Independent Thoughts!

15th August, 2005

Today is India's Indpendence Day. For the 59th time, we remember all those who played a part in sending the British back home.

Or, what the hell, we just have a long weekend! Sadly, a dry one, unless you plan in advance! And some people make money selling flags!

Well, the scrawny plastic flags say something, I feel. We have plastic flags, 2-sided, but not stuck or moulded together completely, and a used straw holding it. Of all the ways in which flags could be made, this is easily our most typical!

I had the good fortune of watching Mangal Pandey, the Rising, today. The same old melodrama, song and dance, love story, independence story, social reform story, everything rolled into one Bollywood-make 70mm cigarette paper! Heady!


But one train of thought wouldn't go away..

Generations of Indians gave blood and life to see our self-respect restored. They gave their loyalty, land, blood and sweat to the British, and got poverty, disrespect, tears in return, as Mangal proclaims.

Look today. Is there any difference? I don't think so. The ruling class is doing the exact same thing. We pay taxes, obey rules, donate for flood victims and these buggers swallow it all, besides legislating more and more privileges to serve their own ends.

And slowly, the top 5% of India in terms of schooling (I will refrain from using "education") and resources wants to protect itself in a coccoon from the rest. Devil take the hindmost!

At a time when national boundaries are melting (and its in our interest), the concept of nation state is being questioned - we need to redefine independence.

We need economic independence for the people, we need cultural independence (well, culture seems to be difficult to preserve if the stomachs are crying).

If Mangal Pandey was as thick skinned as say Laloo, we would still have been chewing cow fat cartridges, instead of at least getting to cow fat oil for our lousy, unhealthy 'large French Fries' at FcDonalds (Seriously!).

For god's sake, let us refuse this holiday, go to work without pay! That is the least we can do!