India celebrates it's 56th Republic Day this year. What is our Republic Day you ask? Well, here's your answer:
"New Delhi: January 26, 1950 is one of the most important days in Indian history as it was on this day that the Constitution of India came into force and India became a truly sovereign state, a totally republican nation. The country finally realized the dream of Mahatma Gandhi and the numerous freedom fighters who, fought for and sacrificed their lives for Independence. This auspicious day was decreed a national holiday and has been recognized and celebrated as the Republic Day of India, ever since".
56 years down the line, Gandhi-ji's vision is still being called forth to be carried out. I wonder when we will get it right? Or perhaps we haven't been fully able to achieve this since we Indians tend to be a very passionate lot about a lot of things that the notion of ahimsa simply goes flying out the window? Just pondering...
Anyway, here is Dr. Prasad's plea ("Fulfill Bapu's dream") to fellow countrymen on the birth of the Republic:
Delhi: Dr. Rajendra Prasad in his special message to his countrymen, on the birth of the Indian Republic, said: "We must re-dedicate ourselves on this day to the peaceful but sure realisation of the dream that had inspired the Father of our Nation and the other captains and soldiers of our freedom struggle, the dream of establishing a classless, co-operative, free and happy society in 'his country'. We must remember that this is more a day of dedications than of rejoicing - dedication to the glorious task of making the peasants and workers the toilers and the thinkers fully free, happy and cultured."
What has happened to those words? Idealistic in nature it would seem this day, but I still see in India difference in classes, un-cooperative people, unhappy and bound society. Don't get me wrong (before a fellow Indian gets riled up and tells me to open my eyes), I love India. It is a land of many contrasts. I know all the wonderful positive changes happening within it. I miss it many a time. I'm simply questioning why our tolerance with each other seems low. And I'm wondering where all those great leaders went.
11 comments:
Would there ever be a greater leader than Gandhi Vee?
I visited the Gandhi house in Mumbay and learned a lot about him. Small person but a great man..
What a wonderful post Vee Thanks and Happy Republic Day! :)
Rightly said Dimitri. :)
Matt: Thank you!! :)
Hi Vee
The doctrine of "non violence" as espoused by Gahndi, and his civil disobediance were powerful tools that helped "shame" England into an agreeament to early Independance and remain valid today.
Quote From "Bertand Russell"
If an international system could be established which would remove the fear of war, the improvement in everyday mentality of everyday people would be enormous and very rapid. Fear, at present, overshadows the world.
Best wishes
Good quote Lindsay. It's true - fear does overshadow the world today. Very unfortunate. Thanks!
Good post! I appreciate what I learned from it.
Ghandi's autobiography is a book I go back to time and again... So many lessons to learn from it.
Hi Sarah, I'm curious to know what you learnt from this. I'm glad I was able to write about something useful. :) Thanks!
Varshy: stop being a brat. You know I consider you more than a Gandhian-glass-wearer. :)
This is a great post Vee. I have this next to my desk (words of Gandhi on what traits he considered most spiritually perilous to humanity):
Wealth without work
Pleasure without conscience
Science without humanity
Knowledge without character
Politics without principle
Commerce without morality
Worship without sacrifice
Gary: thank you! :) That's quite a heavyduty reminder you have on your desk.
Sitting in Canada you still have the Indian spirit in you. I salute you. Ma tujhe salam! okay now that was a bit OTT.
Yeah i totally do. I love being Indian. And Canadian too. How can I ever not be Indian? :) hehehe that was way too OTT for you! hehehe
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