ajtr
BANNED
- Joined
- May 25, 2010
- Messages
- 9,357
- Reaction score
- 0
In India celebrates 66th Independence Day thread i asked The valid and important question:"Are we really independent after 65 years?" This question is valid to both India which is celebrating its Independence Day today and Pakistan which celebrated it yesterday. Unfortunately that question of mine got drowned in celebration.But here same question is asked by Mahjabeen Mankani in different form in Dawn.And its equally valid to whole Indian subcontinent.
====================================================================
How independent are we?
As the country hits its 65th year today, the spirits of many are seen lifted; living and breathing green. The stalls selling flags and badges on the streets, clothes and other accessories specially designed to set the mood, walking the parade where many may even sing the national anthem after a year. Moreover, all television channels have monotone logos, the commercials itself are now playing with our emotions and using the spirit of our independence to sell their products.
I have nothing against the celebrations. I am a patriotic Pakistani myself, who’s all set for today fully color coordinated and in high spirits. I am one of you. But my point is – have we stopped to think even once where our country is headed? Why do we only come together on one platform every year on this day alone but hold onto to our differences the rest of the year?
When it comes to sectarian violence, why do we then stand across one another, open fire on Shia processions and fearlessly turn the country into a battleground? So where is the country headed? Is it gradually inclining with the hope that someday our youth will come to our rescue? Or is it a journey downward, straight into an infinite abyss?
Pakistan is a hard country. Our patriotism is tested every single day. We won an Oscar, which ended in a scandal and our athletes disappointed the country in the Olympics. What is even worse is to hear people say that this was expected.
We come together when we see the country rising, but point fingers at one another when our hopes begin to shatter. We live in this country complaining and unhappy but still live here for the luxury it offers. As Goethe said, “None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.”
We are forcing ourselves to drown into this endless hole of self-destructive oblivion. No one but we alone are responsible for where this country is headed.
Our patriotic spirits that have surfaced today will not help us end corruption, economic crisis, social disparity and political intimidation. It will not help feed those starving mouths, nor will it help shelter the homeless. It will not educate the masses, nor end their misery.
So how independent are we? What is this freedom if it doesn’t include liberation from hunger, inequality, injustice and exploitation?
Freedom means to have the privilege to choose. So what does it mean when we don’t have a choice? In a country where politicians are neck and neck in battle, how do we expect them to look at the bigger picture?
So then it comes down to us, the high-spirited patriots. We must not let our spirits die today. When tomorrow dawns, live with the same sense of pride and responsibility that you have in you today. Our optimism and belief are two of the most important virtues, which keep us going despite numerous tribulations that keep us down, time and again. We just need to carry this legacy of determination, belief and hope forward, and one day we may eventually make a difference in who we are and again emerge as a respectable nation.
Let today be the day we promise to stand on the same platform; kindling one heart at a time towards a better tomorrow.
==========================================================
Are we really INDEPENDENT ?
I was thinking about myself as to who am I ? When I self-introspected a bit, I realised that like every individual I am a person who loves independence. But when I actually looked outside, I found that this independence is a figment of our imagination. One question that came to my mind was that even after several years of independence, are we really Independent ?
During the formative years, I was under the guidance of my parents and was totally dependent on them. Their influenced has made me what I am today ! When I grew up and went to school, I was bounded by the rules and regulations. The same was applicable even for the college. At every point of time, I remember the quote, “Man is born free but lives in chains”. That time people used to say that all this will be helpful to me in becoming a good citizen and once I become an adult, I will be free and can live my life independently.
On my 18th birthday, I was very excited that now I will be independent and will make a new world of my own, making all my decisions independently. But, was this really possible ? Soon my dreams were dashed to the ground. All that was around me was blood and more blood ! Every sight caused me immense pain and every time I questioned myself, are we independent ?
Although we’ve fought for independence but still we are dependent much more than what we were before. I found the society to be very conservative, in reality it is not at all independent. Whatever I did, I was imposed to follow certain ethics and norms in life. The thought of doing something was always followed by the thought as to how the society would perceive me, my actions and my thinking. I just couldn’t do whatever I want because that can harm others mentally and physically thus making it rather difficult for me to take independent decisions. Every action or decision was bounded by the perception of the society.
We can never be completely independent as long as we live in a society. In order to be really independent, one should have the right to live their lives in the way they want. The society is surrounded by corruption and corrupt politicians. People are killing each other for no reason. Crime rates have increased and people are no longer feeling safe. Soon I realized that everything was not as good as I thought it to be, forget about being united and independent, even relationships aren’t valued anymore. People are ready to sell their families for the sake of money or even go to the extent of killing them for their own needs. Although people say that the nation is free from slavery but still, it exists in different forms. Out of which, the problem of child labor is very severe, children are abused and forced to beg.
