The Unexpected

On 60th anniversary of India's Republic day a sense of patriotism goes through my mind and gives me the chills that I have not experienced in recent past. Not because I am out of the country and missing the mother land, but because of the real meaning of Sovereignty that it means today.

According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereignty), the true meaning of Sovereignty is is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a territory. Although modern times has changed its true meaning, I want to take this time to ponder on a very basic question. Are we really sovereign?

- Sovereign in our acts
- Sovereign in our thoughts
- Sovereign in our life

Turning the head 360 degrees around us will give a reflection of what this term really means to us these days. The very essence of what was really meant to be "Sovereign" has changed in the modern times and given us the conundrum of what we call is the "Modern Sovereignty". With war looming around the countries, natural disasters making scores of children orphan, the human greed to annex what is rightfully others is only a reflection of what seems to be a never ending cultural shift.

Looking at the black and white pictures of India's first Republic Day back in 1950, I said to myself, I wish someone invents the time machine in my lifetime where I can go back and correct the mistakes of the past and think as a visionary to lay the foundation of a place to live, a life to breath and culture that will be built on values that will last for eons.

"Aman ki Aasha", the new buzzword in news today, to bridge the widening gap between India and Pakistan has no meaning unless we really mean it and understand the truth behind the sacrifices that our forefathers gave to go through this brutal past. The slogan to "Rise from the Ashes" holds a very real meaning in these times when we need to be one and aligned for a common goal of betterment of the human society.

I still remember the golden words from my grandfather 6 years ago on this very day, "This is the day when our country gained its sovereignty, you are loosing yours my son!!", as I began the journey of my life with my life partner only to understand the true meaning of his wisdom thoughts. Surely, it's been an eye opener to both of us in many parts.

All I can say is that if I can't be the one to cross the boundaries that has carved the lives of our people, at least I can try to sow the seeds in the next generation to abreast them of the events that have occurred in the past. With every year passing by, the only thing that is constant is the widening of the gap between the lives of people that never knew the real meaning of sovereignty.