Our Independence Nourishes Our Freedom (A Poem For Independence Day Of India 2017) Poem by Bernedita Rosinha Pinto

O my children, said she
I am your mother and I am called India,
in my lap sleep a billion of you who
in the air of freedom, breathe, walk
in friendliness and humbleness infinite;
I have given you everything I could
for seventy years I have dedicated myself to you,
I have given you education and development
I have given you schools, colleges and universities
I have given you roads and bridges;
I have given you so many railway stations,
bus stations and airports to connect and travel,
to get you closer to each other from a distance;
you are my children, I have held you
on these piece of earth that belongs to you and me;
my heart, my soul, in your welfare reverberates
my dedication has long been your support.
I have provided you with independence
I have provided you with rights and laws
and a big book of our Constitution.
Our schools help children learn, read and write
our hospitals care for our sick and old,
our soldiers defend our nation in all directions
our generations are so complacent;
your tomorrows are certain to aspire the goals
you choose and dream, you chase and win!
what have you given to me in return,
this 70 year old mother asks her child;
''Mother'', replies the child, I know you will be here
forever, even until others come and go
you have given us the beauty of nature and weather
you have given us the Himalayas and Kanchengunja
You have given us Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru
You have given us greatness of heritage and cultures
you have given us unity amidst our different faiths
you have given us freedom and independence
you have given us everything a mother could give,
in return mother, I have gifted to you
my offering of respect to every Indian I know,
my tolerance to every religion and faith they follow,
by my co-existence, I cherish and love the India
in which I live, I walk, I work, I pray, I sleep;
every morning, I wake up with the joy of freedom
which makes my children to also feel vibrant;
long live my Mother India, long live my Nation
our independence nourishes our freedom.