63

White man came across the sea
He brought us pain and misery

He killed our tribes, he killed our creed
He took our game for his own need

- (from) Iron Maiden "Run to the Hills"

It’s hard to imagine that 63 years have gone by. Many a times we reminisce a now lost culture we practiced even 20 years back and yet residues from ancient traditions we freed our nation from somehow are left behind as permanent stains.

For about 300 years I hear it used to be a culture of masters and slaves. There used to be white “sahib”s and there used to be brown servants. The servants allegedly endured much injustice and ill treatment – they were made to think they have no possession and live under the favor of their sahibs. “Bakshish” was deviced as a way for the sahibs to buy loyalty and the servants happily lined up for it from time to time with an anticipatory salaam.

It’s been 63 years since we freed this land of the British colony. Still on this day masters and slaves roam about largely amongst us.