The coming few months will be full of nation-wide activities and engagements, as we approach the most important dates in the Eritrean calendar. We are about to celebrate 24th May Independence day and remember the 20th June, the Martyr's day, once again, both less than a month apart. They come every year as rituals to remind us the importance of both events to us all.

We could have some differences in the way we observe both events. However, we always have something in common, a special unified feeling as they refresh our memories about the rough struggle, the huge sacrifice we paid and our achievements, with all the comradeship, extraordinary heroism, strong determination and above everything, the mother of all these qualities, the strong nationalism we all share as Eritreans. These are some of the values, which made us victorious against the odds and the mighty powers, and forced historians to re-write history.

When we celebrate our independence, there could be a lot that intermingle in our minds as we witness the annual event. Some of us, depending on the circumstances might want to celebrate in the privacy of our homes, some may wish to do it in small groups and others may plan to do it collectively, as this is the case in most instances. Whatever our decision is, however, it undoubtedly has the same purpose, sharing the same values and considerations, and surely without being impartial about the next event, as both events are the most sacred ones. This will have some truth and credibility as long as we all morally, deeply and objectively examine ourselves and know how we weigh them.

Independence has not come without sacrifice. As a nation and people we have paid a great deal in human, material, social, and cultural terms to attain this. Each and every one of us has paid for this painful sacrifice. We have also witnessed a great deal of resilience, decency and unique bravery of each family and the nation as whole in the way we humbly dealt with all the sorrow and grief in order to move on with the nation's flavour for advancement. There are a few comparisons to that of ours in the history of mankind, as it was a unique struggle and a painful one, but with a sweet ending leading to a true and real freedom. The nation continues to make surprises and the route it has chosen to pursue is exemplary, which we should be proud of. The secret to this is the way we kept and preserved our total independence during the armed struggle and beyond, the principle of self-reliance, and the proven hard work of our people - the weapons of our success. Maintaining these ideals is the way forward. We have the leadership with a vision, a hardworking, proud and determined people who are ready to implement the extensive developmental programmes of the nation. This makes us proud and determined, and puts us under no obligation by any power, as we and we only are the guarantors of our destiny. There is no doubt that these principles will be challenging and hugely agonizing ones in the short term, but in the end the nation will undoubtedly emerge as strong as ever.

The colonial periods were manifest with total deprivation compounded with unimaginable violation of human dignity. First and foremost they denied us the freedom we always had asked and fought for peacefully for more than a century. This denial was the one that triggered us to raise arms to wage an armed struggle that lasted thirty long years. This resulted in a huge human sacrifice, mass devastation of the infrastructure, the dismantling of industries, the suffering, displacement and the massive exodus of people, and the deprivation of national identity, which were quite considerable and beyond imagination. At least the present generation had the opportunity to witness the two sides, the evils of war and the peaceful lifestyle we all enjoy at the moment. Today no one can challenge this as we have realised our freedom and independence, joining the free people of the world. As people we never compromised our national identity wherever we went and that drive has brought us what we all hoped for. In fact it made us stronger and determined to fight on with high morale and spirit to maintain it.

The sacrifice we paid will be felt for generations to come, but at least it makes a huge difference to our future. The normal human mind has the capacity to absorb so much and maintain this in balance and makes us stable to carry on. It is important that we move on but by any means not forgetting where we are heading to with all the developmental activities and programmes of nation building. Our sense of judgement and the centre of gravity have to be maintained if we are to succeed. Our independence was not a gift from heaven. It is a product of a lot of sacrifice. To preserve it is an obligation that any national big or small has to embrace and pass on for future generations.

We currently enjoy the fruits of independence thanks to those who paid hugely to achieve it. As a new independent nation we must be proud of our accomplishment. However, have we done our share to keep it in balance? No one can forget the sacrifice, but have we really done enough to uphold it? This is something everyone has to ask him/herself. Those who perished for freedom have entrusted us with something, which we can permanently implant in our thoughts: the country, the people, their families, children, parents, etc. It is time to think about the heroic past and do something about the future. People in the Diaspora at least have the means to participate and engage to facilitate the developmental activities of the nation. It is wrong to abandon our obligation but be part of the ongoing process. As ever, we should be in the forefront of all these if both events are to have a meaning. We cannot celebrate independence and enjoy the event without remembering our martyrs. It would be meaningless to think otherwise. Maintaining this equilibrium is the way forward. After all this is all about the people and the country we love dearly. It's about looking at both events critically and to weigh them equally.

We know for sure that there could have been no independence celebration without the sacrifice our martyrs had paid and there would not have been a remembrance day without the freedom we all enjoy at the moment. Events do come and go and do occur once a year, but we all have the obligation to remember and keep them in our thoughts forever than just momentarily on the days. Both events are mutually interlinked and inseparable. We cannot celebrate the first without remembering the latter.

Failing to maintain this balance is not living to obligation and would mean a deviation from the national norm. Let us get engaged and not rest until we have a balanced approach to do our bit to the development of the nation and make a relentless moral commitment to this aim; to make our observances meaningful.

Awet Nhafash!

Dr Hailu Embaye, London