Two Days Post-Independence

Two days after Independence Day, and the flags have already been folded away, the patriotic songs have faded, and life has returned to its usual rhythm. The grand speeches and social media posts filled with national pride have all but vanished, leaving behind the same reality we paused for a day to celebrate. It’s almost as if our patriotism is on a timer set to expire the moment the last firework goes out.

On August 15th, we put on a spectacular show of unity and pride. For one day, we remember the sacrifices of our freedom fighters, bask in the glory of our nation’s achievements, and stand tall as citizens of a free country. But now, just two days later, it’s back to the routine, a routine where corruption is commonplace, where the news is filled with the same old scandals, and where the ideals we celebrated seem more like distant memories than daily principles.

It’s almost as if we collectively hold our breath on Independence Day, indulging in a fleeting moment of idealism, only to exhale and return to reality the next day. The crimes that didn’t stop are now resuming with renewed vigor, and alongside them, corruption, injustice, and neglect persist relentlessly.

And then there’s the way we treat the very freedoms we so loudly celebrate. We speak of democracy and justice, yet return to a system riddled with inequality and favoritism. We cheer for the freedom of speech, only to supress dissenting voices the moment they become inconvenient. It’s as if the values of Independence Day are costumes we wear for the occasion, quickly discarded once the parade is over.

Our streets, once filled with the colors of the national flag, now return to the familiar sight of daily hustle, traffic jams, and, yes, even the occasional bribe. The grand ideals we had have already been replaced by the small compromises and moral shortcuts that make up our day to day lives.

It’s a bit ironic, really. We go all out for one day, only to slip back into the same old patterns as soon as the celebrations end. Maybe it’s because real change is hard, and it’s easier to celebrate what we wish to be than to confront what we actually are. Or maybe it’s just that we’re creatures of habit, more comfortable with the familiar than with the effort it takes to live up to the ideals we so proudly proclaim.

But here we are, two days later, back to normal. The memories of Independence Day quickly fading, replaced by the same old stories of graft and greed. The optimism that briefly filled the air has given way to the usual cynicism, as we shrug our shoulders and carry on as if nothing ever happened. 

May be,  next year will be different. Or perhaps we’ll find ourselves here again, two days after, wondering if this time, our patriotism might last just a little bit longer.