The society is also facing the problem of unemployment. People are dying of hunger as they can’t even afford 2 meals a day. Due to lack of education, women have been the most affected and been going through all the suffering and pain. They have been never considered at par with men, always been looked down upon.
Even today, bribery is still in existence. Everyone is aware of the fact that practising of dowry is bad and not right but still, it is widely accepted and followed at all levels.
We call ourselves independent and educated, then why can’t we break this conservatism ? We are still much dependent on the political system which keeps people illiterate so that votes can be controlled easily. We need to depend on one another for our needs !
Each one of us has been living a misleading way of life, where our likes and dislikes did not make any sense and had no existence in the real independent world. It’s high time we realize that each individual is a unique piece of art and must be given their birthright i.e. the Right to Live, the way they want.
Was this the independence that I had been searching for ? Was this the independence for which the freedom fighters gave their lives ? Even after 65 years of independence, are we really independent ?
===========================================================
Independence Day- Satyamev Jayate- Let’s Make A Difference!
As I am writing this article, I feel like the whole world around me has turned upside down. It was around 12.30 PM, 29th July that I just finished watching the last episode of Satyamev Jayate . Aamir ended his show by inviting and felicitating little known people who have achieved great things with a small dream and rock solid determination.
As I was watching this episode, something else was bothering me. It was like two things are competing against each other. On one hand, Aamir is trying to create awareness in public about how social injustice has spread its tentacles and how we can make a difference and on the other hand, I am trying to come in terms with the videos I watched where miscreants ill treated revelers in a home stay in the name of moral policing and a girl being molested by 15 ruthless males. The latter happened in a place where I was raised, a place which I am always proud of, is now making headlines for all the wrong reasons and I am deeply saddened.
This provokes me to ask a simple question. Are we really Independent?
Does hoisting a flag every year on the 15th of August automatically bestow upon the constitutional rights?
Is Independence a privilege of few people who either have money or political power?
India is going to celebrate its 65th Independence Day, marking our freedom from the clutches of the British. But after watching Satyamev Jayate and the brutal molestation videos, I am convinced that we have a bigger evil to fight against, which is much greater than the slavery conferred on us by the British.
If we have to call ourselves independent and celebrate Independence Day in real sense, then we need to fight and root out the enemy, the enemy called ‘social injustice’ which we have bred amongst ourselves.
Being inspired by Aamir’s Sataymev Jayate, we at NRIstreet like to contribute in our own way to create awareness among people about the social injustice that is rampant.
We have created 13 infographics, one for each episode of Satyamev Jayate which will give a brief introduction to each episode and show you what impact each episode has made and also cover the NGOs and how you can make a difference by contributing, starting with just 1 rupee.
To conclude in the words of Abraham Lincoln, ‘Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves’.
As Independence Day is approaching, let us work together in true spirit of being independent. Let us work towards being better citizens, let us utilize the freedom, a chance to be better…Satyamev Jayate…Happy Independence Day!!!
===========================================================
ARE WE REALLY INDEPENDENT?
As the Independence Day is approaching, I am continuously haunted by a question i.e. are we truly free and independent? We have gained freedom from the British rule but what have we done with our independence? It has been 63 years since we have gained independence. We are a free nation now. But still after so many years, the question remains the same.
We proudly claim that we are independent from a foreign rule but we are still not free from jealousy, intolerance and hatred towards our fellow countrymen. We are full of bitterness towards other religions, traditions and always try to suppress the growth of the other. We are tied in shackles of terrorism, false ideologies, corruption, communal violence, and class – caste distinctions and so on. We tend to forget that independence is not only living freely but also allowing others to live freely.
We say that we are a free nation but our behavior suggests that we are still not free. We take pride in other’s culture but not in our own culture. We admire other nations but forget to count the good points of our nation. We love western culture and try to avoid Indian culture. We love pizza, McDonalds, Pepsi, and Coke but hate Indian recipes. We wear jeans, skirts and often criticize our saris and suits. We take pride in a foreign language but fail to learn and appreciate our language. We aspire for jobs in USA, UK, and Australia etc. and are filled with regret for being born and living in India. No doubt we are independent but monetarily paralyzed. We do not think independently, we often think what others make us think.
All this really makes one think that are we really independent? Are we a free nation? Are we worthy of any praise?
These are haunting questions which we may hesitate to answer but they are standing in our way of success and have to be answered as soon as possible. A unified India should come together to answer these questions as this is not a job of one individual but the whole nation.
It would be unfair to say that that we cannot do anything because when we Indians decide to do something then nothing is impossible for us. It is just a momentary laziness and lack of encouragement that has led to such a situation. So I call upon all the people especially the youth of the nation, on this Independence Day, to come forward and break all the shackles to make the country truly independent and free.
