What is Independence Day?

It was a mildly hot and humid afternoon.

The news channels were giving out reports about how security had been beefed up in various places. Extra surveillance were in place around various parts of the city. Two wheelers were being scrutinized at various check points for additional warrant. The streets witnessed a deserted look. Most of the shops had their shutters pulled down throughout the day. Yes, it was the advent of Independence Day, the day our country got freedom from the British rule. A day, which will go down generations as and when freedom fighters successfully made way for a new and independent India. And yet after all these years, the city looked as if everyone had gone into a widespread mourning. Such sadness!

Isn’t Independence Day supposed to be a day for mass celebrations? People come out on the streets to observe a cheerful procession to commemorate Independence Day with fireworks and drumbeats, right? At least, this is what a dream Independence Day looks like, isn't it?

And there is even a holiday where people just stay indoors doing nothing but resting on their tummy perhaps.

In our city, the people are happy not because it is Independence Day; the happiness reflects the gratuity of a potential holiday out of all the days. Who doesn’t enjoy a holiday? 

On the flipside, flag hoisting is done which is obviously a matter of pride but is executed only in a limited number of places. Some people find great dignity in it while for others, it’s a rather obligatory duty.

In present times, Independence Day seems to be more of a business strategy used by various e-commercial sites. Independence Day sales have been proliferating all over the place these days. Myntra, Flipkart, Amazon and every available site would flood your inbox with messages and notifications regarding their familiar discounted prices. But yeah, everyone loves shopping. And at exceedingly low prices! Besides that, people would be seen updating posts in social media citing the level of patriotism they have inside them and chanting 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' like berserk fellows at every given opportunity. Profile pictures would be updated which would display their loyalty towards the tri-color. Saffron, white and green fill up the entire eyesight. Happy Independence Day indeed. Why do we wish each other happiness? And where does this 'happiness' lie? Is it actually evident?

At least around 15th August, it still gives jitters at the thought of stepping out of our homes, lest one of the many terrorist groups decides to blast their way through the good times. For ages, these militant groups have been meddling with our lives for their demands of an independent Assam. I still don't understand how much more freedom do they want? Is it freedom to kill more people? And these morons would boycott Independence Day every year, instigating a feeling of dismay amongst us and thus, making 15th August a day of suspicion and dread within us. 

India would be truly independent when people won't be afraid to walk freely on the streets. True meaning of independence would be when both men and women can walk equally without any discrimination. Freedom doesn't just mean not being under the rule of a foreign colonial power. Freedom must also mean the privilege and right to speak against the Government without having to face abuses and taunts from those self-appointed protectors of the country. Freedom must also mean having the liberty to eat any food, be it beef or pork without having to justify to anybody. Freedom must also imply having the condign to have individual choices regarding one's political choices without certain people getting offended by it. Freedom on a large scale means so many honorable privileges which if rightly implemented can give a true meaning of independence to every Indian.    

Jai Hind.