Yesterday, August 15, 2010 was the 63rd Anniversary of India’s Independence from 200 years of British rule. As an Indian, like everyone else I feel proud of this anniversary, as it marks a day in history, when “resolve” won over “might”.

This “Independence” we all have come to enjoy, now even taken for granted was won by paying price of thousands of lives over a span of 100 years. It took several generations of “Real Indians” to break free from the clutches of the “British Raj”. All the lives lost in this struggle for independence were focused on a single goal “Swaraj” or Self-Governance.

The famous names associated with this freedom movement which are known to most of the world, as M.K. Gandhi or “Gandhi”, Mr. J.L. Nehru or “Nehru”, Mr. Vallabhai Patel or “Sardar Patel” to name a few. The major force of this movement were the countless Indians who believed in the common vision, followed their leaders to achieve what seemed improbable at the time. Thousands of those unnamed Indians put their lives in harm’s way on streets, and in jails protesting or doing nothing during non-cooperation movement. They died dreaming of a day, when they will not have to answer to a foreign power, when there will be rule of law, justice, and equality for all. Their singular vision for India’s Independence was the driving force for them to pay the ultimate price, their own life in achieving this goal for themselves and their future generations.

Fast forward 63 Years, now we’re that future generation, living that invaluable dream, paid for by the unwavering resolve, blood, sweat and tears of a lost generation. Though, this day is currently celebrated as a day of national pride, with superfluous pomp and vigor by almost every Indian, in all corners of the world, the real value of this independence is somewhat lost. On this day practically every Indian will feel a sense of pride flowing through their veins, like a rush of adrenalin the effect of which wears out within weeks, if not days.

We’ve become part of a system, which has made this day into a national holiday, nothing more. The official propaganda starts a few weeks in advance, contracts are awarded to vendors, official building are covered with a new coat of paint, draped with tri-color streamers, while national, political-party flags are hoisted on all important buildings/places of every town in the country. Billboards with congratulatory note from local and national leaders, brandishing the logo of the political party they belong to, sprung all over town. A brand new “Tri-Color” is hoisted on the morning of August 15^th with the rendition of “Jan Gan Man”, our national anthem and a 21-canon salute. The political leaders soon descend on the stages, dressed in “Khaadi” to deliver lofty speeches, remind the audience of the glorious past, and ultimately set the stage to push their respective political agendas, and how the opposition is ruining it all.

A few days pass, all the euphoria dies, the cheap glue in streamers gives up, torn out flags lie on the ground, clogging the drains, some baked into the asphalt with vehicles driving over them, people rushing passing by in their quest for livelihood. Soon they reach a decrepit stage, collected by the garbage truck to be dumped into a landfill. Then another 363 days pass by, and the cycle continues. With every passing year, we get farther and farther away from what it really signifies. Sadly, that’s the shelf life of “Patriotism” in modern India.

As far as I can remember, the routine on every August 15^th was simple. Though, it was a national holiday, we had to got to our school, dressed in our finest uniform, stand in neat lines in the assembly areas, sing the National Anthem, salute the flag, then receive a paper flag and some sweets, listen to a speech given by our school principal. Play around with friends till our parents picked us up. We go home, and play again, while the adults talk politics, sports, weather or whatever may be the news of the moment. We all enjoyed the freedom that August 15^th brought with it, a holiday, no studies, and no homework. We watched news of how the day was being celebrated all across India, then some historical programming, non-stop playing of patriotic songs over the radio. I’m not familiar with what the routine looks like now, but I can’t imagine it being much different.

Having being born in Free India, we did not witness any of the struggles, unlike my grandparents who grew up amidst the politically charged atmosphere.  Most of the information available to our generation (post independence) is through second-hand knowledge or through our textbooks in school, college and/or universities. As one of subject included in the realm of social studies, Indian and World History is part of the educational curriculum in schools all across India. Unfortunately, it often takes a backseat to physical sciences, mathematics, and technology. It’s treated as a subject that people need to just pass, in order to move on to more lucrative and vocational subjects. Due to this misguided notion, we end up retaining bits and pieces of information, and with time, only the significant information is left behind. Soon we forget everything, but the good, or glorious part. Rest just filters through over time, and is lost unless we make an attempt to revisit it. Seems like a stretch, try reciting the entire national anthem. How many do even remember the entire anthem?

Twice a year, on August 15^th and January 26^th, India celebrates Independence Day and Republic Day, respectively. Twice a year we’re all gung-ho about anything and everything Indian. I try to stay out of discussions on this day. I’ve always had mixed feelings about it, and I hold stance which not many Indians share, and that is “Every Indian Is Patriotic, but not all Indians are Nationalist”, and that is the Achilles’ heel for our country. Often, when I say this, the reactions are obviously heated, some suggest that I’ve lost it; some question my own sense of patriotism. Some just claim that there is no difference between the two!

