Independent India

It's that time of the year again when we the citizens of India see & feel patriotism which though deep rooted in our blood but comes out on occasions like Independence & Republic day only...Independence day wishes make a round across the country thru forwarded mails..SMSs...and at least for a few moments..or may be a day the pride of being an Indian is visible everywhere...

They say in India "कोस-कोस पर बदले पानी; आठ कोस पर बानी" (the taste of water changes every mile and language changes every eight miles.)...as many states...as many regional..socio-cultural diversities..yet unity in cultural diversity...is what makes us Indians hot...It's pleasing to see the progress that India has made in the last few years....India & Indians have made their presence felt everywhere across the globe and left it's mark everywhere...

However, all that glitters is not gold..I eagerly wait for a day when India can bid adieu to social taboos like..dowry deaths...female foeticide...etc etc..neither the constitution nor the laws can help shoo these away from society..we need a change in mindset...we need to start thinking differently now...it's ironical that though we are much appreciative of the western cultural & lifestyle where both genders enjoy equal rights & freedom...deep within us we still differentiate between a girl & boy child...& the differentiation that starts from birth ends only after death...gender equality is a much needed change 'coz unless we remove the gender bias..we may progress economically but can never move from 'developing' to 'developed' state...

I'm hopeful & wait to become citizen of a developed India...thus I wish that may the life of this bias & social taboos be very short in independent India..None the less;am still a proud Indian ... I have INDIA in my name :) B-India..Proud to be an Indian...

We're hot! We are Indians..... VANDEMATRAM!

She’s rich, she’s beautiful,
She’s cultured and colorful…
She’s our darling, she’s our soul,
She’s independent India, now 57 years old...
We love & respect her the way it is,
She’s our mother, though she’s a miss... :)
She has seen, faced & suffered a lot,
She is the witness of all the battles fought...
The struggle for freedom, the battles to make her free,
The battles to throw Britishers out of our country…
She was born on 15th August 1947,
And looks young & fresh as a girl of 17 even at the age of 57…
May she progress & lead us for time immemorial,
May she live forever & become immortal…

(15-08-04)