Singing glory to our Heroes

At the dawn of our 75th Independence Day celebration, I was wondering about what new horizons can we celebrate, what laurels to crown our temples, what milestone to log? There are plentiful – our splendid victory in Olympics, the technological advancements and economic growth.

But my heart today is not drawn towards these achievements. My heart today is acknowledging the heroes who fought and is still fighting the war at hand – the pandemic.

 This Independence Day, I think it’s time to acknowledge heroes of a different kind.

 A plethora of stories spread across the length and breadth of the country that affirms in some way that we have not forgotten or abandoned the purpose for which all our great freedom fighters gave up their lives. They dreamt for freedom where this country will breathe in the free and fresh air of unity and sovereignty and when the time came, we proved to ourselves and the world that we are a brotherhood, and we did stand by each other.

Someone bought a laptop for an underprivileged student so that he can continue his studies when his only option was to drop out.

A family paid the school fees for a year for their maid’s daughter because the maid and her husband lost substantial source of their income.

A housing society raised a fund of 5 lacs in one night to vaccinate all their support stuff.

20 families got together to deliver free food to people suffering from the virus.

 A lady gives free ride to patients to the hospital when waiting for an ambulance becomes a matter of life and death.

There are so many stories like these that makes me proud and reaffirms the fact that I belong to a country where each one can bring up the heroes in themselves when the time demands.

Bhagat Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai, Subhas Chandra Bose, Khudi Ram, Raj guru to name only a few, fed their lives to a united dream of leading our country into a life of freedom and unity. Many times I had thoughts that we have failed them. But time has proved that we did not.

 Do we have differences? Of course, we do. But that difference did not stand in the way when we reached out and held hands. I have observed that with every story of despair that floated in, ten life affirming stories followed. And that’s all it takes.

 We cannot eradicate the bad or the evil. But we can outnumber them with good and hope. It is possible and we have showed the world how.

 This 75th Independence Day, let’s celebrate this togetherness, life, and hope. It’s time we look up to our war heroes in the eye with pride for we fulfilled their dream. We can tell them that they did not give up their lives in vain. That their spirit still lives on within the heroes of this new war. That we are paying our respect in the most glorious way!

 Let’s celebrate this year with pride and glory!

Happy Independence Day!!

The views expressed in the blog is purely mine and do not represent the opinions of any entity whatsoever with which I have been, am now or will be affiliated.