62 years since India started ruling herself after a not-so-brief hiatus.(I wonder why many forget before we had foreigners on our land, we were ours.)
Anyways, this morning as I woke up I was reminded of something my english lecturer in College (Mr. Kennedy) had questioned. It was a question which had struck me as well, just one that I hadnt pondered much about. What better timing could I have than this day?
The question- "What do you define as independence?"
One question which opens Pandora's box.
Is it only political independence/freedom thats counted so?
If thats the case, then yes I agree we are our own country.
Thinking a little deeper, one would realise what makes a country is its people and what defines the people are their thoughts. If those thoughts are highly influenced by another country's ideals/way of life, do we still hold the right to call ourselves independant?
Then comes the next question- "what do we define as Indian?"
Are we to be pulled down by the mystic east image of a land of snake charmers? Or should we own up to being one of the fastest growing economies? Or both?
Sounds simple to say both.
Truth be told, Im utterly confused about the concept. The entire world is one place now. The thoughts are global, the economies are global, the feelings are global, the people are global, every thing of importance is global. Such being the situation is there something we can define as an individualistic nationality? Or does it boil down to the nation being your place of birth/origin?
I don't know.
What I do know is I am proud of India, its growth, its people, its charm, its energy and more importantly, its confidence
Heres wishing India and every one associated with India in any way, a very Proud and Happy Independence Day. May the country continue its upward swing with all its vigour.
