What it Means to be an Indian

For some, the thoughts come easily, dripping with patriotism or pure venom. For others, it needs hours of conversation for the words and feelings, usually buried deep or hardly ever considered, to surface. INDIA TODAY presents frank, unguarded thoughts of some of the best known -- and some totally unknown -- people across the nation who make up the fabric of India. After 50 years of Independence, this is the voice of India, a reflection of who we are. It shows how far we have come. And how far we need to go.

Interview by KALLI PURIE
Photograph by BANDEEP SINGH

ABDUL RASHID, Shikarawal, Dal Lake, Srinagar
We are just caught between the guns of the security forces and the militants. We keep hearing of these talks between India and Pakistan. What are they talking about? We don't care whether we are a part of either. A man should just be able to earn his living.
Till somebody holds our hand firmly, nothing is going to change. Our community feeling is with Pakistan, but our earning is with India.

(Rashid's identity has been masked for reasons of his security)

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