To the sons of India

We have been celebrating Independence day for many years. But still a question arises in mind: Are we really free and independent ?

We are mad about materialism. We abuse our Motherland and fly abroad. We are ready to compromise anything if we get paid high. We do useless tasks in foreign lands for the sake of money and procrastinate India. Braindrain is the critical tragedy of India.

Man is becoming more self centered day by day. We are not ready to let go in family. We choose to live in nuclear family now. Human relations have lost aroma. They are more artificial now. Actually we are being professional.

We are crazy about Economic development and Technical development. We ignore Human development and Character development for that. Moral and spiritual values have been  degrading everyday. Humanity is being hunted.

We are giving priority to foreign languages. We consider the most scientific and rich language Sanskrit is dead now. A few is interested in learning it. Even we feel it as waste of time and energy because it doesn’t have market value.

Aren’t we feel that India has lost own Identity ? Where is Esteem ? Is this Independence ? Did freedom fighters sacrifice their lives for these fruits ? Still we are living in mental slavery. We think that what is foreign is great and highest. Still they are dominating us. Isn’t it true ?

Awake India ! Arise Indian ! Here in this little poem Tagore appeals to every son of India to feel Dignity. We have rich and most ancient heritage. India is not only bounded by its boundaries. Real Mother India is in her spiritual heritage. It is in our mind and heart. It is within every son of India.

We have great Avatars, wise Rishis and rich scriptures like Ved, Upanishad and Gita. So don’t lay down against the pomp and power of west. Though they are rolling in luxury, realize own magnificence. Overcome from influenced mentality, and live with honor. Look within and feel the dawn of Divinity.  

What matters if we have physical poverty. Intellectual poverty is greatly threatening and vicious. Place own free soul on the throne of poverty. Enrich mind with great ideas and live simple virtuous lives. This is the real precious treasure and let it rest in mind as invisible crown.

It is a dignified poem. Here it is :

Before the glance of the West with its

pride of power, its traders rolling in luxury,

and its pomp and wealth, do not,

O sons of Bharat, feel ashamed to wear

your plain white garb and to live

your simple life with mein noble and calm.

Listen not to what they say,

keep your priceless treasure

in your heart, let it rest

on your brow as an invisible crown.

That which looks large and has been heaped high,

let it not overwhelm you, and do not

prostrate yourselves before it.

Place your free soul on the throne

of poverty, filling your mind

with the leisure of want.

~ Rabindranath Tagore

The crux of the poem :

The west is influencing and dominating. Its pomp and power, its richness and lavishness are impressive. They are rolling in luxury. It impacts and sways us. But don’t get engrossed in it.

O sons of Bharat; don’t feel ashamed to wear own plain white garb and live simple life. Don’t be carried away in opulence. Live with noble main and tranquil heart. What we have is more salient than what we don’t have.   

Don’t listen to what they say. Inner divinity is invaluable. Be righteous and virtuous. Heed good thoughts and qualities in heart. Keep this own precious treasure in heart. And let it rest on own brow as an invisible crown.

What seems to be huge and high, don’t get engulfed by it. Don’t let own self lay down before it. We have the unique way of thinking, worship and life. We walk on the noble and elegant way. We are great, pious and divine.

It doesn’t matter if we have physical poverty. Inner poverty is more dangerous. So place own free soul on the throne of poverty. We need to understand difference between need and want. I may desire more but need very little. Filling mind with prudence of desire is being free within. This is the real freedom from passion and possession. Self victory is the real Independence.  

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We Indians criticize more about India. Where I born and brought up, I abuse. In this way I insult my Motherland. When I demand, have I thought of responsibility ? When I talk about rights, have I thought about duties ? It is our responsibility as an Indian to feed nation positively. So focus on contribution instead of complain.

So dignify self and esteem motherland. It awakens us from deep inertia. We have been sleeping for last thousand years of dominance and slavery. Feeling magnitude of own magnificence is the real freedom. Let us electrify the intellectual backbone again.