MUMBAI: For many, 15 August is just another holiday marked by a few patriotic songs. But for actress Kiran Dubey, it’s a time to reflect on the courage and sacrifices that won India its freedom. The actress, who has been seen in the shows Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki and Kyuki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, says that on this day one should think about the responsibility that every citizen has towards the country.
“I think one of the best ways to honor Independence Day is by remembering the real lives of India’s freedom fighters and the fact that they, too, were young and beautiful people with immense courage. They chose to sacrifice their lives for a freedom that was neither certain nor promised. I believe every citizen has a responsibility to be a sincere and honest individual as a way of paying back for all the sacrifices that have been made,” she says.
When asked which freedom fighter had left the deepest impression on her, Dubey stresses that every one of them, known or unknown, deserves celebration. “I feel that every freedom fighter, the ones we know, the ones we don’t, the ones we’ve heard about, and the ones we’ve never heard of, must be celebrated. The best way to honor their lives and sacrifices is to genuinely work towards improving the country we live in. I personally feel that this is only possible when we, as individuals and as citizens, live with greater awareness and stronger civic sense. One of the biggest lessons India needs to learn is how to be more civic-minded, how to coexist with ecology and nature, because we are destroying nature at a very rapid pace. Unfortunately, I feel the government is often serving the interests of corporations over the highest interests of its people. While corporations are important, they should never thrive at the cost of the nation,” she says.
Sharing her Independence Day message to fans and followers, she says, “I think the greatest message would be to never forget the sacrifices made by the freedom fighters of this nation, not only those who fought the British, but also those who, for centuries, safeguarded India’s boundaries from foreign invasions. And once again, I will say: by being a good individual and a responsible citizen, we truly serve them.”
Add new comment