Threads of Freedom - Weaving Duty, Empowerment, and Collective Progress
This 15th August, our society, Ganga Melrose came together not just to mark another year of freedom, but to reflect on what it means to be truly free. Over two days, we turned our attention, exploring the roots of our independence and the branches of responsibility that freedom carries.
Driven by a profound sense of responsibility, I took the initiative to organize a celebration that would not only honor our history but also inspire each of us to actively contribute to the country’s future.
The event began with an invitation to remember—a stirring session led by Mrs. Mallika Chauhan, a woman whose life is intertwined with the spirit of service, being the wife of an army officer. She spoke of Uddham Singh, a name often whispered but rarely given its due. Through her words, he came alive—not as a figure from a history book, but as a silent guardian of our freedom. Mallika reminded us of the blood-soaked soil of Jallianwala Bagh, a tragedy that still echoes in on the walls etched with bullets. She challenged us to ask ourselves: How do we, in our daily lives, honor such sacrifice? Her words lingered, urging us to consider our contribution to the nation today.
On the next day, as the tricolor unfurled under the morning sun, it was Col Arjun Prashar who brought us back to the present, grounding us in the very foundation of our democracy—the Constitution of India. The conversation shifted from the rights we are quick to claim, to the duties we often overlook. The Colonel’s words were a gentle yet firm reminder that true patriotism lies not just in knowing our rights, but in fulfilling our duties—towards our soldiers, our environment, and each other. This is the essence of our Indic wisdom, where the self is not separate from the whole.
In closing, I shared a message about the power of self-empowerment - about how true empowerment comes from a deep connection with oneself, and, when we are empowered, we naturally become better contributors to society. This is the glory of Bharat—that self-progress is never isolated but happens simultaneously with the progress of those around us, embodying the principle of Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah.
To bring this spirit into practice, we participated in a gratitude meditation, followed by an act of simple yet profound acknowledgment—we invited our housekeeping and security staff onto the stage. In their everyday labor, they are the silent sentinels of our comfort and safety. To thank them openly was to recognize that service to the country begins with service to each other.
This celebration was a reminder that freedom is not a passive gift, but a living, breathing responsibility. My goal in organizing this event was to light a spark within each of us, to inspire service to the nation in whatever form it may take—small or large, seen or unseen. As we move forward, let us carry the spark of these two days within us, letting it light the path of seva.
Jai Hind! Vande Mataram.
