Where Is Independent India Today ?

‘Freedom of thought.Right to live.Democracy and not Dictatorship.

For the people, By the People,of the People,

Truth alone Triumphs.

Swaraj is my birth right and I shall have it.’

I was rejuvenating my staked up Indian digital diary

Are these words of Indian Stalwarts of freedom fight mere fonts and prints on press bound books?

A middle school student peeked into my palmtop, ‘aunty, we are on earth where are you from?’

Hiding my consternation, ‘I am from India child, Do you study History or Civics ?’

‘Am Indian too,We had these subjects aunty, I opted them out !’

‘Ok, tell me child, don’t your parents teach you History, Freedom of India, Battle of Panipat, Sepoy Mutiny,The Gandhi Irwin Pact,The bold Rani Padmini,The rule of the Mughals or the Abolition of Sati, Lord Mc.Caulay ?’

I saw a sarcasm on his face, it seemed to pierce my Patriotism.

‘Aunty, my parents are working. My granny doesn’t teach, My work load Is enormous, I get sedated by the end of study time,

I am free today because it’s a Holiday, Its India’s, Independence Day !

We go to School with no books, they hoist the flag ,as on every Monday,

We salute the flag, sing the National Anthem, some old Chief guest speaks, we wait to come home. Its just another holiday aunty, we used to get toffees , now they don’t give us toffees too!

Our future lies in the present generation,to foster ignorance, is to incur a National loss.

#For The Zorba Independence Day Writing Challenge in August 2026

Genre: Narrative Verse in Poetry

Word Count :248

Posted on : 8th August 2026