India completes 60 years of freedom today.... i have been a part of a lot of those years.....
i dont remember the last time i woke up early to attend the ceremonies on TV or in person.... must have been during college time... when they hoisted the flag they would distribute laddoos.... the laddoo like any food item would vanish within half an hour.... so if u dont wake up no laddoo.....
but today this guy in my team had bought a cake (some fruit cake orange and green concentric circles and obviously the cream was white... so what if the colours weren't in the oder!) so around 12.30 (when most of the client team was out for lunch) all of us got together... took a print out of the flag... put it on the table... and played the national anthem.... must have been years since i last heard it (if it plays on TV i change the channel rather than stand up... cant listen to it sitting down can i?) it was a nice feeling... all of us standing thr at attention... the anthem played on the system.... then after a line or 2 some people joined in.. after another few words some more joined in.... after the first para everybody was singing... it wasnt a group of people singing very loud.... or a group of people attracting attention or telling everyone look its our independence day and we are celebrating it... it was a group of people singing just for themselves; their national anthem...
i dont know what it made other people feel.... but i felt good.... i felt very Indian... and i dont even know what that means! But i felt proud to be one... and i felt happy that i am going back to India... if not tomorrow atleast in the near future.... felt good for the certainity that i call India home and if things go the way i want them to; i always will....
later i was reminded of this particular school assembly when during the national anthem it started raining and all the students started fidgeting... after the end of the song every one was eager to leave(national anthem used to be the last part of the assembly) to everyone's surprise the Principal gave us a good one for fidgeting (we were still in rain) ! A full 30 second lecture concluding with "u keep standing at attention while the national anthem is playing even if a snake crawls on your feet" (he was an army man!!)
That day it sounded like a Principal just making noise and showing authority... but somehow after so many years today i thought may be that wasnt just noise... may be it means something more... i cant say what this more is; although i can feel it!!!
Happy Independence day...
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hello....... HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY... just read your lastest addition.... indeed a wonderful write - up ..and a nice thing to share.. must have been that grt sense of belongingness...
anyways.... take care
well first of all Happy Independence Day. Although little late to say as per IST, but 15th just started where i live. Reading abt the Principal....indeed he reflected the army discipline. All my life...well a good 10 years (years before my 10th class not counted)...i always wondered how, why and what was the logic behind national anthem.....was it a copy coz every country had it...or someone was so poetic or musical that he created such a precious art...or was it to remind people of the country the sacrifice, pain, selfless work from people...for the freedom that you n me enjoy today. i think we all know the reason for the existence of National Anthem...But do we fully realize the meaning today....i remember once i went in a multiplex to watch Troy...and just before the start of the movie Our National Anthem started....as an Indian i stood up..and listened but in my mind i was laughing for this act of cinema owners.....the whole movie my mind was pre-occupied with this....by the time i reached home....i was forced to do a reality check....hmmmm........people would easily categorize me as "Brain Drain"...and ask what do i know abt love for country.....but i think the real issue is beyond all this debate...it is about the freedom we all cherish....love we share.....respect we give....and unity that binds us.....Our National Anthem is like Red Bull energy drink....everytime you hear it...energy in the form of passion, love, ....is created for your country....hmmm well atleast it tastes good...
Need to get back to work....keep posting its good to read...
and i feel sorry for myself never woke up early during my college time to go n grab a ladoo....waise i heard they bought it from gopal's sweets.....must be good......peace.........
Hey Shirin!! Thanks a ton! and once again u r rt... it indeed was a sense of belongigng!! :-)
and 'Rude Uncle' (comeon u can do better than that.. think of another name :P ) well frankly i think even i had the laddoo just once!
but national Anthem = Red bull!! now thats something to chew on!
Cheers!
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