India for me

“At the stroke of the midnight hour,
When the world sleeps,
India shall awake to life and freedom,”
With these words etched in memory,
A nation embarked on its ‘tryst with destiny’.

The destiny was skewed for a while,
A long while really,
And, now it seems to be clearer,
Yet, many would believe not.

As we celebrate yet another 15th August,
With at least a hint of pride in most our hearts,
I have a question to ask,
Are we free yet?

I see that hungry child on the road every day,
I see him run from this car to that,
But, today he was different,
The tricolour in hand and a smile on his face,
Yes, that smile made me believe we are free.

I see a mosque in the same street as a temple,
I see a church alongside a gurudwara,
Most would describe the attitudes as ignorant,
I would describe it as tolerant,
We do not realize the tolerance within us,
The day we do, all will be free,
As I believe I am.

I see riots happen every now and then,
Yet for the past 6 years,
I see a Sikh Prime Minister address a nation of 80% Hindus,
From a fort built by a Muslim emperor,
The day more people realize this as some do today,
Everyone will be free,
As I believe I am.

Everyone raises the ever so evident issues,
The sad part is most just do that,
The cynicism has rotten our population,
I believe I am not a cynic,
And, that is why I am free.

We criticize our internal problems,
Yet, we don’t realize our biggest achievement,
The achievement of this diverse existence for this long,
The day everyone realizes this,
I believe all will be free as I am today.

We see the commotion in Parliament every day,
Yet, we don’t tackle the commotion of the voting lines,
A charge even I am guilty of,
The day we accept that charge,
As I do today,
I believe all will be free.

India’s success story has amazed the world,
You just need to go to google.com today to see it,
Yet, most of us are still not amazed,
We still have students wanting to contribute to other GDPs,
The day that fire is eliminated,
A new one will light and everyone will be free,
As I believe I am.

I believe that there is a valid counter argument,
To all of what I have expressed,
But, I also believe that it can be tackled,
Along with a belief that it is being done.

The day all of us foster that belief,
There will be a change,
A change that all of us wish to see,
Yet, we don’t see it happening ourselves.

All we need is belief,
As we have done well enough without it,
It is time to firmly put us on the world map,
And, I believe all we need is belief.


Happy Independence Day
Anmol Singh Diddan