Independence Day 2016

15^th August, 2016: Today is Independence Day. 69 years ago, this day, India got its independence from British rule. Yes, we are politically independent, a democratic country. But like many other things in life, independence also has many layers to it.

So, the question to ask today is, are we truly independent? Today, we may not be governed by a foreign country. But we are definitely bound and governed by various personal habits that hold tremendous power over our life. Have we become independent of procrastination, anger, jealousy, greed, covetousness and laziness?

Have we become mentally independent from the shackles of fixed mindset thinking, from our limiting beliefs, from our fear and our insecurity?

Have we become independent of social evils like untouchability, dowry, alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic violence, female infanticide and gender inequality?

Are we independent spiritually, allowing good thoughts to flow in from all directions, accept the diverse religious beliefs, yet coexist peacefully.

The true meaning of independence is not only being independent in political sphere, but also being independent economically, financially, spiritually and personally.

We have to become independent in all spheres of life. To this goal we must strive. More than 100 years ago, Rabindranath Tagore’s  penned a poem that is quite apt for this day!

“Where The Mind Is Without Fear”

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high

Where knowledge is free

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments

By narrow domestic walls

Where words come out from the depth of truth

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way

Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit

Where the mind is led forward by thee

Into ever-widening thought and action

Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake