Something to ponder :
🇮🇳 *A Mirror We Refuse to Look Into.*
Forwarded from a heart that still hopes…
*Japan — a nation devastated by two nuclear bombs — rose from its ashes without begging for sympathy or aid. It rebuilt itself with pride, with honour, and with an unshakable sense of self-respect. Since then, not once has it stretched a hand to America for alms.*
An Indian gentleman who had lived in Japan for over a year was struck by something strange. Though people were polite, helpful, and respectful — no one ever invited him to their home. Not for tea. Not even once.
Perplexed and hurt, he finally asked one of his Japanese acquaintances why.
After a long pause, the friend replied — quietly, but without hesitation:
> *We are taught Indian history… not for inspiration, but as a warning.*
Confused, the Indian man asked — “A warning?”
The Japanese friend continued:
> “Tell me — how many British ruled India?”
The Indian man thought. “Perhaps… around 10,000?”
The Japanese man nodded grimly:
> “And how many Indians lived there? Over 300 million, right?”
> “Then who oppressed your people? Who carried out the orders to whip, torture, and shoot them?
> “When General Dyer gave the command ‘Fire!’ — who pulled the trigger on your own unarmed brothers and sisters? The soldiers weren’t British… they were Indian.”
> “Not one turned their rifle on the tyrant. Not one.”
> “You want to talk about slavery? That — that was your real slavery. Not of the body, but of the soul.”
*The Indian gentleman stood frozen. Silent. Ashamed.*
The Japanese friend went on:
> “How many Mughals came from Central Asia? A few thousand maybe? And yet they ruled you for centuries. They built empires not with their numbers, but because your own people bowed their heads and offered their loyalty in exchange for survival… or silver.”
> “Your own blood converted. Your own brothers became instruments of their oppression. Your own men handed over your heroes — Chandrashekhar Azad was betrayed. Bhagat Singh faced the gallows without even a whisper of help from those who called themselves patriots.”
> “Gandhi fasted to move empires — why couldn’t he fast for a single day to try and save Bhagat Singh?”
> “You don’t need foreign enemies. Your own betray you… for power, for position, for personal gain. Again and again. For centuries.”
> “That is why we keep our distance.”
> “When the British came to Hong Kong, to Singapore — not one native man joined their army. Because they would never raise a weapon against their own people.”
> “But in India, you didn’t just join the enemy. You served them. Worshipped them. Killed your own to please them.”
> *“Even today, you haven’t changed. Offer some free electricity, a bottle of liquor, a blanket — and your vote, your conscience, your voice — all sold without a thought. Your loyalties lie not with your nation, but with your stomach.”*
> “You chant slogans. You march in protests. But when it matters, when the country needs your character — where are you?”
> “Your first loyalty is still to yourself. Your family. Everything else — society, dharma, the country — can burn.”
And then he said one last thing.
> “If your nation is not strong, your home will never be safe. If your character is weak, no flag can protect you.”
This is not mockery. It is a mirror.
And perhaps, the time has come for us to stop looking away.
Because India doesn’t need more patriots in speeches — it needs citizens of unshakable character.
Not just freedom fighters — but freedom keepers.
Not just flags in our hands — but loyalty in our hearts.
It is bitter. But it is true. And the truth is the first step to change.
