Independence Day thoughts

Sixty four years .... and still one wonders whether this nation has repaid its freedom fighters their due.  As years roll on, it is but natural that memory fades and the generations start living focusing on their livelihood. This struggle was not mundane but unique in nature in that the domination of centuries by aliens were routed out with a ruthless determination, but without the use of any arms. So, it is essential that the great struggle is constantly kept at the back of our minds whenever we face challenges from within and outside, lest the posterity forget these . It is also important that the current generations are educated about the great leaders who were once humble citizens but fought with a fierce determination only to breathe our own fresh air in our own motherland. The customary screening of the films like Gandhi and debates on the popular television channels does serve towards this, to some extent.

While I was mulling over the struggle , I thought how much do we know or remember about our Independence struggle, the channels of protest, our leaders , their uniqueness in words & deeds, their sacrifices.. I just thought I could recollect some of these that come to my immediately when i think on the subject. Here are some:

Mahatma Gandhi- years at South Africa- spearheading freedom struggle- his belief in Non violence to the end -Salt Sathyagraha - his meeting with Mountbatten, Atlee- Winston's Churchill's quote on him (Half naked Fakir, why had not Gandhi died yet ?)- His book "My Experiments with Truth" and his famous quotes: "An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind " and " First they ignore you, then they laugh at you , then they fight you and then you win"

Bala Gangadhara Thilak- My remembrances of this great gentleman was his fierce writings to arouse the Indians, kept only Rs 40/- of his then salary of Rs 900/- and donated the rest to the cause of Indian freedom struggle. Supposed to be Gandhi's political Guru.

Sardhar Vallabhai Patel: Very able orator, who was arguing in a court of law, when informed about his wife's demise read the information slip , folded it into his pocket and continued his peroration without breaking off his sentence !

Kasturibha Gandhi: Her unwavering support to the Mahatma and her quote "the secret of my success is in following my husband"

Jawaharlal Nehru: " Tryst with Destiny" and "The light has gone out of our lives  and there is darkness everywhere..." Unforgettable utterances on the occasion of India's birth and Gandhiji's death.

 I am no authority on History and the above list is not at all exhaustive. But, these are things, as I said , that came to my mind immediately

There are also others such as Kattabomman, V.O.C, Bhagat Singh, Jhansi Rani, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Acharya Kriplani, Rabhindranath Tagore.

Let me wind up with an anecdote about Krishna Menon. He was told " The way you dress and go about, you look like a crack". Menon replied "I am glad. Let the light enter through the crack" !