Freedom 'Express'

Friday 15th August 2008 - The 61st anniversary of Indian Independence. Like every other independence day, I woke up in the morning, with “MERE DESH KI DHARTI”, “NANHA MUNNA RAAHI HOON”, etc. being played outside. After sometime, I switched on my PC and started my own special playlist of patriotic songs viz. Azaadi, Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera. Chale Chalo, etc. I watched Jodha Akbar & Swades, in parts during the day, after which I went out to buy some household stuff.

After returning home at around 7pm, sulking over a heavy bag I was carrying, I switched on the TV and was surfing channels as usual. My finger stopped at ‘CVO’, I channel which I rarely watch. There was a movie which I had always heard a lot of but never managed to watch at ease, ‘SARDAR’ by Ketan Mehta. ‘Sardar’ stands for Sardar Vallabhai Patel, the Iron man of India. The title role, potrayed by the veteran Paresh Rawal, is a career defining one in my opinion. The story revolves around the strategies, the process and the subsequent execution of the actual FREEDOM MOVEMENT by our leaders. Sardar Patel’s key role was to prevent AMASSMENT of WEALTH by the ‘big shots’ prevalent during those times viz. the Nawabs, Nizams, Peshwas etc. and establish democracy throughout. He was perhaps one of those leaders who had to travel personally to persuade these bigwigs. Hyderabad, Goa, Junagarh, etc. all other states were brought under the Union Territory of India.

But the real problem cropped after India is liberated, the partition, which is one of the worst nightmares of Indian history next to Jalianwala Bagh. Every person from the Indian National Congress who initially opposed the act, had to give in later to stop people from turning into cannibals. The ‘Mahatma’ too could do very little. Even some leaders from the Muslim league were never happy

The Partition was never due to religious non-tolerance or hatred between two communities. It was the sheer outcome of an EGO CLASH between two ideologies, where the common man on both sides has been bearing the brunt till date. The Muslim league finally succeeded in creating a separate nation called Pakistan for their people.

It was at that time when the ‘Kashmir’ issue first cropped up. Even, after having series of meetings with the Lord Mountbatten - the last Viceroy and the Muslim league, no decision could be taken. Finally, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who sworn in as the First PM of Free India said whatever decision is made, should be backed up and supervised by the United Nations. Sardar was however against it strongly. In his opinion, once India is free, no foreign party should even be remotely allowed to influence any of our personal decisions. But, Panditji went ahead and announced it on AIR. This created a rift in the ‘Party’ and lead to differences between Sardar and Pandit ji. Sardar was shattered and heart broken. He couldn’t take it anymore and slowly receded. He died soon after having succeeded in merging all states with the Union of India.

Today, the Kashmir issue has become one of India’s worst problems. We are still unable to decide on its nationality.

However, every leader tried to do his bit and what he felt would be the best at that time. Certain plans worked out, some misfired, others backfired, but bottom line being that we the people of India achieved independence, owing to this joint effort !!

We got to respect our freedom & its struggle. We may not be the best, but we definitely among the better nations of the world today. Instead of pointing fingers at the past, lets try making a better future!

JAI HIND!!