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Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Happy Republic Day…


Freedom in Mind, Faith in Words,
Pride in our Heart, Memories in our Souls.
Lets Salute the Nation on REPUBLIC DAY......

Uhm…being a Non Resident Indian, to be frank…it seems that such days doesn’t actually give too much importance to many of us, afterall, we don’t get the Public Holidays here, right…?

But, today I wondered…why so…Why don’t we feel that passion and patriotism…was it because many of us really doesn’t know much about the freedom struggle or the hardships our ancestors have faced…the pain and trouble our freedom fighters have suffered to earn us our independence today…We are so ignorant..Once a while…when we watch some army movies, tears well up in ur eyes and that is it…maybe for few days, u would be a bit gloomy thinking of those olden days…and then u r back to the old self…

Shamefully, let me admit..I too have to count myself into that group…Its not that I don’t know about those days…I have educated myself with lots of real life stories of those days through reading and stories from my grand pa…I have been to many places which even today would remind u that U are an Indian and Patriotism is there deep inside u…especially the Jallianwala Bagh, Wagah Border, India Gate and many such monuments…Thanks to my uncle who have been in the army, due which, every school vacation…we used to have a visit to his house…wherever he was posted then, we would spend few days there…

Thus, I could enter the grounds of Jallianwala Bagh…I watched with horror, "The Martyrs' Well", and imagined myself running around the place to save my life…the bullet marks on the walls looked like live missiles for me… those were marks of the bullets that didn’t stain themselves with the blood of innocent Indians…Haa…The Jallianwala Bagh massacre for sure entered our History Text Books…but did it really enter our heart… I have to agree, till that day, it was just another portion to be by-hearted for your examination… Only when I really walked through that area, did I feel the tremor in me…the fear and courage the patriots might have faced that day…

When I witnessed the parade at the Wagah Border, I felt my heart feeling proud…I AM AN INDIAN and I AM PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN… I too screamed at the top of my voice along with those hundreds who had gathered there…That MERA BHARAT MAHAN…BHARAT MATA KI JAI… was THE day, that I realized PATRIOTISM is in my blood too…

If I start writing my experience on my visits to these places, I would go on and on…But then, trust me, those were the moments when I had really wished…If I could serve my country..like those thousands of Soldiers of our Army, Navy and Airforce…I know, as I type these words down… thousands would be witnessing the grand Republic day parade where the different regiments of the army, the Navy and the Air force march past in all their finery and official decorations…What to do…we are here for our living…and so I am at work…and not watching that parade for myself…

I wouldn’t want to end this without saying a few words about one of my friend…He was in the Army…For some unexplainable reasons, he had to leave army…But even today…he regret that day, when he had to leave the army…He regret his decision to voluntarily resign from the services…So today morning, I was greeted a Good Morning with his email where he was also wishing my a Happy Republic Day…as he asked me, How was the Republic day treating me..I replied him with an email with a Song that depicted the importance of our Mother Country…and…

He got emotional..and nostalgic and sentimental…Without his permission, I am quoting his email here (I am deleting some parts for my own reasons)…This is just for you to know…to feel…to understand… how it is to be a Soldier…and how it is not to be one…

"Yesterday I was listening to ‘Aiy mere watan ke logon…zara aankh mein bhar lo paani’…..I couldn't resist the tears and regret for shedding the uniform.

I know…we as a nation has come out of all those things…now a days there is no more such sacrifices etc…not as what use to be during the war times or the WW times. I have collection of all war movies. Been watching them everyday…it disconnects me from present and I am able to forget everything else for that moment atleast.

Da, the day I marched out of the commandant office after the final office handing over and returned to room…for a few minutes I was blacked out and I was hesitant to remove the uniform. I was in that full color dress (winter one). One by one I removed the jacket, the stars, the belt everything…..I folded it back into my trunk and decided that I will never even look at it again. And till date, I have not opened that trunk box and looked at it. it must be still smelling my sweat then…..That uniform was so dear to me….from the moment I could make sense out of things…there was only one dream….to be an Army officer nothing more or less… "


All I want to tell my friend is…Past is Past…God has decided some things for us…and they have to happen as time passes…Be happy, that you could serve your country, be it for a few years…Remember, there are many who would deeply wish that they could wear that Proud Uniform and serve their nation, atleast for one day… I, too, had this dream of becoming an Airforce officer…to be precise..A Pilot…uhmm..my parents never let me be one…Their reason was.. “We have only one daughter and we don’t want to miss / loose her…” …today, I think…IF ALL PARENTS HAD THOUGHT SO…will we be safely sitting at our homes today…could we ever enjoy our independence…could we ever celebrate a Republic Day… My parents didn’t realize it…then…

A Grand Salute…

To every single Brave Citizen and Soldiers of our Mother Nation who sacrificed their life for our safety, our Independence…
To those Soldiers and officials who are still enduring all hardships at our borders just to safeguard the privacy of our country and its citizens…
To those parents who sacrificed their own Children for the safety of other children…
To those parents who bravely bid goodbye to their children as they join the defence services…


Happy Republic Day…

5 comments:

Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas said...

It got me emotional again…..

You have made an effort for all your readers to at least spend a few seconds thinking of sacrifices that has gone behind making India a Sovereign and Republic country. We are standing on heaps of corpses of soldiers…and shouting for our rights with placards and riots.

Jzt4me said...

Hey Dear,

Thanks for your heartfelt opinion on my this post...And thanks for not feeling bad for quoting your words...

You are a sweetheart and u know that...Whenever u get emotional, remember, that is the proof that u r still a good human being...and getting emotional for this proves u r a true Indian...Jai Hind...

Bikram said...

I always say we shud not forget those who gave there lifes for this day to be clebrated ...

I beleive that with all my heart , I am sure you would have read a few posts on my blog ..

TO me forget about all those we give accolades to on this day , we shud not forget the ones who gave there life..

and the song you mentioned that says it too.. lets not forget all thsoe who are sitting at the borders guarding us .. LEts not forget them

I can understand the emotions going behind your friend, I did my everything to get into the army and serve the country but luck was such .. though i blame other reasons for the same ..
anyway past is gone cant change it ..

You take care and i am happy i know you via ur blog, i guess you love the country as much as i do so heres wishing you a very happy republic day ..

Bikram's

KParthasarathi said...

Beautifully written.
When we sleep in the comfoort of our homes safe and secure that our fronties are guarded by our valiant soldiers in utterly hostile conditions, we really do not grasp the extent of sacrifice and risk they undertake.The Republic Day serves as a reminder to dwell upon their ivaluable role.
Here is a poem I saw after I read your post that captures the spirit of the post

Victorious soldier

Fighting for his country,
Not knowing if he will live.
Brave soldier
Standing up for what he believes
and fighting for freedom.
Brave soldier
Fighting for whats right,
Dying Heroes, Dying evil men
Brave soldier
Leaving every thing he owns
To be loyal to his country.
Brave soldier.

Coming home at end of war....
Victorious soldier.

Megan Streett

anupama said...

Dear Snehitha,
Good Morning!
Beautifully written Patriotic post.I can feel the emotions of your friend.The feelings are so touching.
Today at Indian Time you can pay respects and pray to the great souls who sacrificed their lives for our nation.Today is Martyrs' Day.I fondly remember our beloved Bapuji.
Wherever you are,please keep a copy of The Story of My Experiments With Truth-the autobiography of Gandhiji.
The love for nation will be always alive like fire!
Dear,when your son grows big you will also not let him join Army.
Parents are like that.
Wishing you a wonderful day ahead,
Sasneham,
Anu