‘Independence Without Safety Means Nothing’

‘I
humbly
request
the
government
to
create
safe
spaces
for
ALL
women,
the
strictest
of
punishment
and
the
swiftest
justice.’

‘As
the
mother
of
a
young
girl,
how
do
I
feel
when
another
woman
is
raped?’
asks

Tisca
Chopra.
‘An
‘Independent’,
educated
working
woman
at
her
place
of
work,
after
working
a
36
hour
shift.
A
doctor.’

‘And
this
happened
in
a
bustling
metro
so
it
made
headlines
..
‘I
think
about
women
in
small
villages
and
towns
who
have
probably
vanished
after
a
similar
fate,
with
the
perpetrator
walking
free,
looking
for
his
next
victim
..
‘In
Kolkata
—
apathy,
a
clumsy
investigation,
cover
ups
and
the
CBI
being
called
in..
‘I
humbly
request
the
government
to
create
safe
spaces
for
ALL
women,
the
strictest
of
punishment
and
the
swiftest
justice.
‘The
world
is
looking
at
us
now
and
inaction
and
silence
will
now
mean
tone
deafness
..
Hope
we
can
say
Happy
Independence
Day,
by
next
year
..
because
Independence
without
safety
means
nothing
..’

***

Meanwhile,
filmfolk
celebrated
Independence
Day
with
fervour.

Sara
Ali
Khan
and
her
daddy

Saif
Ali
Khan
hold
up
the
Tiranga.

Shah
Rukh
Khan
hoists
the
Tiranga
with
wife

Gauri
and
children,

Suhana
and

AbRam
and
writes,
‘Let’s
celebrate
our
beautiful
country
India
with
pride
in
our
hearts.
Happy
Independence
Day
and
love
to
all!!’

‘Celebrating
our
78
years!
अभी
बहुत
काम
बाक़ी
है.
बहुत
आगे
आये
हैं,
और
बहुत
आगे
जाना
है.
Let’s
keep
building
a
stronger,
brighter
nation
together.
Jai
Hind!’
says

Ayushmann
Khurrana.

Diana
Penty
waves
the
Tiranga.

‘Wishing
a
Happy
78th
Independence
Day
to
my
Motherland!’

Kartik
Aaryan
tells
us
from
Melbourne.

‘I
might
be
seven
seas
away,
but
India’s
spirit,
grit,
and
pride
can
be
felt
no
matter
where
you
are.
Bharat
is
not
just
a
name;
it’s
a
feeling
that
always
makes
our
hearts
swell
with
pride.
Jai
Hind.’

Manushi
Chhillar
at
a
flag
hoisting
event.

Nimrat
Kaur,
whose
father
made
the
supreme
sacrifice
fighting
terrorists
in
Kashmir,
makes
sure
the
flag
reaches
the
skies.

Tina
Datta
is
‘Painting
the
colours
of
our
Tiranga
on
me
because
truly
you
can
take
an
Indian
out
of
India
but
you
can’t
take
India
out
of
an
Indian.

‘Today’s
times
maybe
questionable,
the
occurrences
happening
are
unacceptable
in
the
world’s
largest
democracy.
I
love
my
country
and
I
hope
we
come
together
to
protect
our
women
and
to
give
each
and
every
individual
the
independence
they
deserve.

‘Happy
Independence
Day
to
our
land
and
looking
forward
to
a
celebration
of
progression,
respect
in
the
future
in
our
country.’

Rakul
Singh
shares
a
picture
with

Jackky
Bhagnani
and
writes,
‘Proudly
raising
the
flag
and
celebrating
our
nation’s
spirit
this
Independence
Day.
Jai
Hind!’

‘Celebrating
Independence
with
the
cutest
new
citizen
of
the
country!’
says

Zaid
Darbar
sharing
a
picture
with
wife

Gauahar
Khan
and
son

Zehaan
Darbar.

Soha
Ali
Khan
shares
a
picture
with
daughter

Inaaya
and
writes,
‘We
mark
78
years
of
political
independence
today
but
for
true
freedom
—
for
the
safety,
well-being
and
empowerment
of
all
our
people
—
our
daughters
and
our
sons
—
and
our
animals
—
we
have
a
long
way
to
go.
I
pray
we
get
there
—
‘into
that
heaven
of
freedom,
my
father,
let
my
country
awake’…
#independenceday.’

