A tryst with whose destiny?

August 15: India. Life. Freedom.

Sixty-six years have passed since Independence. Every year on this precise day, at the stroke of midnight, India rises to celebrate what it cherishes most – Freedom on Independence Day. The national anthem, the Prime Minister’s speech, flag hoisting in schools are all the elements that make this day special. Not to mention that it’s a national holiday as well. It’s the day when tea stalls remain filled with people discussing politics. Taking a sip of the tea, dipping a biscuit in it and turning over the newspaper, one of the customer’s was scornful. “What Independence? India will remain in darkness. Look around you. What do you see?” he said.

I looked around myself. What do I see?

I saw the wrinkled face of the 70-year-old tea seller, blissfully unaware of what the discussion was about and went on with his work, pouring out hot tea. I strained my eyes further.

I saw an auto driver looking out for passengers, fighting over ten rupees and smiling when he got his way. I turned my head to my right hearing the temple bells ring. Oh! It is Thursday. People were seen pouring into the temple with flowers and coconuts in their hands ready to be blessed by the Almighty. And so were the beggars at the steps of the temple, ready to be blessed by a penny that would secure a day’s meal for them.

I turned my head to my left hearing a sudden cacophony. I looked only to see, poorly-clad children quarrelling and snatching food from each other. If this is what I see, what do the words Life and Freedom mean to them?

I marched towards them, curious to know about their lives. And what do I hear?

“I didn’t have freedom in my parents’ house or at my in-laws place. Freedom means to have a good life, being able to interact with people, to be happy. We don’t have that,” said Lalitha , a beggar near the temple.

The auto-driver, Raghuraman, wished nothing more than to spend quality time with his kids and wife happily. “Despite living in an independent country, I am struggling,” he said.

And the elderly in the destitute home wanted freedom to do anything in life. Their voice sparkled with happiness when asked what they wanted to do if they had freedom. “I want to go outside the destitute home and pray. I want to go back to my family and meet my daughter and relatives,” said P. Somsudaram of Kaakkum Karangal, an old home in Thiruvanmiyur.

Tryst with destiny?

“At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will wake to life and freedom.”

Several midnights have come and gone. India still waits to awaken to freedom and destiny that would let people live and breathe, dream and desire.

Sourina is a student of the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She graduated in Political Science from St Xavier’s College, Kolkata.