• Swaraaj and Suraaj

    Music is said to bridge the widest gaps, but the conspicuous absence of Bapu’s favourite hymn struck off this notion. Many arguments won, and so did some counterarguments, but the music lost. The decision of excluding ‘Abide with me’ from ‘Beating Retreat’ was more painful than surprising. This was tried some time back also. The decision had to be reversed due to a display of displeasure across the nation. This year it seems to be a firm decision, even though the displeasure is more intense than yesterday. The shifting of ‘Amar Jawan Jyoti’ on the grounds of wiping out the leftovers of British rule could not explain the continuing existence of numerous architectural marvels of colonial times. While we appreciate western countries for the practices of preserving historical monuments, India saw and shall continue to witness the painful demolition of a series of beautiful vintage constructions, including temples, to create space for politically driven novel and ambitious projects. Right from the very first one, every such decision was the brainchild of a solitary thought process which misused the allotted authority to fulfil personal whims and fancies. Each decision was taken with the sole purpose of short-term political gains and reserved desires. Every such verdict highlighted the profound and deep-rooted irresponsibility of the short-sighted self-proclaimed visionaries. An ambitious foundation which was not even born when India became sovereign is relentlessly trying to erase immortal verses inscribed by history just to hide its own inability to etch constructive landmarks. This is sad, but scary.

    For seventy years, all innocent souls grew up watching themselves or friends delivering speeches about the father of the nation or dressing up as Netaji. Bhagat Singh, Azad, Nehru, Tilak followed in various forms and left an enduring mark on everyone’s heart. Suddenly, the same old souls were fed with maliciously twisted facts to raise a false alarm about the previous managers’ ignorance towards the great martyrs. Some of the freedom fighters were chosen and brought into a new light and were presented in a conveniently altered form. Memories of all such historical figures have been consistently leaving a permanent mark on society in various physical forms, like statues, roads, educational institutions, museums, libraries, airports and so on. The spiritual space for these historical figures in people’s hearts is rather permanent. The nation has been remembering these freedom fighters for a long time. Adding one more statue or a memorial was just an addition rather than a beginning. At no point in time, the nation forgot them. But this was not enough. Conflicts were planted between two or more ideologies of the pre-independence times to ignite various sections of society. Before anyone could realise, the conflicts percolated, polluted and bled the innocent minds. Cunning and autocratic administrators continue to create a dangerous aura of mistrust and misinformation by means of hate speeches and false propaganda. People are being taught animosity intentionally. Unfortunately, a large section of society is getting carried away. Rapidly spreading chaos and ambiguity may lead the nation to an anarchy-like situation.

    In a democratic structure, the elected representatives must work neither for a group of people nor for subjective ambitions, but for the benefit of society as a whole. This very principle has been purposely and conveniently kept under cover since the inception of democracy. A subtle authoritarian attitude is obligatory for any director, but the thought seems to have crossed all the limits in the present-day. Interests have become subjective, dangerous and selfish. ‘Swaraaj’ is everyone's right. In a frenzy to enjoy it, we have been exploiting freedom for a long time. We have been steadily forgetting that it was earned by making a great sacrifice. Swaraaj was a precious gift which should have been conserved to lead this beautiful nation to a magnificent ‘Suraaj’; but today Swaraaj is being misinterpreted as arbitrary governance. Supremacy is being misunderstood as an authority rather than accountability. Money and muscle have become indispensable and are dominating almost all the branches of many great republics. Custodians have become lords. Swaraaj is indeed a pleasant reality; but Suraaj still appears to be a far-fetched dream.

■ Martyrs' Day

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• वात्सल्य‘सिंधु’

त्यजित शैशव को सँवारता, 'सिंधु' सा तुम्हारा वात्सल्य,

तुम्हारे शौर्य से ही सँभला, अबोध अनिकेत वैकल्य,

तुम्हारे ढाई अक्षर प्रेम के, थे करुणासागरतुल्य,

निःस्वार्थ समर्पित श्वास कहते, जीवित क्षणों के कैवल्य।

■ Sindhutai Sapkal (14 Nov, 1948 - 04 Jan, 2022)

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• Savitribai Phule

A radiance in the backdrop, a fire within,

you pursued your studies with passion,

Devoted to the cause of women,

their rights and education,

Battled the evil oppression,

hate and discrimination,

Even for present womanhood,

your verses sing inspiration.

■ Savitribai Phule’s Birthday

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