Today is India’s Republic Day, the day when the people of India adopted a constitution to govern by the people for the people of India. Thanks to Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar for framing the most humane, pluralistic, and democratic constitution, reasonably similar to the constitution of the United States, which is the most sacred document to uphold human freedoms and dignity.
“We hold truths that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” It is our immortal Declaration of Independence of the United States of America.
Freedom is living without tensions, worries, conflicts, and hassles with fellow humans. There are a variety of freedoms, personal, spiritual, social, religious, political, and public. One is individually responsible for the first two freedoms. He can extricate himself from the constraints placed on him by the third and fourth. Still, the political and public freedoms are the responsibility of individuals he elects to govern him and his fellow humans.
We got our political and public freedom from the British and chose to form the Democratic Republic, where all the human rights were guaranteed to the people. Our founding fathers Mahatma Gandhi, Pundit Nehru, Sardar Patel, Maulana Azad, Netaji Bose, and Bhimrao Ambedkar have said, “Hum laye hain toofan say kisthi nikal ke, es desh ko rakhna mere bachcho sambhal ke” We were a free people on August 15, 1947, and elected the people from among us to govern us by the laws enacted in our behalf.
We have elected great leaders through 1975 who steered the nation towards prosperity. From a country that could not feed itself in 1947, we became self-sufficient in food. Then we elected Indira Gandhi, who did not trust the system or the people, and declared an emergency; most of us who lived in that period hated the usurpation of our public and political freedoms. She was booted out.
Sikander bhi aaye khalandar bhi aaye
Indira Bhi aaye
Na Koi Raha hai, na koi rahega
Mera Desh Azaad Ho Ke Rahega
Then we resumed the path of relative peace and harmony in public. We certainly endured communal riots, Sikh Genocide, Babri destruction, Gujarat Massacre, and struggle with injustice to the people, but came out of it. Dr. Manmohan Singh steered the Nation into unprecedented prosperity by opening the Indian economy. We also must thank our first education Minister Maulana Azad who was instrumental in building the educational institutions like IIT that have put India on the top in the employment of her students worldwide. We are the Nation that services the IT and AI components of most countries in the world now.
In a democracy, we make mistakes. Sometimes, we elect charlatans to govern us. One such error was electing Narendra Modi as our Prime Minister. Enough about him (https://theghousediary.com/modi-articles-by-mike-ghouse/) and valid comparisons made with Hitler.
Modi is the greatest danger to our freedoms that we attained after nearly 100 years of continuous struggle from (1857-to 1947). He has destroyed the economy, the social fabric, and the Nation’s political institutions. If we continue with him unchecked, the Nation will go through a blood bath where Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and every Indian will live in tensions and run for their lives. A major Genocide is likely to happen.
But there is a hope that India’s people will throw him out unceremoniously before a genocide in the proportions of the Holocaust occurs.
Sikander bhi aaye khalandar bhi aaye
Indira Bhi aaye. Modi bhi Aaya
Na Koi Raha hai, na koi rahega
Mera Desh Azaad Ho Ke Rahega
Alexander came, so did other ruthless men
Indira Gandhi came, Narendra Modi has also come
No one will be there forever, nor has anyone
My nation will certainly be free again
We are Indians and nothing but Indians.
As a nation, we are Adivasis, Atheists, Bahais, Bos, Buddhists, Christians, Dalits, Hindus, Jains, Jewish, Muslim, Sikhs, Tribals, Zoroastrians, and every possible grouping. We are Brown, Black, White, Yellow, and green with envy, Magar Phir bhi dil hai Hindustani.
Our Motherland is represented by every race, nationality, ethnicity, language, culture, and religion. We see God as one, none and many, and in every form; male, female, genderless and non-existent, being and non-being, nameless and with innumerable names.
We are proud of our heritage – a multi-faith, multicultural, multi-regional, and multi-linguistic society. We have come to accept and respect every way people have lived their lives. For over 5000 years, India has been a beacon of pluralism – it has embraced Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Baha’i, and Zoroastrianism to include in the array of the indigenous religions; Hinduism, Tribal traditions, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.
I hope we purge any bias towards the other; there is joy in being free from ill will. Try to be free from this day forward, free from anything that prevents you from being a part of the whole.
Our combined philosophies believe in one world; Hinduism describes the world as Vasudhaiva Kutumbukum, the whole world is one family. The idea of Ek Onkar(one) prevails in Sikhism. The Quran says that we are all created from the same couple, and Jesus embraced everyone as his children. Similar philosophies are grounded in all our religions like Jainism, Bahai, Judaism, Buddhism, and tribal traditions.
On this day, and every day, pledge yourself to talk about “I am an Indian” – and not Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi, Malayalee, or Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Isai. Don’t expect others to jump and say the same; give them the time, and if you are consistent for at least a year, you will see others emulating you.
I am proud of my Motherland, and my commitment continues to protect, defend and uphold the constitution of India as an Indian American.
Indira bhi aayee, Modi bhi Aaya
Na Koi Rahega, na koi raha hai
Mera desh azad ho ke rahega.
It is good to be free.
Jai Hind,
Dr. Mike Ghouse is an Indian American social scientist, public speaker, author, thinker, and Interfaith Wedding Officiant. He is the founder and CEO of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC. More about him at www.TheGhouseDiary.com