[pranati]

The Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah’s first reaction when the sepoys of Meerut stormed into the Red Fort, was of rejection and horror.

It was because the sepoys were in total defiance of normal court etiquette and had barged into the fort with such strong forces that Bahadur Shah feared that if he did not align with their wishes, the sepoy might turn against him too. Moreover, upon further revelations done by him, he realised that all they needed was a “nominal” head of the rebellion. The last Mughal Emperor would not have to jump to the ground or practice mutinies, he had to just stand in support of the rebels. However, this meant that the British might turn against the emperor if he showed his faith lay with the rebels.

Yet, the emperor chose to defy that and felt that if he supported the mutinies of the rebels, he would be standing in support of his people, who, however inconsiderately, were here to seek his approval and to make him the nominal head of the rebellion.

Therefore, the rebellion was legitimised after the emperor assumed nominal leadership because of the sepoy’s efforts and the first movement to drive out the British took place.

[pranati]

I agree with this statement. Most of us are fortunate enough to have caring and supportive parents who we take for granted. Do you know why? Because we do not understand their cost. They have been with us for most of our lives, yet we do not care for them as we would for a newly bought iPhone.

Perhaps, that is human nature and, that is the deal with life. We have succumbed so far to this capitalist and materialistic world that we forget to acknowledge the things that brought us here in the first place.

You can put a price on your old car and sell it but, can you do the same with affection and care? It is priceless. The moments when your dear friend comforted you while you were distraught or when your mother cooked your favourite meal after a bad day are priceless. The poorest man could be happier than the rich one because he has what matters most – a family, the support, the care and the knowledge that when he goes back home after a day of back-breaking work, there would be someone to love him and that his children would jump into his arms because they do not care how much their father earns but only how much love he shows them.

So, yes, I believe you could say that the best things in life come to us for free and maybe that is the reason that we take those precious things for granted.