Everyone should pledge to work towards the development of India in a true sense and make India – a place full of love and happiness and mark it as a successful nation on the world map. Only then, will we be independent in true sense of the term.
====================================================================
How independent are we?
As the country hits its 65th year today, the spirits of many are seen lifted; living and breathing green. The stalls selling flags and badges on the streets, clothes and other accessories specially designed to set the mood, walking the parade where many may even sing the national anthem after a year. Moreover, all television channels have monotone logos, the commercials itself are now playing with our emotions and using the spirit of our independence to sell their products.
I have nothing against the celebrations. I am a patriotic Pakistani myself, who’s all set for today fully color coordinated and in high spirits. I am one of you. But my point is – have we stopped to think even once where our country is headed? Why do we only come together on one platform every year on this day alone but hold onto to our differences the rest of the year?
When it comes to sectarian violence, why do we then stand across one another, open fire on Shia processions and fearlessly turn the country into a battleground? So where is the country headed? Is it gradually inclining with the hope that someday our youth will come to our rescue? Or is it a journey downward, straight into an infinite abyss?
Pakistan is a hard country. Our patriotism is tested every single day. We won an Oscar, which ended in a scandal and our athletes disappointed the country in the Olympics. What is even worse is to hear people say that this was expected.
We come together when we see the country rising, but point fingers at one another when our hopes begin to shatter. We live in this country complaining and unhappy but still live here for the luxury it offers. As Goethe said, “None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.”
We are forcing ourselves to drown into this endless hole of self-destructive oblivion. No one but we alone are responsible for where this country is headed.
Our patriotic spirits that have surfaced today will not help us end corruption, economic crisis, social disparity and political intimidation. It will not help feed those starving mouths, nor will it help shelter the homeless. It will not educate the masses, nor end their misery.
So how independent are we? What is this freedom if it doesn’t include liberation from hunger, inequality, injustice and exploitation?
Freedom means to have the privilege to choose. So what does it mean when we don’t have a choice? In a country where politicians are neck and neck in battle, how do we expect them to look at the bigger picture?
So then it comes down to us, the high-spirited patriots. We must not let our spirits die today. When tomorrow dawns, live with the same sense of pride and responsibility that you have in you today. Our optimism and belief are two of the most important virtues, which keep us going despite numerous tribulations that keep us down, time and again. We just need to carry this legacy of determination, belief and hope forward, and one day we may eventually make a difference in who we are and again emerge as a respectable nation.
Let today be the day we promise to stand on the same platform; kindling one heart at a time towards a better tomorrow.
==========================================================
Are we really INDEPENDENT ?
I was thinking about myself as to who am I ? When I self-introspected a bit, I realised that like every individual I am a person who loves independence. But when I actually looked outside, I found that this independence is a figment of our imagination. One question that came to my mind was that even after several years of independence, are we really Independent ?
During the formative years, I was under the guidance of my parents and was totally dependent on them. Their influenced has made me what I am today ! When I grew up and went to school, I was bounded by the rules and regulations. The same was applicable even for the college. At every point of time, I remember the quote, “Man is born free but lives in chains”. That time people used to say that all this will be helpful to me in becoming a good citizen and once I become an adult, I will be free and can live my life independently.
On my 18th birthday, I was very excited that now I will be independent and will make a new world of my own, making all my decisions independently. But, was this really possible ? Soon my dreams were dashed to the ground. All that was around me was blood and more blood ! Every sight caused me immense pain and every time I questioned myself, are we independent ?
Although we’ve fought for independence but still we are dependent much more than what we were before. I found the society to be very conservative, in reality it is not at all independent. Whatever I did, I was imposed to follow certain ethics and norms in life. The thought of doing something was always followed by the thought as to how the society would perceive me, my actions and my thinking. I just couldn’t do whatever I want because that can harm others mentally and physically thus making it rather difficult for me to take independent decisions. Every action or decision was bounded by the perception of the society.
We can never be completely independent as long as we live in a society. In order to be really independent, one should have the right to live their lives in the way they want. The society is surrounded by corruption and corrupt politicians. People are killing each other for no reason. Crime rates have increased and people are no longer feeling safe. Soon I realized that everything was not as good as I thought it to be, forget about being united and independent, even relationships aren’t valued anymore. People are ready to sell their families for the sake of money or even go to the extent of killing them for their own needs. Although people say that the nation is free from slavery but still, it exists in different forms. Out of which, the problem of child labor is very severe, children are abused and forced to beg.
The society is also facing the problem of unemployment. People are dying of hunger as they can’t even afford 2 meals a day. Due to lack of education, women have been the most affected and been going through all the suffering and pain. They have been never considered at par with men, always been looked down upon.
