Are WE Independent Enough?

It has been 73 years that India has gained Independence and we proudly claim to be a “democratic country” Don’t we?

Well, to my understanding, things have worsened Do you really feel, from within that we have been freed? All individuals are free to live as they like?

For me, India would be an independent country when every living being is allowed to live on their own terms. And by living beings, I mean all the birds, animals and other living creatures who can see, eat, sleep, move freely like us. Why do we claim to be a democratic country when we don’t let others eat or even breathe on their stipulations? We should rather be ashamed of ourselves.

We all still live in a country where a dog is tied to a pole and left to die, where we ask a mighty tusker to perform and humiliate himself when he is asked to. We breathe in a country where “gau mata” is made to eat plastic bags or killed in a road mishap.

Now do you see a free country? Now are you proud to be a democratic citizen?

If yes, then you’re living in a parallel universe, my friend! This is not freedom; this is not what our freedom fighters would have pictured a free nation as.

These thoughts are gathered from an incident this morning. We witnessed an elephant with two healthy tusks. We weren’t amazed of the view as the giant had come following a grand “Puja” at a temple nearby. We were just admiring his beauty when we saw his Mahavat prodding him to bow to others. C’mon, what would others get out of a lame animal who cannot even stand for his rights or live a life, free of humiliation and obeying orders.

So, is it not our duty to protect such animals and make them feel secured and loved?

We know what freedom means, not because we are a free country, but because we can eat, live, and pray freely. We can stand against what we think is wrong and prove our worth to the world. Freedom is when we celebrate festivals together when we see the sunrise and sunset. All these are the synonyms for freedom.

When you realize what freedom is, then why not let others taste it? And then, we will be a real democratic country. A country that every other nation would be proud of.