India celebrates its Independence Day today. And in its 74th year, it continues to be a symbol of inspiration, strength and resilience; the last of which is being tested yet again in the war against COVID-19 pandemic. The challenge, however, once again triggered off new hopes, aspirations and dreams of a new world once we emerge from it. Celebs, too, have been reflecting on the day and share their dream of a new country that will emerge after the pandemic. Keep reading:

Sidharth Shukla: We need to embrace the change and work positively to emerge stronger and better

The pandemic will change priorities and perspectives of Indians. People will value their families more, respect their work, save money, not take things for granted and take good care of health. We will also understand the importance of a self-reliant India and how we need to invest more in sectors like healthcare. The way we do things has changed forever. It’s for us to embrace the change and positively work towards emerging stronger and better.

Juhi Chawla: This Independence Day should be the beginning of a realization of what we Indians have lost

The lockdown period which began as a bane, has turned out to be a blessing. It was a time for deep reflection and realization. I speak for myself, but then I may be expressing the feelings of many other Indians. I was able to manage with so much less, and actually felt free and unburdened. My life had been cluttered with so much waste, low quality thoughts and meaningless activity. Outwardly, it looked glamorous, progressive, but inside it was a gaping hole, a shallow darkness. More than ever before, I felt I had come far away from being an Indian. India was known to be a land of peace-loving people, rich in knowledge, prosperous beyond measure. A land of languages like Sanskrit and Persian, the land of Ayurveda, Nalanda, holy scriptures and holy people. A land with the purest waters on Earth, the Ganga, truly traditional organic farming methods and zero waste living culture. Where and when did all this evaporate? Beyond the tall skyscrapers, posh schools and air-conditioned cars, what have we become? City streets filled with squalor, plastic and filth, polluted waterways, barren landscapes and poisoned soil… Haven’t we been on a downward slide? I hope this Independence Day becomes a turning point, the beginning of a realization about what we Indians have lost. May India reclaim its supremacy, lead the world and regain what we all have lost, our good sense and our dignity.

Tusshar Kapoor: It is true freedom if we continue to live our life with the idea that less is more

Freedom is now the ability to adjust to the new circumstances. True freedom is to be able to be secure, have a good life with family, stay connected, and be independent, irrespective of the external factors. It will be freedom, if even after the pandemic we continue to live our lives with minimalism, cleanliness, safety and with the idea that less is more. This, for me, will be the real freedom that will help us progress individually and globally.

Vivian Dsena: Change is the rule of nature and this will see the rise of a more conscious India

Life is unpredictable, who would have thought that we would be confined to our homes in 2020. The pandemic has brought in good changes, and as they say change is the rule of nature, so this change is for the betterment of everyone. In new India, people will be hygiene conscious. However, it’s sad that it took a virus to teach us things that we couldn’t teach ourselves in so many years. We need to have a realistic approach towards what we think and do.

Sriti Jha: We should emerge as a kinder India after the pandemic

I hope as a nation we emerge as a kinder version of ourselves. We need to make sure to share our good fortune with people. We need to come together, help each other and have empathy more than ever before.

Aniruddh Dave: Materialistic things will be less important now

Ye daur toh aisa hi hai, ab iss daur mein daudna hai, ya rukna hai, ya darna hai, ye choice aapki hai. As a kid, I have grown up watching flag hoisting and parades at the Red Fort on TV, but this year, it will be different with social-distancing in place. The pandemic has made people inculcate the habit of cleanliness and hygiene, which is for good, but I hope they maintain it in the long run. This ‘new normal’ that everyone is talking about, I feel people need to make it a habit now. This pandemic has taught us that less is more. We must live a life in whatever is available. Secondly, I feel materialistic things will be given less importance now.

Sophie Choudry: Respect the environment and help small, local businesses get back on their feet

This Independence Day, my wish is for us to come together as one country and as responsible citizens in order to beat this pandemic. Everyone needs to wear a mask to show respect to their fellow citizens, which is something they aren’t doing now. This pandemic should have taught us to be kinder to each other, to value mental health, to be less judgmental and to be more grateful for what we have and to those who put their lives on the line for us. I hope it has also taught us the impact of the wrath of Mother Nature and how we need to respect our environment much more. As we are all forced to change and flow without knowing what tomorrow holds, I hope we all support each other as well as support local and small businesses to help them get back on their feet. This crisis has hit us economically and mentally more than physically, so we need to come together to overcome it by supporting each other.

Akriti Kakar: We have realised the importance of human relationships

The new India, post pandemic, will surely be more practical, wiser, more hygienic and sanitation friendly. We will also be there for each other. The spirit of Indians hasn’t been dampened by this almost depressing lockdown. A lot of lives and dreams have come to a standstill, but everyone has figured a viable way to work and live. I’ve created a self-sufficient set-up at home to be able to record, mix and master my music. The lockdown has surely made us push our boundaries and made us discover newer facets of our personalities. It has also made us value human relationships more than ever before.

Rishina Kandhari: We should make radical changes in our environment, economy and social behaviour

I am just hoping that a cure for coronavirus is found by the end of this year. It has highlighted the existing social, political, economic and environmental dysfunctionalities. It has also made us realise the need to make radical changes in our health regime, environment, economy and social behaviour.”

Ankit Siwach: Let’s make a change within ourselves and give the environment, the freedom it needs

The pandemic has given us time to introspect and keep a check on the mistakes we’ve been making as human beings. This Independence Day, we all need to pledge that we should thrive to be responsible citizens. Our priorities need to change. Environmental exploitation needs to stop, and that begins from our homes – from plastic use to garbage disposal, from wasting water to energy consumption, the complete chain has to be managed well. Let’s make a change within ourselves and gradually, give the environment, the “freedom” it needs.

Akanksha Puri: We will emerge a braver and better India

Due to the pandemic, we all have been locked up in our houses for months and the situation is still not better. We all have faced this unexpected life-threatening obstacle in the best way we can. I believe when the situation gets normal, definitely not like it used to be, but the ‘new normal’, the entire country will be better than it ever was. We all have learned so many things by living in this scenario. We will emerge much calmer, better and braver versions of ourselves. This will be a new version of independence for all of us. A brave India and a better India.