Savouring Independence?

Parade- the red fort- flowers- Jana gana mana- and obviously 'The National Flag';
It soars high.

Right hands perpendicular to your forehead, and eyes squinting under the sunlight to see waves formed by the passing air on the tricolour fabric.

And then what?

You get home, do a few posts on your Facebook to let your 'friend list' know that you are aware of what the heck this Independence Day is all about.

And get back to whatever you were doing.

Oh and right, you do a few intellect-clad debates on Gandhiji and Netaji.

What about the other freedom fighters?

Masterda Surya Sen is not just a metro station, nor is 'Shahid Khudiram'.

Ever cared to know who are these Binoy Badal Dinesh, BBD Bagh is named after?
Or who is Matangini Hazra?

You know Matangini Hazra marched with the flag held tight, even after being shot thrice. Even after falling down, she refused to let go of the national flag; clutched on it tightly with her last breath.

You know Khudiram Bose was hanged when he was only 18 years old; younger than most of us.

Benoy, Badal and Dinesh (Yes, The two Bs and D of B.B.D. Bag) preferred to take a cyanide pill and shoot themselves than surrendering  to the British officials.

With Bhagat Singh, Sj. Shivaram Rajguru and Sj. Sukhdeva were hanged, who had equal contribution in the Indian independence movement.

Abadi Bano Begum was the first Muslim female to address an audience, speaking from behind a purdah.

Velu Nachiyar, the former princess of Ramanathapuram, was the first queen to wage a war against the British, even before the sepoy mutiny.

Tirupur Kumaran, was found dead holding the national flag, in his last protest march against the colonial government in 1932.
A decade later, Kanaklata Barua was shot down for proudly holding up the national flag.

Gour Hari Das, fought against the British rule, and then had to fight for 30 more years to get his freedom fighter certificate.
A perfect way to repay someone who gave us our independence, isn't it?

How ironic, that we often admire revolutionists of other countries, as style icons, but forget about our own country people.

And the list continues.

I don't know how we can ever repay them, expect remembering them with pride and tears.

So, how about doing something unconventional this Independence Day?
How about finding out who this 'Independence' actually belongs to, that we claim to be our own?

And well, don’t forget to savour the INDEPENDENCE that you got for free.

Happy Independence.
JAY HIND!