Our Identity!

14th AUGUST

By: Shafiq Ul Hasan Siddiqui

For a Pakistani, 14th August is a date that gives us an identity, a day that

makes us feel proud and a day that sums us all as a nation. Our

Independence Day, is a day to cherish our liberty and to remember

exactly the reason why this homeland was appeared on the map of the

world. Pakistan, as its name suggests, was created to live pure lives that

should be free from false and treacherous purposes.

Freedom is a heavenly gift of God. Those who

don’t have it can definitely define it in much

better words than those who are enjoying liberal

rights.

Everyone in Pakistan loves to celebrate

Independence Day, in their respective ways. There

were times (in early 50’s and 60’s) when passionate

and patriot Pakistanis used to listen to the special

radio broadcasts; and singers like Madam Noor Jehan

and Mehdi Hasan used to sing national songs

particularly penned and composed for the national

occasion.

There were times when (we as kids) used to watch

Mustansan Hussain Tarar’s and Kishwar Naheed’s

PTV’s special transmissions – that was early to mid

80’s. We used to watch dramas written by Anwar

Maqsood and Ashfaq Ahmed, targeted to ignite the

patriotic quotient is viewers. Media used to play a

major role in mounting nationalistic feelings by

producing skits, dramas and shows from every station

including Lahore, Karachi, Peshawer and Islamabad.

Elders used to participate with kids on this day, by buying every kid their

badges of Independence Day. Plus, they used to literally involve in arranging

events in their compounds, areas and colonies where kids used to sing songs,

do debates, recite ayahs and have sports competition etc. That was the time

when flags and buntings were not majorly glued to cars or the main door of the

houses only but from one flat to the other, from one bungalow to the other and

from one street to the other every place used to be decorated with buntings and

flags of different sizes.

I can remember at 8’o clock in the morning on Independence Day, there used

to be pin-drop silence in the city and National Anthem used to be played on

loud speakers from one end of the city to the other. Traffic used to stop for

Two (02) complete minutes. Why! Because of the respect and love that we

used to have for our motherland. Flag hoisting ceremony used to be telecasted

with grand joy and involvement. In schools and colleges kids used to perform

different group activities, targeted towards 14th August, with though

provoking ideas.

As a Pakistani, it is our duty to celebrate 14th August to make our newer

generation realize the importance of have a liberal lifestyle. We should transfer

the knowledge shared to us from our parents, elder siblings and teachers

regarding this auspicious and historic day. We should thank God for letting us

open our eyes in a land that is free and unshackled. It is our duty as a nation as

well as an individual, to pass righteous examples of kindness, loyalty and

honesty to others. Building a better nation is in our own hands and we should

celebrate 14th August with determination that by every passing year, we will

make a positive difference, irrespective of the size, to make our homeland

Pakistan the best country. Let’s strive together and make beautiful Pakistan a

thorough Pure-Land.

Pakistan Zindabad!

Pakistan Paindabad…