m. The freedom movement in India naturally was to get freedom from the colonial rule. But drives for freedom movement were much deeper than getting self- rule. The great personalities like Swami Vivekananda had reminded India that purpose of her existence was not only for herself but for the evolution of humanity. Freedom of India was just the prerequisite for this ordained mission.
As is
the genius of India, the freedom movement was de-centralised, as there was no
central authority directing and guiding it. It was also multi-layered. At
various stratas of the society, people were fighting with the British. Though
apparently it was seen that the agitations, fight etc., in some of the places
were for local issues, but that is not true. The fight was for restoring the
various systems of India which were based on Swa of India, the oneness
of existence. Those systems always were
democratic, giving freedom to choose how to live and contribute for the bigger
good but these were disrupted and destroyed by colonial powers, to loot India.
Thus fighting with the colonial rule became essential.
Various
methods were adopted for fighting for freedom like direct attack as
revolutionaries were doing; fights and skirmishes; non-cooperation; defying the
powers; exposing the atrocities of colonial rule at international forums;
awakening the pride of Indians in India through newspapers, kirtan,
lectures etc., and thus preparing to protest them against British rule in various ways. Each effort contributed and supplemented
other efforts. The freedom was the result of the impact of all these various
endeavours, struggles and fights for freedom at various levels and of course at
various period.
More we
are knowing during 'Swaraj 75' about these unsung heroes directly and thus
about the freedom movement, for many of us, it is a paradigm change. Over the
years only few were credited for getting the freedom for India. It is thus,
that people are getting aware that many fought for freedom. People came to know
also, about many more details of Indian systems that were in existence. We now
know that India had well spread system of education where children of all
communities got education. We know that we had a very systematic traditional
irrigation system thus making India Sujalam, Suphalam. Therefore even
the agriculture of India was not solely dependent on rains. We had very good
commerce, trade, industry making India the richest country for the longest
period in the world. But the British destroyed all our systems. The systems
that they imposed were more to exploit the people and keep them uneducated and
poor, to destroy the industry here, to make the land owners as land labourers
and to make Indians ignorant about themselves. This was resisted deeply by the
soul of India and thus we see freedom fighters from all the regions,
communities and professions of India. The freedom fighters are from Janajati,
rural and urban areas. Persons from all professions, students, house wives were
part of freedom movement.
But the
curious question is in such a vast and diverse land, without any central
authority directing, how and why India responded as one nation, one people?
India is
full of Diversity. The Diversity in India like names and forms of Ishvara, the
languages, the festivals, way of dressing etc., is perhaps more than the
Diversity in the rest of the world. But that does not mean that India is not
connected or has no commonalities. In spite of such Diversity, the people of
India or regions of India are deeply connected with each other. Vincent Smith, a historian, not an admirer
of India had to acknowledge that, 'India ... beyond all doubt, possesses a deep
underlying fundamental unity, far more profound than that produced either by
geographical isolation or by political suzerainty. That unity transcends the
innumerable diversities of blood, color, language, dress, manners and sect.' we
can rather say that because of such deeper unity, India has immense diversity
that adds to the colours of India.
Because
of this deeper unity in India, all the people and thus India always respond as
one nation to the situation. Even in the freedom movement persons from all
creeds, communities and regions participated though apparently issues were
different in different regions, somewhere it was the rights to use forests,
somewhere land, or the loss of Kingdom, or imposition of taxes or conversion
etc. Though issues were different, what was common was the hurting the Swa of India was
resisted. And what drives India in the absence of any central authority whether
religious or otherwise? All our diverse traditions draw their inspiration,
source, sustenance from the Truth of existence. They are not inspired by
personalities or theologies but by principles. The principles spring forth from
the realisations of various Sages, Rishis, Sants, Devotees, ancestors etc. And
their realisations are of the Truth of existence which is same for all. Truth
of existence does not change as per the regions or communities. And that is
what connects us, beyond diversity of regions and communities. Therefore, as
long as we are rooted in our tradition, we respond as one. While reading about
these unsung heroes in this issue of Vivekananda Kendra Patrika, we would get
glimpse of Swa of Bharat. If we understand how so many spontaneously
responded, we shall understand India.
The
title of the issue itself is misleading in a way. As if these unsung, less
known, freedom fighters wanted to be celebrated and so they sacrificed their
lives for the freedom of India. That is far from the truth. There were no
calculations, to expectations in their sacrifice for the freedom of India. They
just sacrificed in the hope that India will be free to fulfil her global
mission of guiding the humanity. If at all the word 'unsung-heroes' indicate
anything, it indicates that how ungratefully we as a nation forgot, them and
needed the occasion of 'Swaraj 75' to remember them, to sing about them. After
this year, again these freedom fighters should not be forgotten but should
become part of our education system, our history-learning, our local and
regional celebrations.
To
really make the sacrifice of all the freedom fighters worthy, it is necessary
also to look ahead to the future of India. As these unsung heroes sacrificed
their life, careers, families without expecting anything in returns, to make
India radiant in her Swa, to enable her to guide the world, we have to
work for it. As Swami Vivekananda had said the great work can be done by great
sacrifices only, we need to follow these unsung heroes. They had to die, give
up their life, we have to offer the maximum time and energy in the interest of
our motherland. We are born in a special land where working for her
rejuvenation is in itself working in the interest of the humanity. Let us make
coming 25 years as Amrit kal, a period when we reclaim back our faith in
the immortality of Atman and thus work to contribute for the Nation.
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