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14th August Celebrations - Past and Present

14th August Celebrations – Past and Present

Muhammad Sajjad Munawar

14th August, 2010: Rawalpindi

3rd August, 1994, Rawalpindi:

"Look Father! He has got two badges. I'll buy three", says 5-year old Munna to his father pointing towards his friend Kaka. His father recently got back home after spending 3 months on the LOC (line of control) defending the sovereign borders of his homeland, Pakistan. His father relaxed him by promising that he'll get his son what he wants in the evening. All this time he had kept waiting for the month of August and his father's return. He spent his evenings being on the roof top of his little house (as it was summer vacations) counting the number of flags hoisted on other roofs in the suburbs which kept increasing as the month of August progressed till 14th August when almost the whole city seemed to wear the Flag of star and crescent.

In the evening, the happy child went to the market with his loving father and bought what he wanted. He bought three different Independence Day badges and a big Green Paki Flag. Badges got immediately displayed on the little child's chest and the flag was hoisted on their roof top by his father when they returned home. Little Munna was filled with pride on the sight of the flag wavering on his roof.

9th August 2010, Rawalpindi (Same City):

(… grown up Sajjad, going to the university with a Flag on his chest …)

"Hmm... So you're celebrating Independence Day, Sajjad! Hawhawhaw", murmured a bunch of seniors at university mocking at him as if he was doing a shameful act. He ignored them and kept moving towards his class. His classmates on seeing him laughed out loud. One of them said to the others, "Look at this guy... He pretends as to be the only Pakistani here. Are we not Pakistanis?" All his way to university, he kept facing such situations… people looked at him as if he had committed a great sin by wearing his country's flag.

Compare the above two scenarios… The first story dates back to about 16 years ago when every young and old used to celebrate their Independence Day with national zeal and zest. They wore Independence Day badges and hoisted Flags on their houses in the month of August and felt proud for celebrating their independence. Different media channels telecasted different programmes regarding importance of Independence Day and made aware the young ones by portraying the sacrifices our elders made to achieve this God-Blessed country.

The second story shows to the current day situation and feelings of our people. It's just not a dramatic story. It's what I have gone through this week. I could see only one old lady having Paki Flag badge displayed on her chest in the market and she too faced what I was facing... odd peeps unto you… The only moment when my heart filled with pride and joy was when I saw some little kids, not more than 10 years of age, on the eve of 13th August, wavering Green Flags in the market and making powerful slogans of Pakistan ZindaBaad..!!

Today, if you wear a Paki Flag Badge, even on 14th August, people will laugh at you... you'll be mocked at… Your friends will make fun of you for showing your love for your country… for celebrating your Independence Day…

On the media, these celebrations have been limited to only telecasting the Guards Changing Ceremony at The Nation's Father's Tomb.

What has happened to you O people of My Country, My Pakistan..!! Don't you love your country..?? Don't you love your homeland..?? If yes then what is this attitude all about..?? Do you feel shame celebrating your country's independence..?? Our ancestors have paid a price that we can never return them back for achieving this home for us… It's our homeland... It's our duty now to protect every bit of it… We have to love it they way it deserves… i.e. more than our lives… When we know each and everything, then what compels us forget all the sacrifices our elders made to get this country..?? Why don't we celebrate our Independence Day..??

Why do we hoist the Green Flag..?? Why do we wear Paki Flag Badges on our chests..?? What does it all represent..?? It shows the deep love and pride we have in our hearts for our beloved homeland… Our Pakistan… and when we don't celebrate… means we don't love our country… We're a dead nation..!!

No... We're not a dead nation (Hum zinda qaum hain... paayinda qaum hain)… We all love our country… to the extent that we may sacrifice our lives for it's dignity (Apni aan pay mitnay waalay Hum jaanbaaz sipaahi)… So what's the shame..?? Let's pull out our flags... Hoist them on our houses… and celebrate our Independence Day the way we should… Love you Pakistan..!!

May Allah Almighty protect our country from every odd, every calamity... May our country always stand out of troubles… May Allah Almighty get us out of troubled times…

Pakistan ZindaBaad…

Pakistan PaayindaBaad…

Long Live Pakistan…

About the Author

A young, energetic, creative writer doing Masters in Computer Sciences from PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. He has been a wonderful student throughout his career and a serious actor as well. He has recently started internship at a local software house located in Islamabad, Pakistan.

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