Monday, January 26, 2009

Celebrating the 60th year of the Indian Republic


We might smirk and say all so often that patriotism is dead and the days which were landmarks in Indian history are nothing but holidays today. Won't put up any arguments here. Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion. Or maybe on second thoughts, it is worth arguing. How else do you explain the people who join the armed forces and the families who let them do it? How do you explain the girls who enter into matrimonial alliances with men like these. Have they no clue what they are getting into? I am dead sure they do.

Someone is putting up a brave front in uninhabitable climes so that the rest of India can wake up in cozy and safe homes to exclaim that days like today are just national holidays they are so thankful for! How insensitive are we to cringe when the heads of the armed forces demand a hike in pay. It is so ironic that the most important jobs are the least paid. Being a housewife doesn't pay. Being a maid doesn't. Being a garbage collector doesn't. Someone is really fuming :-) Alright no more of complaints.

Coming back to the topic of no consequence. Just like Diwali you know in your sleep that today is either Independence day/ Republic day when you catch the strains of a patriotic song playing far away. And the day before ,you see vendors selling those tiny little flags which some people actually buy! Patriotism isn't dead yet. These might seem so inconsequential when you are a witness to all of them. But once, just once you are not in this country on these days, and you know what missing your homeland means. Trust me when I say this. Been there, done that, lived to tell the tale ;-)

5 people were gracious enough to leave comments:

Sparkling said...

'But once, just once you are not in this country on these days, and you know what missing your homeland means. Trust me when I say this. Been there, done that, lived to tell the tale ;-)' - I truly u'stand what you mean.

Beautifully written and you're so right woman, the most important and hardest jobs are least paid and not even appreciated.

I'm not sure if patriotrism is dead, I just think ppl just aren't able to appreciate it anymore.

Tranquility Speaks said...

STILL THINKING : Thank you Ma'm for being so appreciative!

We often don't realize the value of things that just fall into our laps. Guess that's happened to our good old patriotism as well, among many other things :-)

Anonymous said...

i compleately agree, there are things we already know, but we tend to cover our eyes and ignore em compleately.... 1 of them being our love for our nation and respect for the jawans.... deep down we respect , bt we do nothing , we think about the tough condition they are in and thats it.... only when they die do we realise the burden they were carrying on their shoulders..and that 2 for a few hours b4 we decide to carry on with a cover on our eyes :)

---> i hope i dont irritate u with anonymous..pardon me for that !

Tranquility Speaks said...

ANONYMOUS: No sir/ madam, you don't irritate me with your comments barring the stray case when you tend to be more appreciative of the pictorial material than my writing:-)

Hey have you ever considered mailing me? Try that!

Anonymous said...

the pictorial material is a part of the overall presentation that helps in create what i call an "IMAGERY" so it helps people relate with the article... thats why picture play an important role in Advertisments etc... and since your pictures are good so i appreciated:) keep writing that way!