#25 - Independence Day is Coming Up and Thinking of Grandad

A Family Man and a Lover of Country

What got me back to India from US - Communications with Dada

Direct quote from him during his last days -  I cannot really quite figure out clearly (which may be of relevance to your age group) what bothers me right now, besides the pains of growing old. The larger immediate issues facing the country (India) generally occupy my concerns, but I am generally quite optimistic that Narendra Modi will succeed in steering the country appropriately, into the future. This is after years of service that he did in the government, being the senior most officer of his time!

Thought Process of Dada, and what he thought during his prayers: You had asked me in your previous mail about what all hold my thoughts generally - to this I had given a response in my previous mail. In addition to that response, my daily prayers too have two major components - one relates to welfare of all our family members & the other relates to prayers for the bright future of India in the context of problems that the country is facing right now. 

Topic that is often seen and discussed - lack of pride in Indians - 

Good you have started on the book - Breaking India. Your question -"why do we lack so much self pride dada - is it due to colonialism?" - don't forget that India was invaded right from the eighth century when Mohammad Bin Quasim from Arabia looted Sindh. From then on, till the East India Company spread its tentacles in 1757 onwards, there were waves upon waves of invasions involving killings & lootings. EIC did its job with both cruelty & deceit till 1857 when the British Crown took over the governance of India. 

    In other words, we were battered mercilessly for over a thousand years - how can self-pride survive easily in such a situation? Reading this book should give you an idea of how precariously we are surviving as a nation after 1947, when India got independence from British rule. Those of us who are grounded in the lore of the Gita, have the self-pride which you are talking of.  (7 June 2020)

Dada on National and India Pride - 

I am glad you are realizing the level of motivation an army officer of the India Army has, which makes them soldiers of the best army in the world.