A proud Indian

Dear Mother India,

Help us realize how proud we should be, for having born on your soil. Despite having so many children, you have made sure that you have been gracious enough to all of us. You have given us rich values and traditions besides satisfying our basic needs. You have made us feel unique in the midst of the rest of the world, in terms of the diversity of cultures prevailing in the different parts of the country. You have given us the unlimited freedom to do whatever we desire to, which no one else gives. Above all, the warmth, care, love and brotherhood that we get from you, can't be had from anyone else.

Despite taking so much from you, I have a feeling that we are not giving back enough. We live our life like a race and are always concerned only about our wellness. We don't even have the time to offer a word of prayer for you everyday. Yet, you have not stopped giving unto us. Who can ever be so benign?

In the name of religion we fight and hurt others' feelings, failing to understand that all of us are your children and that no religion demands that you hurt others' feelings. Child abuse, slavery, rape, corruption are on the increase, as little do we think that we are hurting our siblings. We have read how much of a toil it was years back to gain the freedom that we have now, but we are using it in the wrong way. Are we shackling ourselves again?

Mother, open our eyes. Help us be considerate and respect others. Let us shower all the love that we have on our fellow human beings, so that we are an example for the future generation.

سارے جہاں سے اچھا ہندوستان ہمارا
ہم بلبلیں ہے اس کی یہ گلستاں ہمارا
(Better than the entire world, is our Hindustan;
we are its nightingales of mirth, and it is our garden abode)

பாருக்குள்ளே நல்ல நாடு
எங்கள் பாரத நாடு - பாரதியார்

-A proud Indian