Amir Iqbal Khan
“Freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living?” — Mahatma Gandhi
Independence is not a date on the calendar; it is a sacred trust bought with blood, sweat and unyielding courage. It is a gift won through unimaginable sacrifice, preserved through vigilance and sustained by a sense of collective duty. Yet, amid the comforts of our daily routines, we often forget the price paid for these freedoms. And when freedom is taken for granted, history warns us — it becomes the easiest thing to lose.
The chronicles of our independence struggle are illuminated by the names of patriots whose courage still stirs the soul — Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, Ashfaqullah Khan, Chandrashekhar Azad, Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, and countless unsung heroes. These were individuals who did not just oppose British rule; they defied an empire at the peak of its power. Bhagat Singh went to the gallows smiling, declaring, “They may kill me, but they cannot kill my ideas.” Rani Lakshmibai fought fiercely in the battlefield, sword in hand, inspiring generations of women to rise against oppression.
Some bore the deep wounds of battle yet refused to surrender. Chandrashekhar Azad famously vowed never to be captured alive, and when cornered, used his last bullet on himself rather than fall into enemy hands. These sacrifices did not fade into oblivion. Their blood became the ink with which the history of our freedom was written — and the British Empire could not erase it.
The road to independence was neither swift nor smooth. It took decades of political struggle, social mobilisation, non-violent resistance under Gandhi’s leadership, and at times, fiery revolutionary movements. Those who lived under colonial rule knew the crushing weight of repression — the censorship of speech, the denial of dignity, the absence of choice. Today, we walk freely, speak openly and elect our leaders. But do we truly value these liberties, or have they become invisible luxuries we barely notice?
As Jawaharlal Nehru said on the eve of independence, “Freedom and power bring responsibility.” Freedom is not merely the absence of foreign rulers; it is the presence of justice, equality, and the rule of law. It demands that we protect the rights of others as fiercely as our own, challenge corruption wherever it exists, and resist complacency in the face of injustice.
Modern threats to liberty are more subtle but equally dangerous. They creep in through misinformation, erosion of democratic norms, and the gradual silencing of dissenting voices. As historian Timothy Snyder reminds us, “Post-truth is pre-fascism.” When citizens disengage, these threats corrode the very institutions meant to safeguard our independence.
Independence is not a permanent possession; it is a responsibility renewed daily. It requires active participation, informed engagement, and moral courage. When corruption is tolerated, prejudice goes unchallenged, and civic duties are ignored, freedom does not vanish overnight — it withers silently.
The onus is on us, especially the youth, to understand that the liberty we enjoy today was bought with unimaginable sacrifice. Sadly, many young people see Independence Day as just another holiday rather than a reminder of their role as custodians of this legacy. As Subhas Chandra Bose warned, “No real change in history has ever been achieved by discussions.” Change demands action.
We must instill in our future generations not just pride in our independence, but also the will to defend it. That means being vigilant against injustice, resisting division, and upholding the values for which our martyrs laid down their lives.
As we celebrate our national milestones, let us ask ourselves:
1)Are we living up to the ideals of those who fought for our freedom?
2)Are we willing to confront corruption and inequality in our time as they confronted tyranny in theirs?
3) Do we understand that our silence in the face of wrongs can be as dangerous as the wrongs themselves?
The question is not whether our independence was worth the struggle — history has already answered that. The real question is: Are we willing to struggle to keep it?
As poet Rabindranath Tagore envisioned in Gitanjali:
“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free…
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.”
That awakening is not a past achievement it is a daily duty.
