I will not celebrate our Independence unless....

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I am not being cynical. It's about being realistic. No country is perfect. We as citizens are responsible for it. But are we the only ones responsible for it? Sure, this country has its own good aspects too. But as a common man all I can see is my vote, my taxes, my efforts and my personal space being compromised, trampled and reduced to garbage. The following are the reasons I haven't wished anyone on this day. We are full of contradictions, anger and frustrations. How can we say that we are independent? Playing ae mere watan ke logon, yeh desh hai veer jawaanon ka and then giving undue importance to news about sanjay dutt being released when our brave army men are dying is not patriotism. Carrying flags around during the day and the same flags found in trash by evening is not patriotism. Posting statuses on Facebook about your love for the country and then participating in everything that accumulates to the lawlessness and filth in this country is not patriotism. Addressing India as Bharat Mata and leering at every maa behen on the road is not patriotism. Wearing white to symbolize peace and then going ahead to celebrate "festivals" by getting drunk and making a fool out of yourself is not patriotism. Saying out "Atithi Devo Bhava" and treating athithis as money bags and fair skinned druggies who can be mugged and raped is not patriotism. Giving patriotic speeches in Hindi and casting out people who cannot speak English as dumb and uncouth is not patriotism. 

If you truly love your country, work towards making your surrounding a good place to start off with. If each and every citizen could genuinely do his/her duties rightfully, we can at least hope for a better tomorrow. We can't change the government or the bureaucracy that rules us but we can at least hope for laying down a good foundation leading to a strong structure for the future generations to come by. As of today, the only free people are the politicians, the criminals and the animals that comfortable sit or sway by on the roads meant for human transportation. And we as law abiding, tax paying and helpless citizens have the absolute freedom to shop at supermarkets and get amazing discounts on this day. (I walked in to one store to get some fruits and had to get out in less than 30 secs from the fear of being trampled by greedy shoppers looking for free groceries). 

I will not celebrate our Independence unless.... 

1. A person has the freedom to report a crime or law being broken without of fear of landing in trouble.

2. A person has the freedom to do everything the ethical and lawful way and no the "chai paani" or "jugaad"

way.

3. A person is allowed to vent his frustration and has the freedom of speech without the fear of being arrested.

4. A person is free to vote for a candidate on the grounds of being the best and not the only known face among thugs.

5. A person gets the worth of the taxes he pays for the infrastructure and not the man hole deaths and pot hole accidents.

6. A person has the freedom to use his right to information and not being mocked as "kya kar loge jaanke".

7. A child has the freedom to trust the elders he mixes around with (including parents and teachers) without the fear of being tortured or molested.

8. A man can demand justice on grounds of being wrongly accused of crime against women. (Being feminist is a good thing, but men should have equal rights too).

9. A man can freely say that it's a country where men and women are treated equally. No unfair advantage is given to women.

10. Elders can peacefully stay at home without the fear of being killed by servants or watchmen.

11. A woman has the freedom to give birth to a child in a mid-level hospital without fearing about the child being stolen.

12. A woman has the freedom to divorce her husband without being labelled as loose. 

13. A woman can be out with her friends dressing the way she wants. 

14. A woman can walk in a crowd without the fear of being groped and molested.

15. A woman has the freedom to break up or dump a guy without the fear of being killed or acid attacked by the guy.

16. A woman is allowed to be dark, fat or loud mouth without the fear of being judged.

17. A woman is allowed to be opinionated and bold without the fear of being called "dented and painted".

18. A woman is allowed to study and pursue her dreams without the fear of being accused of "getting too much of freedom".

19. A woman is allowed to eat as much as she wants and not forced to do jobs of a maid just as a "pre-requisite for marriage".

20. A woman has the freedom to chose whom she wants to marry.

21. A woman has the freedom as to when and whether to bear a child or not without the fear of being called "barren".

22. A woman has the freedom to approach the protectors of law and order without the fear of being raped or slapped. 

23. A woman irrespective of her social status or caste has the right to lead a respectful life without the fear of being gang raped and set on fire. 

24. A woman is not given away with money to the highest bidder in terms of job and qualification. She is married with dignity.

25. A woman can date or dump as many guys as she wants without being feared to be called a slut. Since the same thing a man does is termed as being a stud.