Hello readers! BUSFAM, a premier branding & creative digital marketing agency in Kolkata is yet again excited to welcome you to another episode of #SocialDaySaga. In today’s write-up, we are going to present our thoughts on Independence Day. Interestingly, 15th August is also celebrated as International Relaxation Day.
However, there are deeper questions that need to be answered and reflected on, “ Are we really Independent?” or “Are we able to relax and enjoy the freedom we have?”
India is celebrating its 77 years of Independence on 15 August. On this day, our country was declared free from British rule and political powers were handed to the leaders of the country. But the lingering question still remains - are we able to enjoy our freedom in all aspects of life?
When we say freedom, it is more than just political sovereignty, it is also about our personal liberty to live our lives according to our own choices. However, this statement does not stand true in our modern society. Even to this day, our various facets of life are still entangled in the legacy of British rule.
Interestingly, 15th August is also celebrated as International Relaxation Day. It is a day to take a moment and relax ourselves. This also raises an important question, whether India as a nation has been able to embrace the concept of relaxation since the day it achieved Independence.
India gained Independence on 15th August 1947. The day holds great significance in history because it was on this day, that we broke ourselves from the shackles of British colonialism and formed our own Constituent Assembly.
Celebrating the Independence that we are supposed to enjoy today was not presented to us on a platter. A lot of freedom fighters faced the trials and torture of the British rulers for us to live freely on our land.
On the same day, we also observe International Relaxation Day. The day encourages every individual to take a break and rest for their well-being. However, the ability to sit back and relax is not equally accessible to everyone and there is a disparity that still exists.
If we have truly attained Independence, why is the British influence prevalent over the language we speak, the clothes we wear and even the food we eat?
The answer lies in our mindset- we take pride if we can speak English proficiently. Whether in schools, workplaces, the judicial system or even in any other official works, English is considered as the first language. The question is why?
Why do we feel ashamed to speak in our mouth tongue? Why is a person considered uneducated or backwards if they are unable to speak or understand English?
Our clothing choices are also heavily influenced by British culture. Our traditional attires have been replaced by Western clothes. Shirts, trousers and dresses are a trend now and whoever wears such clothes is perceived as fashionable by modern society. There has been a case in Delhi where a woman was denied entry into a restaurant just because she was wearing a saree.
The British influence is also seen in our preference for baked foods, fried foods, and beverages including coffee, thereby replacing our rich traditional items.
As a matter of fact, our Independence Day coincides with International Relaxation Day. However, since the day India gained Independence in 1947, the Indian Armed Forces have been deployed in numerous conflicts.
From the Partition of India, and the Kashmir conflict to the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars, to more recently, tension between India and China along LAC is proof that our soldiers never had any significant leave. We, as countrymen are sleeping peacefully only because our soldiers are performing their duties and sacrificing their lives. Hence the idea of relaxation greatly varies in our country.
There is no denying the fact that India has achieved much as a nation but we, the people of this country have not liberated ourselves from the slavery mindset which is quite visible in the things around us.
Also, even though India is politically free from the British, celebrating International Relaxation Day seems secondary amidst the frequent unrest in our country.