Page 12 - Seniors Today - August 21 Issue
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experiment in democracy, an experiment massive issue, we have the largest number
in geography, an experiment in human of people in the world, and yet the fewest
values- no one could predict that India amount of people who donate organs in
would be counted as a major player in the the world… the list goes on. As I grow up,
new world order only within 74 years of its I realise that it makes sense for us to be
existence. a paradox – just physical length and the
And yet, here we are. This is what makes breadth of our country, the diversity of the
India mahaan. people packed into every inch of it means
that we MUST embody everything about
the human experience AND the opposite of
it today. When you live in India, you live
the entire human experience – good and
bad. This is what makes India mahaan.
On its 75th Independence Day, as a grown
woman, with a family, a home, and country
I love so deeply, I contemplate what makes
India mahaan. Is it the diversity of the
It’s sad that even now in schools our human experience? Is it the tears of pride
history textbooks end at 1947, because that pour out of our eyes when we stand for
it is in the past 74 years that India has the national anthem?
made history over and over again. It is To me, I think back on that group of
this history that we live, breathe and exist inebriated youngsters whom I conjured
in, that our future generations will think up in my imagination as they contemplate
about on the Independence days to come. the nature of freedom. Freedom takes
As a child, I would often wonder about work. Freedom is love. Freedom is being
what the idea of India is, apart from that critical of ourselves, and the responsibility
glorious “stroke of the midnight hour.” The to address the things that need fixing.
one line that struck me as most powerful is Today, I worry about the way criticism of
this “whatever you rightly say about India, the government is punished, I worry about
the opposite of it is also true.” I looked up the way our hearts seem to have become
this quote online to see who it was by and less accommodating of each other, I worry
various versions of it are attributed to that we are using the laurels of our past to
various writers. It’s messy and confusing. declare we are mahaan, but not able to look
Just like the country they talk about. No at our misgivings to learn lessons from
other concept embodies the word “paradox” them. Freedom for India today is being
more powerfully than India. We are the responsible for your own country, how it is
youngest country in the world, and yet the today, and how it will be viewed by future
land we are on had the oldest civilisation generations.
in the world, we are the cradle of the four I realise that our history is mahaan
biggest religions in the world, and yet if irrespective of us, but for our future, I
you look in the chaos around you – you aspire to be a reason India is mahaan. And
wonder if God exists, we make temples to I know I am not alone in this endeavour.
our Goddesses, and yet women’s safety is a This is what makes India mahaan.
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