‘Desh
Mere…Meri
shaan
hai
tu!
Happy
Independence
day!’
sings

Divyanka
Tripathi.

Arshad
Warsi
celebrates
the
special
day
with
wife

Maria
Gorretti
and
daughter

Zene
Zoe.

‘Today,
as
we
celebrate
our
nation’s
78th
year
of
independence,
my
heart
swells
with
pride
and
gratitude.
I
remember
the
struggles
of
our
freedom
fighters,
their
sacrifices,
and
their
unwavering
spirit.
Their
legacy
lives
on
through
us,
and
it’s
our
responsibility
to
honor
their
dreams.

‘As
a
singer,
I’ve
sung
countless
patriotic
songs,
but
today,
I
speak
from
my
heart
—
I
bow
down
to
my
motherland
India,
which
has
given
me
so
much.

Maa
tujhe
salaam!

‘Let’s
come
together
to
protect
our
freedom,
to
cherish
our
diversity,
and
to
build
a
brighter
future
for
generations
to
come.
May
our
tricolor
flag
forever
fly
high,
symbolizing
our
unity,
strength,
and
hope.
Jai
Hind!’
says

Asha
Bhosle.

Raveena
Tandon
is
sad
as
she
writes:
‘Happy
Independence
Day!
Congratulations!
We
are
78.
Today
my
country
at
our
78th
birthday,
one
of
the
oldest
and
finest
civilisations
we
are.
I
sit
and
reflect,
The
reasons
to
Celebrate
our
Freedom
are
many,
country’s
growth,
development,
becoming
a
power
to
reckon
with,
besides
the
fact
that
monies
jewels
were
looted
by
invaders,
colonists,
leaving
us
in
poverty.

‘We
as
a
race
continue
to
prosper
with
our
hard
work
and
perseverance,
we
are
on
the
moon
today,
reaching
Mars,
there
is
no
limit,
the
universe
our
playground…
Today
with
Pride
my
children
and
I
walk
with
our
heads
held
high
saying
we
are
INDIAN.

‘None
the
less,
the
sadness
that
leaves
an
ache
in
our
hearts,
the
brutal
violations
of
our
women,
the
inequalities
in
our
workplaces,
all
I
ask
my
dear
country,
we
are
half
of
you,
women
today
in
our
country
are
a
force
to
reckon
with
,we
might
not
be
equals
in
muscle,
a
lone
woman
might
not
be
able
to
fight
off
5
men,
but
in
emotions,
intellect,
feelings
we
are
all
the
same.
We
gave
birth
to
you.
Please,
to
the
powers
who
can
make
this
difference
bring
in
severe
and
quick
sentencing
,#justiceformoumita

‘Today
we
are
still
losing
our
braves,
who
are
protecting
our
borders
so
we
enjoy
this
freedom,
losing
our
4
jawans
and
an
officer
on
the
eve.#dodaencounter.
Heart
breaks
to
see
families
losing
their
sons
to
senseless
terrorism
.
The
fear
of
losing
our
sons
everyday
in
some
part
of
the
crown
of
our
country,
Our
Kashmir,
where
thousands
were
rendered
homeless
and
refugees
in
their
own
homeland.
#kashmiripandits
….

‘The
greed
that
is
ruining
our
planet,
the
environment,
our
wildlife,
the
very
air
air
we
breathe,
the
water
we
drink,
time
to
urgently
go
chemical
free.
Development
is
Great,
but
can
be
done
hand
in
hand
with
Nature.
What
use
would
be
our
overdevelopment,
overmining,
and
deforestation,
when
Mother
Earth
can
swipe
it
out
with
the
play
of
her
one
hand.

‘My
wish
would
be
for
love
and
peace
amongst
all
my
dear
homeland.
So
Happy
Independence
Day,
and
may
we
all
unite,
and
play
our
part
in
bringing
about
the
change
that
we
want
to
see
and
bring
about
so
that
our
children
see
a
more
happier
future.
JAI
HIND.’

‘Happy
Independence
Day!
May
the
colours
of
our
flag
remind
us
of
the
sacrifices
made
for
our
freedom.
On
this
day,
let’s
honor
the
heroes
of
our
nation
and
appreciate
the
gift
of
freedom,’
says

Urvashi
Rautela.

Photographs
curated
by
Satish
Bodas/Rediff.com