Even today, bribery is still in existence. Everyone is aware of the fact that practising of dowry is bad and not right but still, it is widely accepted and followed at all levels.
We call ourselves independent and educated, then why can’t we break this conservatism ? We are still much dependent on the political system which keeps people illiterate so that votes can be controlled easily. We need to depend on one another for our needs !
Each one of us has been living a misleading way of life, where our likes and dislikes did not make any sense and had no existence in the real independent world. It’s high time we realize that each individual is a unique piece of art and must be given their birthright i.e. the Right to Live, the way they want.
Was this the independence that I had been searching for ? Was this the independence for which the freedom fighters gave their lives ? Even after 65 years of independence, are we really independent ?
===========================================================
Independence Day- Satyamev Jayate- Let’s Make A Difference!
As I am writing this article, I feel like the whole world around me has turned upside down. It was around 12.30 PM, 29th July that I just finished watching the last episode of Satyamev Jayate . Aamir ended his show by inviting and felicitating little known people who have achieved great things with a small dream and rock solid determination.
As I was watching this episode, something else was bothering me. It was like two things are competing against each other. On one hand, Aamir is trying to create awareness in public about how social injustice has spread its tentacles and how we can make a difference and on the other hand, I am trying to come in terms with the videos I watched where miscreants ill treated revelers in a home stay in the name of moral policing and a girl being molested by 15 ruthless males. The latter happened in a place where I was raised, a place which I am always proud of, is now making headlines for all the wrong reasons and I am deeply saddened.
This provokes me to ask a simple question. Are we really Independent?
Does hoisting a flag every year on the 15th of August automatically bestow upon the constitutional rights?
Is Independence a privilege of few people who either have money or political power?
India is going to celebrate its 65th Independence Day, marking our freedom from the clutches of the British. But after watching Satyamev Jayate and the brutal molestation videos, I am convinced that we have a bigger evil to fight against, which is much greater than the slavery conferred on us by the British.
If we have to call ourselves independent and celebrate Independence Day in real sense, then we need to fight and root out the enemy, the enemy called ‘social injustice’ which we have bred amongst ourselves.
Being inspired by Aamir’s Sataymev Jayate, we at NRIstreet like to contribute in our own way to create awareness among people about the social injustice that is rampant.
We have created 13 infographics, one for each episode of Satyamev Jayate which will give a brief introduction to each episode and show you what impact each episode has made and also cover the NGOs and how you can make a difference by contributing, starting with just 1 rupee.
To conclude in the words of Abraham Lincoln, ‘Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves’.
As Independence Day is approaching, let us work together in true spirit of being independent. Let us work towards being better citizens, let us utilize the freedom, a chance to be better…Satyamev Jayate…Happy Independence Day!!!
===========================================================
ARE WE REALLY INDEPENDENT?
As the Independence Day is approaching, I am continuously haunted by a question i.e. are we truly free and independent? We have gained freedom from the British rule but what have we done with our independence? It has been 63 years since we have gained independence. We are a free nation now. But still after so many years, the question remains the same.
We proudly claim that we are independent from a foreign rule but we are still not free from jealousy, intolerance and hatred towards our fellow countrymen. We are full of bitterness towards other religions, traditions and always try to suppress the growth of the other. We are tied in shackles of terrorism, false ideologies, corruption, communal violence, and class – caste distinctions and so on. We tend to forget that independence is not only living freely but also allowing others to live freely.
We say that we are a free nation but our behavior suggests that we are still not free. We take pride in other’s culture but not in our own culture. We admire other nations but forget to count the good points of our nation. We love western culture and try to avoid Indian culture. We love pizza, McDonalds, Pepsi, and Coke but hate Indian recipes. We wear jeans, skirts and often criticize our saris and suits. We take pride in a foreign language but fail to learn and appreciate our language. We aspire for jobs in USA, UK, and Australia etc. and are filled with regret for being born and living in India. No doubt we are independent but monetarily paralyzed. We do not think independently, we often think what others make us think.
All this really makes one think that are we really independent? Are we a free nation? Are we worthy of any praise?
These are haunting questions which we may hesitate to answer but they are standing in our way of success and have to be answered as soon as possible. A unified India should come together to answer these questions as this is not a job of one individual but the whole nation.
It would be unfair to say that that we cannot do anything because when we Indians decide to do something then nothing is impossible for us. It is just a momentary laziness and lack of encouragement that has led to such a situation. So I call upon all the people especially the youth of the nation, on this Independence Day, to come forward and break all the shackles to make the country truly independent and free.
Everyone should pledge to work towards the development of India in a true sense and make India – a place full of love and happiness and mark it as a successful nation on the world map. Only then, will we be independent in true sense of the term.
