Being a polity student, one thing each of us gains is gratitude for Bharat with every line and chapter that comes our way. Not only the outlines and actions of the freedom struggle but the feelings that fueled them have much more power of expression. Settling was a word that hardly materialized in those times as it does now. There existed no question of settling with a promise of anything less than a free man, most importantly a free society. The struggle for the same was much greater than an individual, I wonder if that feeling of living a larger life still exists even deep within us. But, during the freedom struggle, it existed in whole societies, communities, let alone an individual. Reading the studies available today on how complicated a human brain is, it fascinates me each independence day as to how were the brains functioning on the same wavelength back then, undivided India was huge yet headstrong. As much as I deeply respect the leaders who paved the way with the Brits for our independence, it was the common people, normal families whose support and will to struggle for a future, got us to 15 August 1947. No wonder complex issues regarding sensitive topics like communities and religions have always been ethically resolved with mutual negotiations in India, not by civil wars. Quoting Rakesh Sinha’s example, on November 17 1869, Varanasi saw a public debate on idol worship between Dayananda Saraswati and 300 pundits! Criticisms are valued only when discussed objectively and also when they are made intelligently as it has to be synonymous with responsibility. The common people dreamed of not only independent governance but it being integrated as a way of life. Feelings that fueled such power were beautifully bracketed with the morality of Bharatiya Jana, numerical strength was just an incidental result of it. It is this feeling that has my utmost respect in the freedom struggle and today also. Attaining the wavelength of living a larger life individually and as a society is my takeaway, this Independence Day.
Shades By Meera Sharma 
Rightly pointed out, on a relevant occasion!
When it comes to survival & freedom, human mind has the capacity to walk miles together to bring the favourable out. At the same time, we must not forget to analyse the contemporary decisions in light of their repercussions today.
Sometimes, individual mind cannot see the larger picture, finding wisdom in such scenarios is another trait one should be possessing; for otherwise, no matter what an individual believes of his mind & action, he is just “settling” himself in the larger aspect.
And I truly get the approach you have written this piece with; mine is just a corollary to it, originated through my mind.
A food for thought is what I always cherish from your anecdotes. Keep the good stuff up!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s also a very interesting observation and very true in the sense what we see around us today. Maybe it is because of the growing dominating influence with the help of technology and better methods, that the beautiful individuality of the mind is somewhere undermined by the human itself. While the leaders exist, other just settle with the fad. I very much agree with the contemporary observation. Larger picture quite accessible with technology in today’s times, confuses the mind even more about the actions, maybe ?
LikeLike