Do not ask what the country has done for you.
Ask what you can do for the country.
Independence Day is round the corner
What are you going to do on this day? We, as a nation have seen a lot in the last one year. We have been looted, terrorised, exploited, hurt and made to feel very restless. Scandals involving more money than we had ever imagines, indifference to common man's problems like never before, oppression and high voltage drama right on the top.
Will this Independence Day be an occasion for us to feel sorry about the way we as a whole have shaped the independence that came to us with numerous sacrifices? Will you sit on as plush chair and talk about what has not been done and what needs to be done? Will you just forget about the disturbing stuff and enjoy another extended weekend?
Come-on people! Let's do something on this Independence Day.In our very own capacities let us do something. Let us do something on this day which makes us feel worthy children of our motherland. Let us all spare at least this one day in doing things for just one cause - the cause of India.
Here are some suggestions on what you could do?
On the service side:
- Celebrate Independence Day with patients from some hospital. Carry some fruits, biscuits and flowers. Go from ward to ward sharing happiness with the patients. Share some polite words of concern with the patients.
- Visit a Government School. Spend some time with the children talking about Independence Struggle. Organise the screening of a patriotic movie for them. If possible, organise a small snack for the children.
- Get on the mission to cleanup your neighbourhood. Find a lake, a park or a pathway which is ill maintained. Put your hands into actions and clean up the place.
- Visit the homes for the homeless. A little love, concern and care will make their day. You could organise some delicacies for lunch with them.
- Organise a health camp in a village. Take a few doctors and basic medicines along and do a preventive health screening camp in one of the neighbouring villages of the state.
On the celebration side:
- Organise flag hoisting ceremony
- Screen movies about freedom struggle and invite the friends, relatives and community to join in
On a personal side:
- Read about the freedom movement. The textbooks do not tell it all. Find great books which show what all was done to get independence for us.
- Resolve never to give into corruption.
- Resolve to behave more responsivbly as a citizen of this nation and ensure that you fulfill your civic duties
- Resolve never to file fake bills and evade tax
It is not difficult to make this Independence Day special. All of us have feelings within. It is a matter to creating and right environment for those feelings to flow our bountifully. If you decide to 'CELEBRATE' this Independence Day, so will a lot many more people around you.
Even with our busy lives, other priorities and problem, we surely can take one or more of these simple steps to ensure that 15th August 2011 has a very special meaning and impact in our lives.
P.S. Please feel free to share more ideas on what can be done to make the independence day celebration more meaningful.