“FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS” India celebrated its 75 th Independence Day this 15 th of August. All forms of media - digital or print - were brimming with expressions of felicity and displays of flag waving. (Ahhhh! Flag Waving. 72 nd Republic Day. Red Fort. Oh, what a blotch on memory now!) Unfortunately, however, the merrymaking had a tinge of guilt concealed this time. Why? AFGHANISTAN. Here we were, celebrating our Independence; while there, people lost their sovereignty to the Taliban in a most sadistic takeover of power. If cries could kill, every person watching the news of the Afghans would be dead. Every status update and every wish of joie de vivre was accompanied with a sheepish sigh of relief, “Thank Heavens! At least we are Free and Independent. ” Each one of us had a skeleton hidden in the closet, a shared secret embarrassment. After years of shaming and blaming our nation and questioning democracy, questioning our rights, our constitution, questioning FREEDOM...