Patriotic Fervor

 I have been a big fan of republic day parade and the beating retreat since childhood. 26th January also happens to be my late father Shri.MT Solomon Raju's birthday. He used to give a lunch to all his staff where they sat at our family dinner table and he personally served them food. He also gave each of us money. Add a zero to age and that's what's we get. Like on his 50th birthday we each got 500. 

This year being 75th year of independence the republic day parade had Vande Bharat dance wherein Indian traditional dances were performed on the Rajpath. The groups were chosen after a nationwide contest. It was mesmerizing. Also on display were 75 aircrafts used by our Airforce. 

The beating retreat created a big controversy when it was revealed that Abide with me Gandhiji's favourite hymn was dropped from the songs that the band play. Like many indian Christians I too was disappointed. But come the day of beating retreat and I was overwhelmed to watch the tunes the band's played. All the tunes played by the band's are from Indian composers all men of the uniform. Of course the patriotic songs like ae mere waton ke logon, kadam kadam badhaye Jaa or sare jahan se acha are not composed by armed forces they still are I think our nation's pride.

For those who criticize the govt for dropping the hymn please realise that all foreign compositions are gone. It's purely Indian. Also the chief conductor for this year was Vijay Charles D'Cruz. Where is the need for disappointment as an indian Christian? In fact I am more thrilled. The final song was sare jahan se acha written by Iqbal.

No. I have not lost faith in my country, yes the reports coming in from the rural hinterlands of some states are disturbing but hamare bharat ka ekta aur akhandatha kaayam hai. Ekta= togetherness, Akhandatha=indivisibleness. Is always there.

Proud to be a Indian. Let's throw down these colonial shackles and move forward in a new India.

Jai Hind. Bharat mata ki Jai.