Patriotism

Photo by Studio Art Smile:

Happy Independence Day! 

It's the 75th Independence Day in India today, and I'm happy to celebrate it with this poem I wrote earlier this month. I actually was inspired by something else, but I think it fits the theme. I had to study "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway for my English exam, and the novel was set when the Italians were fighting against the Austrians for freedom. 

This made me listen to a bunch of national anthems and patriotic songs of Italy and of other nations that had been colonised in the past, like Poland, Ireland, and the United States, and all of them sung of their love for their country and how they would die for freedom. I was moved by all these noble sentiments, and I also thought of my own country, India, and how Indians have gone through hell to get the freedom that we enjoy today. 

On this Independence day, I think of my nation, and other nations that had to fight for their independence, and as a tribute and sign of respect to their efforts, I present the poem: 

I remember my paternal and maternal grandfathers were born during the pre-independent era, and I wished I would have asked them what they remembered about that time. My mother only told me that at their time, there were protests for freedom in the nearest cities. I wish I could have known more!

Have you any family members who lived during the pre-Independence era? If so, have they shared anything about what it was like to live in the then colonised India? Share it with me in the comments!