INDEPENDENCE DAY IN A GATED COMMUNITY

A Reflection

On 15 August 2026, I attended an Independence Day celebration organised by a school in collaboration with a gated residential community. I went as an observer, but returned with several questions about freedom, education, responsibility and community living.

The most encouraging part was the children. They spoke and sang about the National Flag, freedom fighters, unity in diversity, religious harmony, women’s empowerment, sustainability, scientific achievement and responsible citizenship.

There was also an instant speech competition. The children had hardly half an hour to prepare. One small boy came forward and spoke for barely twenty seconds. Yet I appreciated him greatly. What mattered was not the length or perfection of his speech, but his courage to stand before an audience and try.

Perhaps in children’s programmes we should ask not only, “Who performed best?” but also, “Who grew today?”

THE FLAG INSIDE

Almost everyone in the audience had a small plastic Tricolour clipped to their shirt.

Finding none on me, one person kindly came forward and offered me a flag with a pin.

I thanked the person, but humbly declined. Pointing towards my heart, I said:

“The real flag is inside.”

The National Flag deserves our highest respect. But its values must ultimately live within us. Saffron courage, white truth and peace, green hope and the Dharma Chakra of righteous action cannot remain merely on our shirts. They must enter our lives.

That small incident stayed with me throughout the programme.

ARE WE REALLY A COMMUNITY?

As the children performed, I observed the adults.

Many parents became attentive when their own child’s turn arrived. At other times, some stood scattered, talking among themselves, sometimes loudly enough to disturb the programme. The organisers repeatedly had to say, “Put your hands together!”

It made me wonder: we may live inside the same gated compound, use the same lifts, roads and common spaces—but does living together necessarily mean community living?

Can I appreciate another person’s child as warmly as I appreciate my own?

One teenager spoke impressively about ISRO and India’s journey to the Moon. I felt proud. Yet another question arose within me:

We have learnt to reach the Moon.

Have we learnt to reach our neighbour?

Scientific achievement is essential. But must it not be accompanied by inner development—self-discipline, compassion, nonviolence and soul-force?

Gandhi’s freedom struggle awakened precisely such power in ordinary people. Freedom was not merely political independence; Swaraj also meant learning to govern oneself.

AFTER THE FUNCTION

When the programme ended, many parents returned home or gathered at the school’s registration desk. About a hundred plastic chairs remained scattered. A strong wind toppled some of them.

I straightened a couple of chairs. Two community workers began stacking them, and I joined them.

Interestingly, no parents joined us.

But something beautiful happened.

Working together led to talking together.

I spoke about responsibility through a simple example. In our apartment blocks there are often two lifts. People sometimes press both buttons and take whichever lift arrives first. The other lift may travel several floors unnecessarily, wasting electricity.

Similarly, after entering a lift, some immediately press the door-close button, perhaps fearing that another person may enter and delay them.

Are these insignificant matters?

I do not think so.

Citizenship begins in such small actions—in conserving energy, waiting for another person and treating common resources responsibly.

A DIALOGUE AMONG THE CHAIRS

One worker, Ashok, who looks after electrical maintenance during the night shift, began talking about Mahatma Gandhi.

He said people remember the freedom struggle but often forget Gandhi’s method. In today’s conflict-ridden world, he felt, nonviolence is needed more than ever.

I was pleasantly surprised.

Another worker joined us. He said he did not know much about Gandhi or nonviolence, but he did not want to spend his life running after money. He wanted to live freely in the present.

Ashok immediately connected this with J. Krishnamurti’s reflections on thought and inner freedom.

Soon we were discussing Gandhi, nonviolence, money, freedom, peace and human relationships.

There was no stage now.

No audience.

No competition.

No prize.

No certificate.

Just human beings speaking, listening and discovering one another.

WHEN DID THE REAL CELEBRATION BEGIN?

During the formal function, organisers repeatedly asked the audience to “put your hands together” in applause.

After the function, a few of us literally put our hands together to work.

Perhaps, for me, the real Independence Day celebration began when the official celebration ended.

India must certainly reach the Moon and beyond. Our children must dream, explore and excel.

But alongside our exploration of outer space, we urgently need an exploration of inner space.

Can I govern myself? Can I listen? Can I conserve rather than waste? Can I appreciate another person’s child? Can I perform a necessary task without being asked? Can I sit with a worker, listen to him and discover wisdom in him?

India achieved political Swaraj in 1947.

Our continuing journey is towards Swaraj within ourselves.

From reaching the Moon to reaching our neighbour.

From individual achievement to community responsibility.

From wearing the flag outside to living the flag inside.

Independence cannot be celebrated only on 15 August. It must be lived every day—in our homes, lifts, streets, workplaces and relationships.

The real flag is inside. Let it fly there every day.

Jai Hind and Jai Jagath.

S.Kulandaisamy 

Secretary,  Gandhi Peace Foundation, Madras 

Chennai-18

kulandhaisamy.gpf@gmail.com