Independence...a bequeath by soldiers of India

It was a dark and stormy night. The rain was pouring down in sheets, and the wind was howling like a banshee. A group of young college students were walking home from a party, laughing and joking. It was 15th of August. They were all talking about how they couldn't wait to leave India and start their lives abroad.

"This country is a mess, " one of the students said. "It's never going to develop. I can't wait to get out of here. "

"Yeah, " another student agreed. "India is just a third-world country. There's nothing here for us. It's disgusting. The dirty streets, puddles, ditches everywhere. "

"Yeah, "yet another student intervened, "It's a pity to see the number of cows and buffaloes on the streets than cars and other vehicles. "

The students continued to walk and talk, oblivious to the world around them. They showed their disgrace, disrespect and frustration about the country.

While they walk past a bus stand, their lay the Indian Natiknal flag, the Tricolor in a puddle of mud, they were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice the flag that lay on the street.

A sturdy man soaked to the bone walked towards them, bent down to pick the flag, then tried straining out the water out of it and lovingly caressed it, kissed it as if it was his child.

As the students passed the man, they didn't even look at him. They just kept walking and talking. The man stopped and looked at them with pity. He shook his head and sighed.

The students didn't notice the man until they heard him speak.

" Young men, " the sturdy man said, he was dressed in white dhoti and kurta, well built, his thick dark mustache reflected a defining feature of his face, and gave him a distinguished and authoritative look. He looked fearless.

 "You have no idea what you're talking about, "he said

The students stopped and turned to look at the man.

"What do you mean?" one of the students asked.

"I mean, you don't know how lucky you are, " the man said. "You live in a free country. You can say whatever you want, and you can do whatever you want. You have opportunities that people in other countries can only dream of. "

"But India is a mess, " a student said. "It's never going to develop. "

"That's not true, " the man said. "India has come a long way in the past . And it will continue to develop. But it will take time. And it will take people like you to help it develop. "

The students were silent for a moment. They had never thought about it that way before.

"Do you even know how we achieved the freedom?You breathe in, the free air, speak freely, do you have any idea how many people had to shed their blood to achieve it?"

The students bowed their head in silence.

The young man started, "The Indian struggle for freedom was a long and arduous one, spanning over centuries. It involved many people and different groups, each with their own unique approach to the fight for independence.

The Indian Rebellion of 1857,  known as the Sepoy Mutiny was the first widespread revolt by Indian sepoys, who were angered by the cartridges they were issued. The cartridges were greased with animal fat, which was considered unclean by many Hindus and Muslims. The rebellion was eventually crushed by the British, but it served as a wake-up call to the Indian people and showed that they were not content with British rule.

Rani of Jhansi Laximibai fought for her country and country men carry her little child on her back.

In the late 19th century, a new generation of Indian leaders began to emerge, calling for greater self-rule for India.  

Revolutionist like Khudiram Bose , Prafulla Chaki , Ramprasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan , Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Binoy, Badal, Dinesh, Bhagha Jatin created terror in the hearts and minds of the rulers and almost scared them away to death.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal worked on their paths to free the country.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, led the Indian Natonal Army, creating a fear of defeat and death to the entire kingdom of British.

The advocacy of non-violence, led by Mahatma Gandhi, taught us how non-violence and peace can create terror amongst people.

People in order to free India not only gave away their live but their future too, they never thought about their family.

They bore tortures, were shackled, beaten and hanged to death but they had one dream, to see a free India, see the National flag hoisted high above every other flag proudly.

The Indian independence movement finally achieved success in 1947, when India gained its independence from Britain. This was a momentous occasion, after the sacrifices and hard work of the many freedom fighters that India is now a free and independent nation.

The Indian struggle for freedom was a long and difficult one, but it was ultimately successful. The sacrifices and hard work of the many freedom fighters who fought for independence, do you think they should be forgotten?" tears rolled down the man's eyes, he was emotional and gripped the national flag with his hand near his chest tightly.

"We're sorry, " one of the students said. "We didn't mean to be disrespectful. "

The man wiped of his tears and said, "I understand, you're young and idealistic. But you have to remember that freedom is not free. It's something that people have fought and died for. And it's something that we should all cherish. "

The students nodded. They knew that the man was right.

"Thank you, " one of the students said. "We'll try to be more respectful in the future. "

"I'm glad to hear that, " the man said.  

The students looked at each other. They knew that they had learned something important that night. They knew that they were lucky to live in a free country, and they vowed to never take it for granted again.

The man slowly turned and walked away, leaving the students standing there, thoughtful.

The rain had stopped, the wind was no longer howling, a cool breeze drifted the hair of one of the young student, who picked up the National flag which now lay in the seat of the bus stand in his hand, he raised it high above, the cool breeze fluttered the flag, while the crimson rays of the dawn poured on the saffron color of the flag, shimmering it's beauty.

He look back at the sturdy man, " Dude! Who are you?We will ever be obliged to you!"

The man turned back for a moment and uttered, "Dushman ki goliyon ka hum samna karenge, Azad hi rahe hain, Azad rahenge. "

He walked back on his path once again, the mist spreading across the horizon made it difficult to see anything as if in a trance. . . . . but in a moment everything was clear, the sun slowly spreaded its beautiful crimson red veil upon the horizon.

The students knew that they were proud to be free Indians, they saluted the National flag.