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Saturday, August 15, 2009

(I)...(I)ndia...(I)ndependent

The clock has struck 00:00 hrs and the date on the calendar has changed to 15th of August...a special day for everyone out there called an Indian. The very date on which this identity was forged is here again...it's been 62 years now since that fateful night when Indianness became a word in the consciousness of the people of this country and it's been a ride, for sure.



 
I remember that last year I had written a post on this very day which was so like in character to India itself...in that post I had highlighted the issues we face as well as commented on the progress that we had achieved as a nation. It was a grey post in the sense that the glass was both half full and half empty depending on how you look at it. I had ended that post holding the shining beacon of hope in my hand and I have absolutely no intention of repeating my words with a little bit of shuffling.



So today I am just going to list out a few points which remind me everyday of being independent and of not being the same

  • When I can write here whatever I feel like, without even a whiff of a thought for the world and it's opinion I am reminded of being independent.
  • When I can, with a switch of my remote, mute the voice of hate and blind the sight of perverseness, I am reminded of being independent.
  • When I can walking on the road, look a girl in the eye and make her feel beautiful, I am reminded of being independent.
  • When I can look someone thrice my age and experience and knowledge in the eye and tell him that I disagree with his thinking, I am reminded of being independent.
  • When I can offer my prayers in a congregation with a poor tea seller on one side and a business tycoon on the other, I am reminded of being independent.
  • When I can feel the moistness in the corner of the eyes on hearing Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon, I am reminded of being independent.
  • When I have a look at the beaming faces of the students that I teach on successfully solving a sum, I am reminded of being independent.
  • When I can swoon to Comfortably Numb one moment and croon Hoshwalon Ko Khabar Kya the other, I am reminded of being independent.
  • When I can stand in front of anyone and speak exactly what I want to, I am reminded of being independent.
  • When I cheer a six off the bat of Yuvi one moment and leap in joy at Manchester United scoring against anyone:D, I am reminded of being independent.
  • When I can still see that black ink mark on the index finger of my left hand, I am reminded of being independent.
  • When I know what am writing now will be read by people wh I may probably never meet, I am reminded of being independent.

These are just some of the reasons/incidents/actions which keep reminding me every moment of being independent, of living life as a free individual and of knowing that I have an opinion which I can put forth.

I am sure all of you have many such reasons...do share them with all of us.

So this Independence Day, think not of the issues and problems that we as a nation face...there are 364 and 1/4th other days to do that, rather today think of the privilege and pleasure of being independent and soak in this independent air we breathe.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY




P.S. Happy Independence Day to all the people of Pakistan, our midnight brothers and sisters.

P.P.S. Please go and watch KAMINEY...it's a treat if there ever was:)





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18 eulogies: on "(I)...(I)ndia...(I)ndependent"

Arun Kumar said...

I get reminded I'm independent when I get to voice my opinions which may be against the very principles that India stands for and still hear my opinions echoed by a few....

happy independence bro... wonderful post...

Rià said...

tht was a gr8 post!!

:( i cant watch K as yet coz its not yet released in Mumbai. will hav to wait till Monday.

Naina said...

When I can walking on the road, look a girl in the eye and make her feel beautiful, I am reminded of being independent.
------------ awwwwweee :D

and i can also see the black mark on my finger.. :) we voted on the same day 13th may 2009.. :)

awesome post.. it made me glow.. :) really.. i am smiling i am happy and i am so proud of you for looking at Independence this way.. :)

Diya said...

awwweeee... accha, you make her feel beautiful or is it that you feel young young eying the candy... eh? ;)
Nevertheless, it is so chweeettt! :P
And I feel that I am independent cz I can call you a K*****y 2 :P :D
Happy Independence Day 2 u 2, and well... 2 d ppl of Pakistan 2 :)

Keshi said...

Happy Indep. Day CN! :)

I'll take a break..and perhaps come back again with the same enthusiasm. So dun miss me too much hehe..

And ty so much for always been a great friend and for ur very encouraging words in my latest post. TC.

Keshi.

Whats in a name.......... said...

jai hind!
i have friends in pak who wished me on our independence day and i wished them on theirs!
felt great!
at the cost of stating the obvious, nice post!:)

Americanising Desi said...

:) really feels great that across borders we have a different push to celebrating our respective independence!

Saim said...

@Kajal
he he...tht line just came:)
oye and am proud of u n I hv more reasons:)

Saim said...

@Diya
kya zamana hai...u r calling ur own breed eye candy n et all:P
btw...y wud I feel young on seeing "eye candy"...I am young neways:D
lolz:P

Saim said...

@Keshi
thnx dear...will wait for you or perhaps I cud seek u out earlier...u nvr know:)
come back rejuvenated neways... *hugz*

Saim said...

@Wian
thnx dear n tht is how it should be!!!
btw...even if it's obvious it feels gud to hear it from other's :D

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