My Country, My Pride – Happy Independence Day India

India my country you are all that’s best in my innate existence,

You are my identity and the greatest source of my subsistence.

Without you I am a ship that’s without a rudder,

Resembling a bird without its chirp or its flutter.

You are everything that any being could ever possibly need,

A land that supports life no matter what race, religion or creed.

If there is one weakness it is we our beloved motherland,

As we try to be worthy and deserving of your love so grand.

We do know that we have taken you for granted more than we should,

However our love for you is strong and true although shrouded in a hood.

We would stop at nothing protecting your pride and glory against any evil,

No matter the sacrifices or pain that’s needed amidst an impending upheaval.

Our India our country has stood beside us no matter what has come and gone,

Blessing us with abundance no matter what disaster we stumble or come upon.

Although glorious and magnificent your humbleness has no worthy match,

Opting for peace yet displaying courage even at times of a total mismatch.

Words couldn’t do justice to your prestigious past and splendor that’s to follow,

No matter how hard we try it’s an exercise in futility seemingly benign and hollow.

Our destiny is intertwined with yours and we wouldn’t want it any other way,

You our India are our greatest pretext of undoubted greatness and long may it stay.

I am lucky to have been born in a land that is the greatest proof of the divine,

To have the blessing of being born in this land of amazement and call it mine.

I have one message to all who care for our country on this day of celebration,

Let’s show our love and respect to the land that’s the source of our creation.

We have to remember that no matter what we have to stand united and strong,

All the evils of this world might try and mislead us but we have to prove them wrong,

We must not let our conviction and dedication to our motherland wobble and go astray,

So let’s renew our pledge in an auspicious way and congratulate our India on its Independence Day.

Map of Northeast India

Although many of us know where Northeast India is and are aware that they are collectively called the "Seven Sisters", most of us can't place it on a map, let alone name their capitals. So, here's a noble effort to set things right. Ask yourself whether you knew it, and if you don't, do share it and spread the word about a proud part of India.

Let the healing begin

The horrible shock and the stinging pain of the attack on the Gurudwara at Oak Creek, Wisconsin will take time to subside, but the horrid memories of those directly impacted by the attack may never completely dissipate. If there is one thing that can go a long way towards the healing process to start is for the perpetrators of this heinous crime being brought to justice – thus providing a sense of closure for those affected which will help them reconcile with the gruesome incident that has transpired. Bringing the perpetrators to justice also assumes prominence as it is realistic to assume that the deranged and disgraced army veteran had supporters and perhaps active accomplices who still pose credible threat to the community. These elements, if present, have to be dealt with and nullified for the rampant fear to ease and the trepidation to pass, not just within this tiny community but for the sake of all those vulnerable communities around the US. This will allow for life to get back to some semblance of normalcy and allow for the healing to begin after the trauma that was so mercilessly inflicted by a disturbed madman.

The attacker, identified as Wade Michael Page, has been called a neo-Nazi, a white supremacists among other things – and yet this notwithstanding, he has managed to find some sympathizers as pointed by some news reports. These points to the fact that there are others who feel the same way as he did and there are possible scourges that have to be monitored – and if needed – persecuted, although these agents of chaos are a big minority and are never likely to cause any real harm. However, even the possibility of an attack will strangle or impugn the principles of freedom and liberty that the great nation of USA has been built around and will singe the road to normalcy. 

The champions of freedom and the upholders of the righteous must address this issue and protect the rights of its citizens to the best or risk losing leverage on the moral high ground it takes on international matters around the world. India is also expected to play its role as a facilitator and a concerned party to the cause owing to its large Sikh population with its actions largely being dictated by domestic compulsions. In this regard, regional Sikh entities like World Sikh Organization and the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA), along with prominent religious entity like the Akal Takht and all the other places of worship the world over will a play crucial role in allowing the population to cope with the evil that has been perpetrated against them.

If there is to be a positive that comes out of the tragedy that played out on that unfortunate day in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, it will come from the incident proving to be a strong precursor towards a “real change” that addresses the core issues that culminated in such a horrible incident. There are many possible steps that are being contemplated by the forces of change, but any hasty or stopgap measures will be a real let down. It is important to explore the primary factors and causes that have manifested in this deplorable incident. Be it a hate crime or a case of mistaken identity or even just a senseless murderer on the rampage, every leads should be pursued and all possible angles and probabilities be probed in its entirety to its logical conclusion. It will help in establishing a credible and effective deterrent for miscreants and other anti-social elements to make sure that the vulnerable feel more secure and the weak feel protected.

Although condemnation, outrage, sympathies and protests have been flowing in from all quarters and everyone is standing solidly behind the bereaved community of Oak Creek and the larger Sikh community as a whole, it will only make tangible and lasting difference if concrete results are seen on the ground and impacts visibility felt. There have been talks of better gun control laws, installing security cameras, increasing police protection at Gurudwaras and other places of worship, which although promising, is only a start and more needs to be done to convince those impacted and threatened that the authorities are committed to their cause.

It is often said that it is at times of real adversity that real heroes come to the fore, and Satwant Singh Kaleka, the President of the Gurudwara, and Lt. Brian Murphy of the Oak Creek Police Department, have emerged as heroes who saved the lives of others by putting their own lives in danger. Their heroism should be used as a fillip that drives result-oriented actions that ultimately emerges out of the rhetoric and symbolism that is expected and does serve a purpose. It is an election year in the US where tough decisions and sweeping changes would be difficult, but there are many in the United States and around the world who expect that the government and the security agencies to do its best to avoid a repeat of such an atrocity against any community, creed, race or religion, anywhere.

For anyone who has been lucky enough know the Sikh personally would vouch for their selflessness, undying spirit, their zeal for life, and the unrelenting patriotism that they exhibit no matter where they are. The Sikhs are known as a hardworking bunch of people who add to any cultural diaspora they are part of. They are an affluent and influential part of not only the Indian society but have made a name for themselves no matter where they reside. Renowned for their fierce bravery, kindness, strong religious belief, and unwavering loyalty, the Sikhs have made their name in the field of business, agriculture, academics and medicine et cetera. Their sheer grit and steely resolve will allow them to overcome this awful episode, and if by any chance the preachers of hate and violence thought that they have the Sikh community intimidated, they will realize how wrong they were. They will soon bear testimony to the legendary gallantry and unmatched perseverance of the Sikhs as they venture on a long road towards recovery and healing.

Source: USINPAC

Happy Raksha Bandan - Thanks For Everything Sister