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Vendors are already on the roads selling flags and badges. TV & radio channels are suddenly showing freedom fighters showreels and patriotic sound tracks. Channels are also premiering independence related movies....and then its that time of the year. You will also Independence day promotions with more intensity given its a long weekend. Tomorrow India celebrates its 61st Independence Day!!!
Over the years days like 15th August, 26th January, 2nd October and the likes have become just another holiday in our calendar. Other days like Diwali & Christmas are more eagerly awaited given there are festivities attached to it unlike say the Independence Day. Things haven't changed much since I was a 5-6 year old kid. In school and even now, given I come from a defence background, patriotism amongst us was very high. We would practice for the parade with all eagerness and perform well. Post the ceremony at school we would rush back to watch the ceremonies in Delhi on TV followed by watching the legendary movie 'Gandhi' (which incidentally was played for almost 5 years on such occasions on TV). If it was mid week life would be normal, but if it was a Friday or a Monday we would take life and studies a little more lightly.
At college it was a bit different. There would be a flag hoisting followed by an address by the principal. Once over I would be back home and given I was at Madurai would watch a bit of Sun TV. I think probably it was one of the first channels to celebrate these 'days'...apart from the usual festivals, new years etc. The day will be packed with patriotic songs, interview, movies, celebrity bytes etc. People would be glued to their TVs for hours!!!
Once at work celebration of Independence days was unfortunately left to the India Day celebrations at office (Lowe). We used to have a competition amongst the various floors. I remember one of those years we on our floor motivated to win it did a fab job. The whole theme we worked with was corrupt system and how everybody in the government is wasting public money and time. Was quite an experience putting it together right from the decor...the background music a quick video etc. Had penned (rather typed) a poem on the occasion as well. We won too!!! But that's it we were back to our usual ways..
My Poem..
Beyond Statues & HolidaysIt’s 15th August…
The most important day,
In the history of
this great nation of ours!
Thanks to those sacrifices
Thousands and many more
We are here celebrating…
What have we done
to remember and salute
these sacrifices beyond imaginations?
Erected statues?
To be garlanded
By the current ‘leaders’
To ‘show’ how much they are remembered?
And forgotten
for the rest of the year?
Announced Holidays?
Supposed to be as a
mark of respect
But ended up being
Another reason to party…
Renamed museums & airports…
Am glad,
thanks to this gesture
People will think,
They were special and that’s why.
Is this all we can do?
For those for whom
Independence was the reward
Not bothered about
the price needed to be paid?
Lets go beyond
Statues & holidays
And teach the generations
To come,
Who they were
And what they did
To let us celebrate
Our Independence Day.
Quite recently the patriotic fervour was rejuvenated by a plethora of movies like Border, LOC and Aamir Khan's Rang De Basanti. I remember i watched RDB on 26th Jan along with friends. It was quite a moving tale. But I was sure it wouldn't have touched more than 80% of the audience...if not all. One of these years the funniest thing to happen was HBO played the hollywood movie Independence Day on 15th Aug in India!!!
Its 2008 and we have yet another Independence Day upon us. This time its a long weekend. And people are taking this opportunity to head to destinations like Goa and Kerala. You ask them and they will promptly call it Independence from 9 to 5!
I hope in between all the running around we pay little more respect to our past then looking at it as an excuse to party...
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