"I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed.I want the cultures of all the lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible.
But i refuse to be blown off my feet by any."
- Mahatma Gandhi
Its that time of the year when Indians question themselves over and over again: Is this what the Mahatma desired for India? Are we remembering his ideals or is it all a sham?
Oct 2, 2008: The country is under extreme terrorist attacks! Just yesterday atleast 4 bombs exploded in Agartala, Tripura killing 2 and leaving 70 injured as of now. The time of Navaratri is upon us and the news shows how policemen are being told to dress up incognito and join the merry-making keeping an ever watchful eye out for trouble. Id is celebrated around the world but the accusations against them by extremist hindu groups has shunned a few of them against celebrating. Christians are still reeling from the anti-conversion havoc and the Indian Prime Minister only "condemns the attacks" while in USA and France- Isnt that condemning what other heads of state are supposed to do??
I bet there will be more speeches today, more reassurances of Gandhiji and some will go far enough to telecast Lage Raho Munnabhai for thats how ppl now most relate to the Mahatma and his principles. So are we a failure?
NOPE! Despite all the atrocities we continue to majorly follow the same routine we have done for years. While some may see it as nonchalance/ignorance I say its because Indians are used to terror right from the days of the Aryan conquerors. We have courage to follow our lives as we wish too, terrorism shall never make us hide under our beds. Maybe we all arent taking active steps to counter it but then who does so successfully?
We all continue to remember Gandhiji's principles even if we may choose to not follow them at this time. Isnt that better than the Americans who cant even remember what Martin Luther King Jr said in his speech "I have a dream..." ?? We may continue to show more interest in whats happening in cricket but our heart glows whenever a foreigner praises or even mentions Gandhiji..
We may not salute you in open now, Mahatma, but we do remember you! May your soul continue to rest in peace!
Oct 2, 2008: The country is under extreme terrorist attacks! Just yesterday atleast 4 bombs exploded in Agartala, Tripura killing 2 and leaving 70 injured as of now. The time of Navaratri is upon us and the news shows how policemen are being told to dress up incognito and join the merry-making keeping an ever watchful eye out for trouble. Id is celebrated around the world but the accusations against them by extremist hindu groups has shunned a few of them against celebrating. Christians are still reeling from the anti-conversion havoc and the Indian Prime Minister only "condemns the attacks" while in USA and France- Isnt that condemning what other heads of state are supposed to do??
I bet there will be more speeches today, more reassurances of Gandhiji and some will go far enough to telecast Lage Raho Munnabhai for thats how ppl now most relate to the Mahatma and his principles. So are we a failure?
NOPE! Despite all the atrocities we continue to majorly follow the same routine we have done for years. While some may see it as nonchalance/ignorance I say its because Indians are used to terror right from the days of the Aryan conquerors. We have courage to follow our lives as we wish too, terrorism shall never make us hide under our beds. Maybe we all arent taking active steps to counter it but then who does so successfully?
We all continue to remember Gandhiji's principles even if we may choose to not follow them at this time. Isnt that better than the Americans who cant even remember what Martin Luther King Jr said in his speech "I have a dream..." ?? We may continue to show more interest in whats happening in cricket but our heart glows whenever a foreigner praises or even mentions Gandhiji..
We may not salute you in open now, Mahatma, but we do remember you! May your soul continue to rest in peace!
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