The Republic Day

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Today is a day of national celebrations… our Republic Day. India was declared a Republic on 26 of January, 1950. This day has inspired me throughout my life…. So here I am dedicating some time to my much neglected Blog Space. Probably I needed the inspiration as much I needed the time!

Poster of Incredible India in a foreign country makes us proud
There is a strange relationship that a child shares with his mother. The same is true between one and the motherland. Since childhood the Independence Day (15th August) and the Republic Day (26th January) has been very special to us. On these two days we used to hoist the national flag in our house without fail ... We were taught that each and every citizen had the responsibility to hoist the Tricolor in their house. The flag had to go up before the sun rises and come down at the sunset before it gets dark. While the schools and Governmental bodies used to have permanent flag poles we at the household always used to improvise.
I have some fond memories from my childhood days. We had to leave the bed early in the morning in spite of it being a holiday and put the flag up. Then we used to get dressed and accompany our father to the parade grounds. Even though the ground was very close to our house, we used to go by the Jeep, as these were a very formal official affair. The time for the flag hoist used to be 8 am when Chief Minister or the governor used to pull the flag up and there was a shower of rose petals which was wrapped within the flag. As a child we used to get very excited watching the petals fall and the march past by different divisions of the Armed forces and the Para military personals and all saluting the flag when they marched past the podium. The best part was the armed forces band.
There used to parties in the evening but we only got to see the invitation card and never got to go and see how much fun it was!

Happy Republic Day to All of you out there … Let Peace Prevail in our country.


Comments

  1. ZuzanaJanuary 26, 2010 at 8:26 PM

    Ah, happy Republic Day to you! I can identify with the sentiments here, we all have ties to our country, and those of us who have left it even more. I have similar recollections from my childhood celebrations.;)
    Lovely clip.
    Enjoy your day,
    xo
    Zuzana

    ReplyDelete
  2. UrmiJanuary 26, 2010 at 8:50 PM

    Wish you and your family a very Happy Republic Day.
    You have portrayed very beautifully about different scenarios and I liked your post very much. Keep writing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Helen McGinnJanuary 27, 2010 at 1:28 AM

    Happy Republic Day to you. Lovely post.

    ReplyDelete
  4. CloudiaJanuary 27, 2010 at 6:25 AM

    Congratulations to your amazing nation and people!!!!!!


    Namaste & Aloha, Friend


    Comfort Spiral

    ReplyDelete
  5. AparnaJanuary 27, 2010 at 9:47 AM

    Having grown up in Delhi, I have very fond memories of the Republic Day.
    I used to go and watch the parade every year as my father used to get passes for the show. He was a central government employee.
    The pomp and show, the mist in the air, the cold, the excited children on Rajpath...it was so beautiful. I miss it and I feel sorry that my children have not seen the parade even once.

    ReplyDelete
  6. DeepsJanuary 27, 2010 at 10:17 AM

    That was a very nostalgic post,Suman. I remember how much I used to look forward to watching the parade on TV :))
    My parents,brother & I used to run to the terrace to see the fighter planes fly past. I used to be so excited!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. sujata senguptaJanuary 27, 2010 at 10:33 AM

    More than anything else I loved to watch the grand retreat band playing just a couple of days after the republic day. Its amazing how well they play!!! The best part of this republic day was that I got my driver's license..wow!!Incredible actually!

    ReplyDelete
  8. SumandebrayJanuary 28, 2010 at 8:24 AM

    @Protege,
    Thank you for your comments.As we keep growing up (hate to use the word old for myself) the childhood days becomes all the more precious!
    @Babli,
    Thanks.. wish you the same.
    @ Helen,
    Thanks.
    @ Cloudia,
    One day I will find out what Aloha means... lol
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  9. SumandebrayJanuary 28, 2010 at 8:27 AM

    @Aparna,
    Thought of using a filmy line... hummara bachpan (Khayalat) kitna milti jhulti hai...
    Thanks for visiting
    @ Deeps,
    So good to see you here after such a long time. Delhi is Delhi... Delhi opens its arms to all and that is what I liked most about that place.

    ReplyDelete
  10. SumandebrayJanuary 28, 2010 at 3:10 PM

    @Sujata,
    Congratulations! They say that a driver's license in Oman is like a extra master's degree. Now you can also get a car and declare a new republic inside that ...apna ka raj

    ReplyDelete

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