PUZZLED????!!!!!

26^th January, 2008

Time: 9.00 a.m.

Place: My home.

Situation: I’m still sleeping happily on my bed and my mom is busy with work. After some 5 to 10 minutes she comes to me and wakes me up. I get up go to the wash room, brush my teeth and come to the living room. My dad was not getting ready for office and after a moment I realize that it’s a national holiday (Indian Republic Day). Great. All family members at home. After that have breakfast, have a bath and all that daily routine.

Time: 12.00 noon.

Wow. Its republic day plus weekend, so special programs on TV. Saw 2 movies simultaneously.

Time: 4.00 p.m.

No nice program on TV. So boring.. ok lets sleep now..

Time: 6.30 p.m.

Get up again and have some snacks and again sit before tv.

Time: 11.00 p.m.

Ok. Enough of TV now and I retire to bed. And when I lie on my bed that I start thinking about it, it was my country’s republic day but I behaved as if it were any other holiday. Was it fair on my part? Don’t I love my country? Yes, I do. But why then, didn’t I feel the day as special? Was I being to selfish and concerned only about me, myself and my family? Or was I behaving similarly to what people call Gen Next??

On 26^th January, 1950 our constitution came into existence and our 1^st president took his position on that day. And every year after that a grand parade is held in New Delhi, and the president takes the salute from the different regiments of the army, navy and air force. And all this celebrations are covered live by different channels these days. Is this day all about hoisting flags in government offices and special programs on TV? Every one would say No.

Then what should we be doing? Should we just sit idle and talk about the greatness of those leaders who sacrificed their lives for the independence or should we just forget about the past and get along with our daily lives as usual? I thought about it for a long time but I dint get any answers for my questions.

I’m an INDIAN by heart and am proud to be one. But, why then do I feel this bemused and totally at lost of thoughts as to how I should be celebrating republic day. I do realize the importance of the day but I don’t feel like celebrating it. May be doing my work sincerely and thus contributing to the growth of the country will mean in the true sense celebrating it. Or may be if I help the needy, or if I free a child laborer, or contribute to the education of a poor student, may be then will I feel like celebrating that day.. Till that period of time I think I will have to sit like this and think about how to celebrate the republic day..

MERA BHARATH MAHAAN..

PROUD to be INDIAN..