’s, the ones who give them birth!
Day
after day, year after year…
We have
had our days as well as faced our fears!
From
‘hate-speeches’ to ‘dented and painted women’.
From a
be-headed son to an assaulted daughter.
From KKR’s
glory to Kingfisher’s doom.
From
Very Very Special retirement to the last brick in the ‘Wall’.
From the
dawning of an ‘Aam Aadmi Party’ to the end of an ‘Aila’.
From
Yash Chopra’s never ending romance to Jaspal Bhatti’s stomach-aching humor.
From
Rajesh Khanna’s immortal glamour to Dara Singh’s unquestionable might!
For the
past one year this nation has seen it all.
Enough
scars and enough wounds, but not enough to keep her down!
For
greatness lies within which cannot be tampered by a few hundred frowns!
Greatness
when a ‘to- be billionaire’ chooses to be a ‘donor’ rather than an ‘owner’!
Greatness
when a 75 year ‘young’ man fights for the needs of another common man!
Greatness
when a father teaches his son to pray and not to avenge!
Greatness
when the ‘world’s best batsman’ steps down, humbly, only with the dream—2015!
And
greatness when a foreign-returned son hugs his mother and falls down to her
feet
Difficulties
may be endless, conditions may be daunting,
But it’s
the will and determination of Indians that is worth counting!
For a
thousand traditions, a million cultures and a trillion beliefs—all under one
roof,
Are not
often found not even in a spoof.
Even in
circumstances threatening, we ‘the people’ need to stick around…
Because
an Eden like this one, if lost, cannot be found.
BE A
PROUD INDIAN!
That is
the best way to celebrate this day—Happy Republic Day!!
