Jai Hind – Are We Raising Avengers or Azads?

As we approach the most beautiful day for a nation—our Independence Day—I want to pause and ask: What words truly define it?

Let me take you to a courtroom, nearly a century ago.
A 15-year-old boy stands before a magistrate. “Your name?”
“Azad,” he says.
“Your father’s name?”
“Swatantrata” (Independence).

The judge offers him a choice: submission or jail.
He smiles and says, “Jail is better—because you have occupied my home.”

This wasn’t a script. This was Chandrashekhar Azad—living proof that mindset isn’t just a coaching buzzword; it’s a force that can shape history.

The Problem: Memory Lapses with a Filmy Filter

I often run a quick test with my students. I show them Ajay Devgn as Chandrashekhar Azad or Aamir Khan as Mangal Pandey.
Guess what? They recognise the actors, not the heroes.
We’ve allowed cinema to become the main historian.

In my Mindset Coaching, I always say: If your heroes live only on posters, your values will too.

The Stadium Roar We Forgot

Being Indian, I bleed blue—ask anyone who’s seen me during an India World Cup final, shouting “India, India”. But here’s a thought: the same roaring passion you hear when Virat Kohli hits a cover drive once filled the streets with “Simon Go Back!”, “Quit India!”, and “Inquilab Zindabad!”

The lesson from education pedagogy? Engagement beats information. History isn’t boring—how we teach it often is. If we can pack a stadium for a Marvel fan meet or debate BTS hair colours for hours, why not turn freedom fighters into household heroes through quizzes, storytelling challenges, and live-action role plays in schools?

Iron Man? Sure, Tony Stark’s cool. But the original Iron Man—Vallabhbhai Patel—was a nation-builder whose vision stood taller than any statue in the world. If we don’t make him relatable, he risks shrinking in memory—becoming our very own Ant-Man. And unlike Ant-Man, there’s no sequel to fix that.

From a mindset perspective, heroes aren’t just people from the past—they’re the anchors for our values today. Every child who hears Azad’s defiance, Patel’s resolve, or Mangal Pandey’s courage should think: If they could… why can’t I?

Our freedom fighters—named or unnamed—deserve more than footnotes.
Let’s give them headlines.
Let’s give our kids heroes worth chanting for.
And this Independence Day, let’s make “Jai Hind!” more than just two words—it’s a mindset

About the Author
Dawood Vaid is an Educationist, Mindset Coach, and founder of Golden Sparrow Academy—blending innovative pedagogy with life skills. Known for his witty icebreakers, SDG-based quizzes, and storytelling, he has inspired audiences from IITs to international educator forums.