It was my history book that gave me my first and strongest shot of nationalism. I tend to visualise most of the things I read and if you ask me, at 10, I actually saw the independence struggle infront of me. I remember crying when i was reading about jalianwala bagh and beamed with pride at Gandhi's victories.
My inspirations were these stories for a long time. I wanted to be like one of these national heroes, Bhagat Singh was one man I absolutely adored .
As I grew up, movies and their patriotic songs became my link with patriotism. So much so, that I would listen to these songs every 15th aug and 26th january.
Things have changed drastically now. Today the inspiration is not local, it is not India. Its global.
Nothing made me realise that more than TFI.
Most of its inspirational songs are bollywood and hollywood numbers. Most of its inspirational leaders are present day teachers and no, they are not limited to India. National heroes, even social reformers hardly find a mention. Rabindranath Tagore and his ideas on education which changed the way I thought about education as a whole, have also been considered too philosophical for the movement.
But people are inspired. They do not know about the 1857 struggle, they do not want to know about it and the best part is probably that they do not need to.
The present inspires them, the idea of humanity inspires them, art and music inspires them. They do not need to look at the past. Its the present that they derive their energy from as they focus toward a bright future.
This is our new generation and I hope we get some change in place.
My inspirations were these stories for a long time. I wanted to be like one of these national heroes, Bhagat Singh was one man I absolutely adored .
As I grew up, movies and their patriotic songs became my link with patriotism. So much so, that I would listen to these songs every 15th aug and 26th january.
Things have changed drastically now. Today the inspiration is not local, it is not India. Its global.
Nothing made me realise that more than TFI.
Most of its inspirational songs are bollywood and hollywood numbers. Most of its inspirational leaders are present day teachers and no, they are not limited to India. National heroes, even social reformers hardly find a mention. Rabindranath Tagore and his ideas on education which changed the way I thought about education as a whole, have also been considered too philosophical for the movement.
But people are inspired. They do not know about the 1857 struggle, they do not want to know about it and the best part is probably that they do not need to.
The present inspires them, the idea of humanity inspires them, art and music inspires them. They do not need to look at the past. Its the present that they derive their energy from as they focus toward a bright future.
This is our new generation and I hope we get some change in place.
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