Brij Kishor Rajak

An appeal to the Youths (YUVA), the breezy air of our Motherland, on the occasion of Freedom Day…

YUVA, it’s a Hindi word and when it is set up oppositely, its look like VAYU (YU-VA & VA-YU) i.e. air (breezy year, storm etc…). I have no great experiences or knowledge to give a strong or lengthy lecture, but as an ex History student, I want to share something with my beloved YUVAs (Youths), the breezy air. History has many evidences that Truth, Honesty and Non- Violent are the best policies and in every struggle, revolution, fight etc. it is counted as a backbone.

One childhood story of one of the great freedom fighters was proof the determination of a child, which was fulfilled in his youth. During the Durga Puja festival, the child was around seven-eight years old and was watching the preparations for the Puja in his home. He also watched that her mother was very busy. When the Puja was completed, his mother asked him to bow down before the Durga Devi’s statue (Terracotta statue). He became surprised and asked his mother if she completed the Puja.When she replied that she had, he laughed and said that Ma Durga Devi was the symbol of Shakti (Power) and suddenly cut his finger and gave blood at the Devi’s feet. After that, he said to his mother, “Now the Puja is completed”. And the whole world knows that after around three decades, he gave the most patriotic, powerful and energetic slogan, “Give me your blood, I will give you Freedom”.

 Mangal Pandey, Khudiram Bose, Madanlal Dhingra, Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Chandra Sekhar Aajad, M.K. Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Ashfaqullah Khan, Lala Lajpat Rai, Annie Besant, Swami Vivekananda, Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan,  Kusal Konwar, Rani Lakshmibai, Kanaklata, Rani Gaidinliu, Madam Bhikaji Kama, Satish Chandra Basumatary, Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma, Maniram Devan, Tirut Singha,  etc. were real heroes whom we  still remember for their sacrifices and contributions. They were engaged in several struggles including revolutionary fights (According to the some scholar they were revolutionary fighters and someone (British and their supporters…) call them Indian Terrorist (which is never accepted by Indians…) but never harmed their own (Indian) people. Even, during the Saunders killing, Azad warned the Indian police who were serving under British troops not to follow them. These are very small examples of our great motherland’s great and unforgettable heroes. There are several unforgettable heroes in Indian History from ancient time to till date. Now, it’s our turn, to prove that, we are ready to sacrifice all for the Motherland and its glorious past. Today, the eyes of the universe are on us again.

We the youth are forgetting a famous saying in Assamese language that, “Raaije Nokh Jokarile Noi Boi” (It means, that if the public is united, they can do anything…, here Raaij stands for the YUVAS). Now, we want to tell the youth, “wake up and try to save our glorious History that has been giving light to the Universe till now from the beginning, when the eyes of the World (Portugal, France, England, Dutch etc.) were on us. I have no right to say anything to the RAAIJ (Public) but I have the right to tell the youth to share our experiences with, the YUVA.  As a History student, I have a request to the youth: please don’t try to divide our Motherland again because history has proof (The 15th August is not only a Red Letter Day but also a day of sorrow and happiness…) that our Motherland has been losing many lives since 1947 or even earlier than that, till date.  ACCORDING TO RICHARD SYMONDS, “AT THE LOWEST ESTIMATE, HALF A MILLION PEOPLE PERISHED AND TWELVE MILLION BECAME HOMELESS…” History has evidence that in most of the struggle movements, both violent and non violent, youth had a large role to play. History has made us aware that, in the present situation, violence or arms struggle have no place in society.

The Youth, which comprises a large portion of our country (According to the some sources, our country has given the highest YUVAs to the World) should have to remember it that, we the Indians always pray for, NO MORE PARTITION, NO MORE SEPARATION and NO MORE MASSACRE in our Motherland again. Otherwise, the answers to history would have to be given by those who forget history. One song sung by the legendary singer Kishore Kumar where he was gives an advice that, “VATAN KA KHAYA NAMAK TO…NAMAK HALAL BANO…” should be remembered. At this age, we all are strong, defiant and passionate. Before losing it, let’s dear friends, choose our respective roles, get up and prove again that, our Motherland is still giving birth to heroes. Last but not the least, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika’s advice through his immortal voice that, “AAMI AKHOMIYA (that does not only mean the Assamese Community but includes all Indians)  NIZAK NISINILE AKHOM  ROKHaTOLE JABO,’’should be heeded. Therefore follow the advice of the great unforgettable heroes of our Motherland or else in History, we will have to give answers to all forever.