Proud to be Indian in this 75th Year of our Independence, with a special reason too!
There are some moments in life which cannot be exchanged for anything you could ask for. Above them all is our pride for our Nation and Country. Today I would like to share that pride, and honor with nostalgia that I cannot express in words.
In today's humdrum, run-of-the-mill rat race we barely have time to think of so many things we can and should take pride of. Sadly we do not even have the time to think about ourselves, which is really pathetic. But today was a moment I will never forget in my life and look forward to every year of my life living forward.
Well we Indians all are proud and celebrate our Independence Day which falls on the 15th of August every year. 75th Year of Independence Day of India or Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an upcoming event, in which the 75th Year of Independence of India to be celebrated in India on 15 August 2022. India celebrates Independence Day on August 15, with the usual pride to mark its freedom from British rule. The Indian Independence movement began during World War I and on August 15, 1947, India got its freedom, ending an almost 200-year British rule.
Today as we celebrated our 73rd Republic Day going forward into the 75th Year of our Independence. For all practical purposes we would treat our 75th Year of Independence effective as of 15th August 2022 but for me I feel it a matter of pride as already in place from this Calendar year from January itself. For me the Year 1947 is he Year of Independence for us so we are already living the proud 75th Year of Independence.
What intrigued me was a fact that I myself was shocked when it dawned on me. Being a very staunch Nationalist and a very sentimental one at that, I am immensely touched by these events. As I watched the 73rd Republic Day Parade enfold in all its glory on the National DD channel, I was overwhelmed by it all.
My memories flashed back to the years as far as possible, that I could train my mind on and it dawned on me that I had indeed been present over the large part of this glorious period. We often tend to ignore the small but very important part each of our personal contributions add up to in building up our nation. It was emotional. It suddenly flashed my mind that indeed I had seen it all - the 25th Year, the 50th Year and this year the 75th Year of Independence, and it made my heart swell with pride. Could I be there to celebrate the 100th too?
Let me take you through that journey.
As we all know, that on August 15, 1947, India got its freedom. Twelve years later, I was born on 10th January 1959, which obviously threw me out of the picture. But the glorious moments then enfolded in my mind made me feel prouder. On the day India celebrated our 25th Silver Jubilee Independence day on 15th August 1972 I was barely 13 years old but could remember all of those years from our School days.
Images of my School will stay in my mind forever. Here is one that I cherish for life...
I always get very emotionally overwhelmed when talking about my School St. Stanislaus High School, Bandra, Mumbai where I invested all my 11+ Years of schooling in my Alma Mater that I am so proud of. It was customary then and even now that the School decorates its 3 floors of the central building especially the back side in the colors of our National Flag as seen below. It still sends shivers down my spine.
Those memories flashed back, in a flurry of events of our school days. The formative ages of any child are instrumental in laying a strong foundation for an illustrious career and future and I thank my School for all that I am today.
Fond memories of old times rolled by.
We celebrated our 50th Golden Anniversary Independence Day on 15th August 1997 - I was just 38 then. It made me even prouder to have been there to celebrate it in Pune where I had located for my career. Those were my times of a strong formative career period.
Today as I watched the 73rd Republic day Parade it once again dawned on me that indeed we were in our 75th Year of Independence. I had myself turned 63 this January 10th and here I was proudly celebrating this glorious year.
25th, 50th, and now the 75th ? Was this really happening? I pinched myself with joy and shared the news to my family members. Indeed it was a fact. Well , well my enthusiastic mind was running wild. 100th too? Why not. Add 25 more years to my age and it was turning out to be only 83 so why not? It sent shivers down my spine, but that could in all probability be a reality and a proud one a that.
This is the need of the hour today. Awaken yourself to who you are, what you are doing, be aware about your surrounding, and in fact your very self. We often tend to get overwhelmed by our domestic, and work responsibilities to such an extent that we miss out on such proud moments. Have we done enough for our Nation. Can we not do more than just calling ourselves Proud Indians.
Yes, for me it was indeed a proud moment but a wake up call as well. That makes me look forward to my coming years with more purpose and responsibility. Will it yours? Food for thought that while once again with pride saying "Proud to be Indian".
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