By Sushma Krishnan
They say that life is a pre-destined drama
A game the Creator plays using our karma
Scattering each of us like a pawn
Thus begins each of our stories like a different coloured yarn
Longer the yarn, higher is our life span
However, is it’s course as white as a swan?
Absolutely not as it rolls through mud, dirt and what not
Worn and torn towards the end as if hit by a drought
The Creator, for each of us spins a unique yarn
What we make out of it is a conclusion to be drawn
This is just about one individual’s story
Imagine creating India’s story – the glory minus the gory
For centuries, these yarns were used as puppet strings
Making our ancestors dance to life’s cruel stings
They craved for freedom – the right to be INDIA
Years passed in that struggle towards a FREE nation – or was it Utopia?
Every August 15th,we celebrate freedom
Proud of having our own modern kingdom
However, does it just stop here?
Or is there a lot more to cheer but also fear?
We did get freedom from colonial rule
But not from an invisible spool
Around which were wound the yarns
Making us believe we were in safety’s arms
We were still India and not Bharat
Brainwashed like a huge flock of parrots
Made to believe that our country wasn’t good enough
And life here can be nothing but tough
The real Bharat was never low in self-esteem
It was a land of many a dream
Lost were we in the tsunami of outsider’s influence
Due to which our country lost it’s significance
The name Bharat isn’t an acronym
It stands proudly for many a life’s hymn
However, there are still hurdles which define the country it is
Below are some of them you cannot miss
Belonging is an emotion that is felt
When our voices are heard and problems melt
When that is lost, people leave in a turmoil
Looking for a “homeland” in another soil
Happiness is something where Bharat slacks
The World Happiness Report says it’s in the 118th rack
What’s stopping it from going to the top - lack of support and loads of corruption?
Happiness just disappears amidst this commotion
Accountability is a huge indicator of a country’s progress
However, are we even seeing it as a contributor to success?
While there are quite a few setting a great example
Only when many more follow will it’s meaning be ample
Respect used to be associated with “Sir” and “Madam”
Which got replaced in many a place citing Western freedom
In a bid to promote equality through our first names
Isn’t respect being shrunk to fit within a smaller frame?
Action is taken by the people who love the country
The ones who tread on the right path even when choices are aplenty
They do not find excuses to act or show lip sympathy
They are the ones who are genuine sources of empathy
Trust is what we need the most to remain united
When there are numerous attempts to make us feel slighted
Tiny twigs when held together hold the strength of a log
Trust among the twigs is what takes it even through the thickest smog
The transition from India to Bharat has helped us regain our identity
We, as citizens of Bharat now need to perform our duty
It’s only through our genuine involvement
That our country will become Bharat’s embodiment
B – Beholder of values
H – Happiest country
A - Ascended nation
R – Ram Rajya
A – Aspiring Ideal
T – Timeless glory