Vande Matram??

Post Republic Day, the patriotism might still be lingering in the air,
The swaying flags, the temporary bill-boards can be seen everywhere.
And I don't blame you, if you expect this to be a wax-lyrical, to read and feel good,
I am sorry to disappoint you, but I can't live in an imaginary world when reality pinches so bad.

On Republic Day, I got out on the streets to let some patriotism rub on me,
When I saw an urchin, trying to pull down the National Flag with nervousness and flurry.
I went upto him and questioned his motives sternly,
"It's made of cloth and my infant sister could do with some cover", he replied defiantly.

I moved on, my spirits slightly damp,
And I saw a bunch of boys, loitering around like tramps.
"Aren't you supposed to be at school attending the Republic Day function?" was my query,
They burst out laughing and looked at me with jeer and mockery.
"Pooh!" said one, "Who has the time to listen to boring speeches and watch the flag sway?"
"Yeah!" added another, "Its Republic Day miss, and we celebrate it our way."

And I walked on, feeling no better than before.

As I neared home, I spotted my neighbour, looking unusually sore.
Without my asking she blurted out angrily-
"Had to get up early again, though they call it a 'National Holiday',
Kids have to attend the function at school, for its Republic Day."

Her little girl was all excitement for the bid day,
But on observing her mother's indifference, her enthusiasm went away".
I could see her eagerness fade away,
I could feel the pride of Independence, in her innocent mind washing away.
Oh! How it wounded my heart to see the disappointment in her eyes,
And to see her ut away the National Flag she had been holding so high.

Unable to bear it anymore, i reached my house and locked myself in my room,
And decided to pen down my feelings of disappointment and gloom.

We have never really valued our freedom,
We have taken it for granted,
Never realising the true meaning behind the songs,
That on Independence Day we, as kids chanted.

We will happily make a duplicitous speech,
(It sounds so good, doesn't it?)
But what it really means, we fail to unleash.

We are ready to drop to the lowest low to reach the highest high,
We have given up our values, our conscience and our principles to ensure that we always fly.

We wait and wait for justice, but it never really comes our way,
To stay in power, our leaders will unflinchingly kill and sway.
We are all hypocrites, not knowing who we truly are,
We have sold our souls for the mad gleam of money and power.

This surely was not the vision that our forefathers had in mind,
When they toiled so hard and sacrificed it all,
So that under the bonds of slavery, their children would not grind.

I shall not try to make you pledge to change the country over-night,
I shall not say, "Come let's create a better country, a better life."
I don't expect you to start another freedom movement and terminate-
All corruption, all crime, all evil, all hate.

I know you don't have all that time,
(It's a miracle you could read these lines of mine).

But what I will say is-
India could be great but it is not,
And we are the only ones to blame for this.

Us and Them... [Thoughts in the mind of a teenage " red-lights " beggar...]

"Its cold, God I can't stop shivering. What? Is it morning already? [Groans]
I don't see Amma-Babu... they must have left for work. Well, I might as well leave too.

[WALKS]

"Aah! Quite a lot of cars for this time of the day. "
[STARTS WIPING THE WINDOW OF ONE]

"Hmm.. nice looking kid, must be a little older than I am. His shirt looks good.

[NEXT CAR]

Nice car... i wonder how it must feel to sit inside and recline, with no worries about the freezing cold... about food... about Munni... Thank you lady, that makes it Rs. 5 since morning, not bad.

[GREEN LIGHT]

Oh! Here come the thullas (policemen)... I better run before they catch hold of me again...

[SCURRIES AWAY TO THE NEXT LIGHT]

Is that Hari? Man, I hope he doesn't pick a fight... It is his light after all... But I'll explain to him... Munni is down with fever again, we need to get her to a hospital. He'll understand.. hopefully...

[RED LIGHT, CLEANSA CAR'S WINDOW IN THE HOPE OF A COIN OR TWO]

Hey, what a nice looking baby... When I start to ACTUALLY earn, I'll buy Munni lots of dresses like these... She is a pretty kid... but why does she keep getting the damn fever every few days... Oh! that's a nice, big car... and dirty too... the fat lady will surely give me some money...
Hey, why are you shoving me man, I'm just cleaning your car... Damn drivers!

[NEXT CAR]
Mmmm... that ice-cream in the girl's hand sure looks tempting... At least I have tasted an ice-cream, but Raju is ten, and he has never had one.

[AND SO THE DAY PASSES... DUSK]
I think that's enough for today... I should get back home now...Rs. 15 today. It's not much, but Raju, Amma, and Baba would have also earned something... collectively it should be enough to take Munni to the hospital.

[CONTINUES WALKING TO THE HOUSE]
I just hope Munni gets well quickly. I want her to study... the NGO didi said Munni can go to school for free... I don't want her to be like Hari's sisters- wild, screaming at passers-by for money, pulling at their clothes... No, Munni won't beg... I want Munni to study, to become a teacher...

Hey, what is that crowd outside my house...

[BREAKS INTO A RUN]

What's with all the people... hey, let me go... make way...
What??
MUNNI... MUNNI... GET UP... PLEASE... MUNNI... NO...