Well, there is and I’m often hard-pressed to explain that nationalism depends on patriotism, not the other way round. Patriotism, by definition is a feeling of love and devotion to the country one is born in, and can be reflected in any number of ways. While, Nationalism is collective identity forged by the feeling of patriotism, free of language, race or religion for identification of an entity, much larger than it’s citizens, a Nation.

Patriotism is often a reaction to events or comments made against one’s country of birth (motherland), and are mostly projected towards a foreign entity. While, Nationalism is an trait to place the motherland before the individuals own need, and is therefore not an inherent part of patriotism.

Though, we have become increasingly jingoistic over time, sadly nationalism is on life-support.  The very quality that made the freedom fighters to do such selfless acts against insurmountable odds in order for us to enjoy our independence is practically, become a utopian concept to us. There might be people who’d disagree with me, but given a certain amount of self-introspection, I’m sure they will agree. The success of a Bollywood Movie, Rang De Basanti is testament to this.

Independence Day, Republic Day, Gandhi Jayanti, Nehru Jayanti, they have all become meaningless with our callous attitude, and an inherent desire of “me first”.

Almost everyone will say they’re “Proud To be and Indian” A question to you my fellow Indian is, what are you so proud of? Make a list of ten things you’re so proud of, and then review it. My guess is that seven out of ten things will be part of our history, days and events that are long gone. How long are we going to be proud of what our ancestor’s have achieved? At the same time, make a list of everything you’re ashamed of as an Indian, you’ll be surprised to see that eight of ten things on that list were events or acts within your own lifetime (less than 40 years).  So far we’ve let our ancestors down, their sacrifices have gone to waste. We’re independent, but we’re not free!

One of the reasons is that India doesn’t produce individuals of that mettle anymore. Part of the blame goes to the generation of our grandparents and parents, who got so busy is advancing their individual life and their family, in a race to get ahead of everyone else, that they all forgot what it meant to be nationalistic. Soon, the entire generation lost the idea. How could they have passed it on to us, when even they didn’t have a clue, what it meant. The growth and progress that India achieved in the first fifteen years after independence was brought down to a halt in the next twenty-five due to misguided intentions, sectarian politics, individual aspirations, and above all, corruption. Things have begun to change in the last ten-fifteen years, yet its pace is frustratingly slow. Don’t believe me; ask anyone who is barely alive south of “the poverty line”. Ask them to name significant advancements that India has made which have positively impacted their life. Then just wait to see them struggle to name even one.

I agree with some of you, we have come a long way. Now, practically everyone has a cell-phone, branded apparel, satellite dish on their roof, air-conditioners and fancy cars (at least the ones who have money to afford them). An average Indian in IT industry earns more in a month, than what his parents earned in year at his or her age. Does it somehow converts to a better lifestyle? Depends on whom you ask. All that we call advancement, is actually prime example of materialism. It’s a side effect of globalization; we’re now infected with the disease of possessing things and associating our success and happiness with those possessions. We’ve confused success with quantity, instead of quality. Now, the very same intelligence, ingenuity, our resolve that helped us liberating our country from foreign rule, is now wasted in improving our status, so that we can possess more. Has any of these advancement, changed the life of a common man on the street?

What will our grandchildren associate with our generation? The generation of excess! Excess of money, excess of greed, excess of self-preservation, excess of self-promotion or simply the generation that lost it all in mindless pursuit of happiness (read possessions).

I know by now what you’re thinking, he’s a pessimist. On the contrary, I’m a realist. To me the glass is neither half-empty nor half-full, it’s merely in a state, which can be altered by my decision based on need, to either empty it all the way or fill it up to the brim. My decision therefore governs the outcome, not the level of water in the glass. So bear with me, as I attempt to convince you that this hollow pride, jingoistic tendencies of relying on our glorious past has to go away, to make room for what needs be done.

Some would argue, that India is now a superpower.  I strongly disagree. Just because you manage to get a bigger stick, and stand among stronger folks, you’re not stronger. Your power depends on the use of the stick to good purpose. We don’t produce enough food to feed all our citizens, we don’t produce enough energy, we don’t have every household connected to uninterrupted supply of electricity, clean water, sanitary services, and basic necessities. We’re not able to provide healthcare to everyone in the country, even though we have socialist form of government. Is any of that indicative of our superpower status?

I know it’s hard, but the sooner we stop defending ourselves as something that we’re not, and accept the fact, that we’re still a “Developing” nation, sooner we can channel that energy, our intelligence, our resources with a singular goal, to make India a “Real” superpower.

Enough of being proud of India; It doesn’t change a thing, whether you’re proud of it or not, it is what it is. It matters, what we’re going to do that makes future generations in India proud of us?

Instead of being meaningless national holidays, we should use them, as milestones to measure our performance every year, to renew our commitment to make India, a nation that does not demand but, generates respect.