This Independence Day

I started writing this blog during India's Independence Day, but have been a little lazy completing it. So today, I thought I will complete and post this blog.

Every Independence Day is special to me. It is a time when a sense of pride and joy fills my heart. On this day, I remember our ancient culture, our achievements in science, medicine, spirituality, and philosophy. I remember the subjugation of our culture by foreign rulers for hundreds of years, but our culture and our spirit proved indomitable. I remember our freedom struggle, and brave people sacrificing everything for a cause they believed in.

But this independence day was different. I did not feel any pride or happiness; rather a mist of despondence was in the air. This independence day I evaluated what I have really achieved, and an inexplicable feeling arose in me that was a combination of self-pity and worthlessness. I found that I might have the good luck of being educated with an IIT degree and a PhD. But I cannot bring education to even a single child among millions of Indians for whom education might mean to path to freedom. I might be working with top-notch scientists, working on technological issues that will lead to next-generation TV's and computer monitors which will be enjoyed by millions of people in rich countries. But what I cannot do is to solve a seemingly simple problem of removing arsenic from drinking water of millions of Indians. I will probably buy a luxurious car to get a hot chic (though I have never done that; its just a fantasy :( ), but I wont donate a single ruppee when I see a poor child in India desperately in need of food or clothing; I just pass by without paying any attention. I will waste all my weekend talking about politics and gossipping with friends, but what I wont do is anything meaningul for not-so-blessed sections of the soceity. I will work on alternative technologies for generating energy, but wont do a single thing when I see all the heap of garbage and plastic lying on the streets on Kolkata.

I feel I have somewhere left my soul. No, wait. I am convinced. I have indeed lost my soul. I have lost the compassion that I used to have when I see a poor child on the streets looking at me with his/her innocent eyes. I pity my inability to act . And I am sure that I am not alone. There are others who feel like me. But guys, dont worry. The Independence Day will pass. And so will our feelings. And we will again be back to our normal lives - compalaining, fantasizing, gossiping, and criticizing. And feeling smug that somehow we are so important in this creation.