(In continuation) IV
“I fear we may slide into the same groove, but you should not forget that some of them participated in the freedom struggle, while you as you admit deliberately distanced from active politics.”
“You have given me the answer. Our freedom movement itself was negative. Throughout over freedom movement we had not have a clear idea of freedom. All our energies were focused on capture of power. Instead of being their refurbished self they wanted to retain everything and themselves to become the shadows of their rulers. Cultural and psychic emancipation was not on their agenda. Slavery is more psychological, physical emancipation amounts to removal of the hindrance in attainment of freedom. In absence of this, those who earlier fought the British, started a new war to win their share in the booty.”
“Booty.” He got alarmed.
“Yes my dear, booty. They made the country more slavish, emulating their masters, their culture, arts, literature, ignoring their own inheritance. They forgot they had a past of their own and that could offer them the launching pad for a new take off. We became more parasite after gaining our political freedom. We even forgot the task ahead.”
He appeared to be in agreement.
“And as far participation in the freedom struggle, I know of no other predecessor except Ram Vilas Sharma, nor see many who succeed, who see the cultural servility, and rise to fight.”
“I have never seen a fighter so neutral and safe in his neutrality, ready to shame those who lost their lives and remained undeterred till the lost drop of their blood ran out.”
“I do not show, can not show, the slightest disrespect to those from whom I draw my fire and fuel. I do not show disregard even to the misguided souls who opt to sacrifice their life to change the world as per their dream. I only lament that no one joined the war of emancipation, which I have fought single handed, undeterred for five decades and am still in the thick. Instead they chose to make my task impossible. I don’t blame any one in particular, but the entire society. Yes, I blame those more who guided and intellectually governed them. Mind it, war of emancipation is not fought with your head in hand, but with seer hard work disregarding fame and fortune. It more difficult a fight, in which you stand first of all against yourself, your servile habits, the invisible shackles, before turn towards others, and defeat the designs of your enemy, by refusing honors and awards offered to keep docile.”