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Alaimentary
Another Tryst with Destiny?
Freedom is a generic term and contextual. It can have multifarious meanings,
but broadly refers to the quality or state of being free, writes Nagesh Alai
I answered an early morning doorbell today building. It is a welcome initiative and in
to be pleasantly surprised with a gift of our its own way has engendered a feeling of
national flag from our housing society. It comity and community in our sovereign
was a joy indeed to receive it, a first-time socialist secular democratic republic with
personal experience in independent India, a resolve to secure justice, liberty, equality
as it must have been for millions across the and fraternity to all citizens. Thanks to the
country. For sure, proud Indians will hoist tenacity and sacrifices of legions of our
the flag in their homes on the Independence freedom fighters and martyrs and leaders
Day. who ensured our independence from the
To herald the 75th anniversary of British yoke and founded our republic.
our independence on August 15, the Nothing can capture the ethos and
government of the day has planned an emotions of the momentous occasion than
elaborate year-long Azadi Ka Amrit Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech on the eve of our
Mahotsav. Under the aegis of this independence, so beautifully captured in
celebration, a special movement called ‘Har profound words - to quote verbatim from
Ghar Tiranga’ was launched to encourage his opening para –
people to bring home the tiranga ( or the “Long years ago, we made a tryst with
tricolour ) and build a personal connection destiny; and now the time comes when we
with the national flag and reinforce a shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in
sense of identity and pride for the country full measure, but very substantially. At
and enthuse a commitment to nation- the stroke of the midnight hour, when the
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #38 | AUGUST 2022 19
