This year I was fortunate enough to be in India on our Republic Day (26th of January). Ever since I can remember, I used to enjoy watching the Republic Day parade. Republic Day for me, as a child, was always a sad day because I knew there would be no more holidays till after the final exams (in March). I also used to love watching the military hardware on display.
This year the parade was equally impressive, especially the military part with the smartly dressed marching regiments. I felt proud of being an Indian, I my heart felt heavy with emotion thinking about all the people who have sacrificed so many things so that we as a nation can exist.
We Indians are really not proud of our heritage, I think most are not even aware of it. When someone asks we yell at the top of our voice that we are proud to be Indians. But all this patriotism is gone when people accept bribes, scream and fight at the top of their voice over minor issues and build illegally over reserved forest land. No one gives a damn then for what will happen to the future of India.
Funny enough that India is famous for religion and spiritualism. Some of the greatest thinkers and philosophers of all time have had their roots here. All that wisdom is lost to us.
On an unrelated note:
This year the Chief Guest at the Parade was the Russian President Vladimir Putin. I wonder if he felt any kind of satisfaction seeing India proudly display its military hardware, most of which was bought from Russia?
Another unrelated note:
Had recently gone to the Domestic Airport in Delhi. Was really surprised to see the way it has been done up. It is looking really nice! It almost made me want to travel around India by plane. Then I saw the cabin crew for a few airlines entering the airport (I was standing there waiting for someone) and, well, lets just say I was feeling sorry that I was not going to board a flight!
