Independence day 2020
Wishing everyone a very Happy Independence Day!
As the entire nation and our people celebrate the 74th year of independence, it got me thinking about what makes our nation glorious, what part do its people play, what it means to be a responsible citizen of a country as diverse as India and what does being a true Indian mean? Questions as deep as these often require us to go back to the fundamentals of being a person in a free country. Freedom as we all know comes with responsibilities and needs regulation. Let me share a few tenets that we all know but often tend to forget.
Duty:
Our understanding and sense of duty starts with our family, it expands with the society we live in and ultimately culminates with our country and the rest of the world. We must abide by the Constitution of India and respect its ideals. We must cherish the noble ideals that inspired our national struggle for freedom. We must value and protect our rich cultural heritage. Spreading brotherhood, lending a helping hand to those in need, caring for our family and loved ones, spending money responsibly, performing our civic duties to create a cleaner environment to live in are crucial to lead our country towards a glorious future.
Respect:
Shower respect and praise to those who defend our borders, enforce law and order in our society, those who clean our cities and towns, those who grow our food and those who ensure that we remain healthy and strong. Do everything to help and support our Covid Warriors! At the same time, we the citizens, must know that we do not ourselves need a uniform to serve our country! We are also ambassadors of of India when travelling abroad, when meeting people from other countries and cultures and we must always uphold the name of our country with dignity and respect to the outside world. We must also respect the laws prevailing in our country.
Leadership:
Great leadership will always lead the country and its people to great heights. As we are currently seeing, the government of India is able, stable, is focused and believes in taking measured risks to forward the cause of the people! We continue to excel on many frontiers, be it business, sports, science and many uncharted territories! Support all great measures of the powers that be but always retain the right to question. The right given to its citizens by the constitution of India.
Voice:
A society when speaking in a unified voice can prove any hurdle too small, any challenge too meek. Cast your vote at every single opportunity to give wings to your voice. Remember, if you don’t ask, you won’t get. So demand a better life, a better city, a better home and a fair judiciary. See how you can lend a helping hand to achieve the above so that you do not remain on the fence but actively help achieve the collective dream. Raise your voice for those who cannot, create equilibrium in society through your voice. Every voice matters, every vote counts.
Empathy:
Every citizen, no matter the cast, creed, religion, colour and economic background is equal in our country. We must become more tolerant towards each other, respect each individual’s right to serve and protect. Uplift those in need and educate the youth with our own experiences so that they do not make the mistakes the older generation has.
India, our motherland, is poised to become a superpower. Nobody in the world can stop our tryst with destiny. All we need to do is serve our country, love it for what it truly is. A glorious nation, that is not only strong to defend itself but also strong to collaborate, strong to innovate and strong to lead.
#Jaihind
Dr. Saurabh Gadgil