Ae Merey Watan Ke Logon…O’ People Of My Country…

She is eternally an Ageless Beauty,
Enigmatic, Royal, Grand…
…Resplendent, Awe Inspiring…
…forever a Land of Boundless Plenty…
Her Charms attracted many…
…marauders there were plenty…
…who plundered Her wealth, people and soil…
…yet…
…none could capture Her Will…or Her Soul…
Her Spirit remains indomitable and free…
Indomitably Free…

Bharat Maa…
…inspired and emboldened many a brave heart…
…sons and daughters…
…who with matchless courage…
…embarked…
…through the ages in a struggle for freedom…
…displaying for their matru bhoomi a lofty regard…
…their country…
…the dignity of their homeland…
…with their life they sought to guard…

‘Independent’ Mother India turns 72…
…On the eve of our Independence day,
It is up to us…me and you…
…to pay heed to the myriad whispers…
…Mother India constantly sends our way…
With the innumerable knocks upon our door…
…just what is She trying to convey…?
Can we spare the time…a few moments…
…from the material pursuits…
…to which we have perhaps fallen prey…
…to hear what the Mother has to say…?

She has Her Independence…
…yet,
…is She happy…?
Is there a twinkle in Her pretty eyes…
…or do they glisten…
…with tear drops…?
What is the pace of Her heartbeats…
…is it a rapid cadence…or the tempo of peace…?
What of Her demeanor…
…is it joyful or sombre…?
And Her gait…
…is it elated, upbeat or fatigued…?
Are we living in a world of make believe and pretence…?
How can the Mother be happy when…
…selfishness abounds…truth is evicted…
…unity relegated to the backseat…
…righteousness vanishes…love is dissolved…
…violence festers and harmony ferments…?

Hence, Dear Ones,
O’ People of my country…
Ae Merey Watan Ke Logon…
Let us end our nonchalance,
And awaken to our onus…
…obligation and commitment,
Allow the glow of the conscience to come to the fore,
May each of us individually make…
…a passionate resolution in the depth of our core…
Be totally devoted to a Swatchh Bharat inside out…
Time enough now to listen and pay heed to the knock,
Pause from busy schedules and open wide the door…
Let not the Mother lament…
…anymore…

Ae Merey Watan Ke Logon,
O’ People of my country…my wondrous country,
We have the capacity to match the fervour…
…of patriotism that our freedom fighters manifested…
…that did monumental tests withstand,
Must their sacrifices be callously ignored…
…to be left buried deep in the sand…?
The quest of Bharat Maa is our very own,
This…we must profoundly understand,
Thus,
Should we not empower ourselves with amity, humanity…
…compassion, acceptance, understanding, tolerance and concord…
…that kindred harmony may consciously expand…?
Come, Children of this Precious Soil,
Together,
Let us restore the unity, harmony and dignity of our Motherland…

Vande Mataram…Sarey Jahan Sey Atcha…Maa Tujhe Salaam…Jai Hind!