What if Bharat Mata could scroll social media?

 

This story is purely fictional.

Imagine Bharat Mata sitting alone in her cabin on Independence Day.

She is dressed in an elegant saree with subtle tricolour elements, sitting quietly behind her desk and scrolling through her phone. 

A video of a protest appears.

 People are standing together, holding placards and raising their voices for their rights. She remembers a time when they lived under british rule, when demanding freedom came with sacrifice, uncertainty and suffering, and also to work has slaves in their own home(india). But now, seeing another generation standing up for their rights makes her happy.

She swipes, and a photo appears. A young girl with books in her hands is entering the school.

She remembers the women where she had once watched struggle for safety, education and equality. Women who brought new lives into the world, yet were often denied the same respect and opportunities they deserved.

In a culture that has often worshipped women as goddesses, at that time many women were still treated as though their thoughts and voices didnt matteer. But now, seeing them achieve in every field, it feels very personal to her.

She swipes again. A new video appears.

A newsreader is reporting about India's development and growing infrastructure. A few days ago, she had also seen a video about construction of the'Ram Mandir' in Ayodhya.

She witnessed the destruction of the important temples,learning centres and other treasures of India.  For a moment, a sadness flashes in her eyes. But then she looks at the screen again, happy to see her children preserving their culture.

She swipes again, and an election post appears.

The screen shows the voter turnout. She slowly moves her eyes towards the photographs on the wall of those who once fought for India's freedom. She remembers a time when her children did not possess the same democratic power they have today. Now, voting can sometimes feel routine, or for some it may also feel like hassle. And doesn’t understand the struggless faced to get the voting right.

She swipes, and a photo of a dustbin filled with unfinished food appears.

She saw generations who knew what it meant to live in scarcity. Even having enough food to fill their stomach was a luxury. She remembers children who couldn't afford a meal and drank water from public hand pumps to fill their stomach.

And now, seeing food being thrown away, she is feeling sad because she knows:

"What feels ordinary to one generation was once something another desperately wished for".

She switches off her phone. For a moment, she looks around her cabin—the photographs, the globe, the Indian flag, the emblem, the Constitution, the history books and everything else.

These are the journey she has watched for generations.

And perhaps this is what nostalgia feels like for a mother.

Conclusion:-

We often celebrate Independence Day by remembering the day India became free. But perhaps we should also remember what that freedom allowed us to become.

 • The right to vote.                                                       • The opportunity to learn.                                         • The power to participate.

And many more.

Maybe that is what Independence Day should remind us of—not only how far we have come, but what it took to get here.

Because somewhere, in an imaginary cabin, Bharat Mata may still be looking at the lives of her children and:-

Remembering the struggles.

Remembering the sacrifices.

And maybe, smiling at how far we have come.

Always be grateful for what u have 🙏

Happy Independence Day🇮🇳

( The images used in this post are for illustrative purposes only. They are not my original photographs. )