DIL HAIN HINDUSTANI..

Reminiscing childhood days and getting nostalgic in the process can often occupy you at times.

Come 15^th August and India would be celebrating its 66 years of Independence. Sights of few dukaans having enthusiastically displayed tirangas (of various sizes) for sale, flag decorations at certain places, malls sprinkled with shades of tricolor with alluring Azaadi sales are good enough to make an Indian remind of the upcoming Independence Day. But frankly speaking no Indian really forgets the approaching 15^th August. It’s always in our personal memory, not because of its historical importance but simply because of it being a HOLIDAY!!

But childhood was a contrast. In those days we had that extra bit of enthusiasm with us. School days (the then working days of our early life) were more desirable and fun loaded than a holiday. 

 Being school kids 15^th August was never a ‘stay at home and relax ‘holiday for us.

Prabhat Pheri organized early morning where we would walk in lines and shout out naaras was so much fun. Starting early morning ensured absence of any kind of traffic and thus allowed us to almost occupy the entire width of the road. Don’t know why, but I felt those 15^th August mornings so serene. I would get a virtual feeling of birds chirping and flowers blossoming, the one which someone gets on his/her birthday. Obviously 15^th August is an occasion of birthday. Birthday of our Independent India!!

Jab Tak Sooraj Chand Rahega Bharat Desh Ka Naam Rahega!!

Vande Matram!!

 

We would shout out these slogans at peak of our voices. Naaras and occasional gossips with each other would keep us occupied while we covered a big round around our locality and reached where we started – our school. We would then enjoy well performed programs based on national themes which were summed up by the National Anthem. I always felt the 15^th August National Anthem a bit different and special. Variety of musical instruments played beautifully and in coordination made the melodious anthem sound even sweeter and as usual aroused a sense of nationalism in all of us. After this we were given food packets (comprising of samosas and mithais) which very well made up for our morning hunger. I remember, I would then be escorted by my father to our locality stadium (JawaharLal Nehru stadium) to enjoy further programs. Flag hoisting, parade, group dances followed by much loved display of Jhaakis would keep me and many others bonded despite the scorching heat of the sun.

This year it’s our 67^TH Independence Day. Now that I have grown up and become more aware and interested in what’s going in our nation, 15^th August has become something more than just fun (except the holiday part of it). The PM’s speech at Rajpath has now become important to me and worth listening to. 

Obviously the day acts as a checkpoint where the nation momentarily looks back at its successes and failures and then plans to move ahead. 

                                                                                                                                   JAI HIND !!