Happy Birthday....my beloved motherland

Its that time of the year again when we all send messages to each other with all patriotic fervour. Our minds are full of thoughts about our country. The streets are filled with flag vendors. Almost every passing vehicle has a tricolour at the front. We even hang the flag in front of our houses. The internet is full of forwarded messages about the long struggle for freedom and the greatness of our country. The political parties are not far behind, conducting meetings with fanfare.

But, beyond that are we doing anything worthwhile? yes, we do sit in front of the tv all day and enjoy all those film based programs and independence day special movie. In the olden days, atleast those movies used to be classic patriotic movies. But, now we get to see some crap romantic movie or maybe some steamy hot movie featuring the latest hottie in town. And if you are politician, you will be busy hoisting the flag and taking the customary salute. The salute may vary from politician to politician, from 5 outstretched fingers to 2 finger salutes. For the policemen, independence day eve is the busiest time of the year, searching the nook and corner of the cities for bombs. For the government servant, I day is the one as described above, best spent in front of the idiot box. For students, its a day to hangout with their buddies or catch the latest release at the nearest theatre[even am no different].

We remember our great country only twice in an year. And that day too is spent like this. Our patriotism is all about phoney forwarded messages and all that stuff. Come August 16th and we'll ask, ''what India, what independence, i got better things to think about''. We are not bothered that our bloody politicians looting our country in a bigger way than the british did. We are not bothered that by playing accoding to the whims of the US, our leaders are making our country more dependent than ever. We are always ready to vote the leaders who stunt our developmental policies, again to power. And most of all, we gave an Italian jughead, a place among the greatest leaders of our country. So much for the great Independent India.

We should be doing something more worthwhile like charity work or community service, atleast on this day. We should get outside our comfort zone and travel to see the other face of India..the ugly underdeveloped side. You may not believe that there are many people in rural India who donot know India's independnce day. And even more, there are some who don't know the know of the country they live in..Yes, its happening in our India...For all this to change, we should act...We, the more privileged should be there to help the underprivileged and help them to be self dependent. Only then will the word independence achieve its true meaning......

But, even me, who has blabbered this much is doing nothing...... Thats the sad part of it.....

So, as usal lets celebrate our independence with umpteen forwarded messages and some patriotic movie DVDs.

Salutes 2 OUR great country........Mera Bharat MahaaannnMAAAA TUJHEEE SALAAMMMMMMMM

with love,

your crusader Praveen