A few days back I asked a student of class 8th to write an essay on Independence Day. He was a student of a private school, quite popular one in Delhi. So he wrote like

              "15 August is Independence Day. We became free that day. I enjoy that day very much and become very happy. Our president Narendra Modi Ji do flag hosting that day on Lal Quila and different Jhankiyan(tableau) will be there. Indian army does march past on India Gate. Gandhi Ji gave us freedom and one Britisher killed him. Since it is a holiday we used to be very happy and I fly kites all day with my friends. After that, his essay was shifted from the topic of independence day to kite-flying day...."

              When I read his essay I was surprised to know that how a student of class eighth is not aware of 15th of August? He may be a weak student so that he couldn't able to arrange all the information in a good manner. He may have done so many spelling mistakes and also he may not know all about the independence day but the point is how much he was known was not accurate. Then I asked him a few questions. Do you know the difference between the prime minister and the president? What is the meaning of Independence day? Do you know how we celebrate this day on Lal Quila? Who killed Gandhi Ji? And the answer was, "I don't know".

             And most surprisingly this is not the situation of only one kid, I am quite sure that if you will ask these questions to many of the kids regardless of where they are studying, whether, in a government or private school, you will find that about 3 out of 10 students are only able to answer such questions. I have asked about this previously to many school students and on that basis, I can say this. Then I wanted to know that what are the reasons for such unawareness?

            The very first thing which I came to know that the way of celebrating Independence day in schools mostly in Delhi. They celebrate it on 1

4th of August and on 15th of August, they take rest in their home as a holiday. I am not sure about why they do it one day earlier, maybe because of government's order to control traffic and security in the capital region but if they are celebrating it one day earlier then also they can do it in a better way. On the 14th of August, classes run up to halftime and then some teachers and principal give the speech to the kids, after that they distribute a packet of biscuit among two students.

             Now I was able to understand that why they were not so much aware of Independence day? There is a saying in Hindi that 'bhukhe bhajan na hoye gopala". If you give a packet of biscuit among two students after giving hours of speech then it will be hard to believe that the students are listening to you. I think at such a prestigious moment like our national festival we should celebrate it like a festival. I remember the days when we were in school. On 15th of August, during the program, we use to wait for thanksgiving moment of Principal's speech eagerly and for that moment we have to listen first. Then we rush toward the exit gates from where the packet of sweets and samosa were waiting for us.

           Second thing mostly seen in government schools that the teaching staff took such events for granted and they considered it as just a holiday. If they continue to do so then they are not doing justice with the coming generations. After the 71 years of freedom which we have got from 190 years of colonial rule and a lot of sacrifices of our freedom fighters will be meaningless. So this should be the responsibility of the teachers, parents and all elders to teach the young students the value of freedom. So that they will take the interest not only in the glorious history of our freedom struggle but also they will feel proud of being Indian.

            At last this day is not for just holiday only but it is a day of celebration and reminding those known or unknown heroes of our country who sacrifice their lives for the sake of our motherland.

                                                              Jai Hind....! Jai Bharat....!