There are many ways to celebrate Independence Day. For some, it is the flag flying from a balcony. For others, it is a song, a family tradition, a memory from childhood or simply the freedom to choose the life they want.

But beyond the ceremonies and familiar symbols, there is another question worth asking on August 15- what does being Indian actually mean to us?

For Pankaj Tripathi, Sanjana Sanghi, Mugdha Godse, Sanskruti Jayana and Ishita Raj, the answer lies in a mix of belonging, diversity, responsibility, courage and the freedom to imagine a life of one’s own.

Pankaj Tripathi

“For me, being Indian is not just about an identity or a passport. I come from a small village in Bihar, so I have experienced India very closely, through its soil, its simplicity and the people around me. To me, being Indian means staying connected to that soil, no matter how far life takes you.

It means embracing our diversity, respecting another person’s language and culture, and standing by each other in difficult times. In my own life, I have seen that India’s real beauty lies in its ordinary people- in their hard work, their resilience and their small joys.

For me, being Indian means being proud of my roots, while always keeping the doors of my heart and mind open. That is the feeling that makes me feel most Indian.”

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Sanjana Sanghi

“To be Indian for me, is to be everything all at once. It’s to be grounded and rooted yet have the courage to dream and fly. It’s to have own identity while celebrating all forms of diversity. It’s to carry our culture & heritage into any room we walk into all over the world.”

Mugdha Godse

“For me, Independence Day is a beautiful reminder of the freedom and opportunities we often take for granted. It makes me think about the immense courage and sacrifices of those who fought for our country’s independence and gave us the freedom to dream, choose our own path and express ourselves.

“Patriotism, to me, is not just about celebrating the tricolour or singing the national anthem on one particular day; it is about carrying that love and pride for India in everything we do.

“At the same time, I believe real freedom is also about being free from within — free from interfering thoughts, fear and negativity, and having the space to live a peaceful and fulfilling life.

“We are a country of so many cultures, languages, traditions and stories, and being an Indian fills me with immense pride. I feel grateful to be a part of this ever-evolving nation, and I believe each of us has a small role to play in making India stronger, kinder and more united. That, to me, is the true spirit of independence.”

Sanskruti Jayana

“To me, being Indian is about the values we carry – our sense of community, responsibility, family and belonging. What makes India extraordinary is that so many religions, languages, beliefs and traditions can coexist within one democracy, each adding its own colour to who we are.

“Our festivals, our spirituality, our art and our way of life give us an identity unlike anywhere else. And I think with that inheritance comes a responsibility to preserve what makes us distinct, while taking our culture and values confidently to the world.

“Being Indian, for me, is being deeply rooted in where we come from while being proud enough to let the world know who we are.”

Ishita Raj

“Being Indian is more than a nationality, it’s a feeling of belonging to a billion stories of triumph, courage, kindness, and gratitude!”

From carrying India’s culture and heritage across the world to celebrating its diversity, protecting what makes it distinct and recognising the freedoms that were fought for, their answers offer four different perspectives on what being Indian means on Independence Day 2026.