I sit here wondering how Yakub Memon felt just before he was taken to the gallows at 7:00 a.m.Â
These were the thoughts that went through my head as I remembered the song by Gurudev Tagore.
Did he sleep? Was he afraid?
(Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high)
Did he know why the country failed him? Did everyone know why he did, the things he did?
(Where knowledge is free)
Was he worried for the people who were baying for his blood?
(Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls)
Did these people really believe that by sentencing him to death would give them justice?
(Where words come out from the depth of truth)
Did Justice finally prevail?
(Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection)
Did the people truly believe their justification for his death?
(Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way)
(Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit)
Are we really free at all?Â
(Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.)
And now I am reminded of the last words from our National Anthem, also written by Tagore.
They pray for thy blessings and sing thy praise.
The saving of all people waits in thy hand,
Thou dispenser of India's destiny.
victory forever.